Along the Atlantic coast, behind the rampart of dunes, the mesh of streams and waterways have formed large freshwater ponds and lakes sheltered by the pine groves of the Landes forest. As centres for water sports or as nature reserves, they constitute another special feature of the Aquitaine coastline.

France’s biggest lake is to be found in Aquitaine. It is the lake of Carcans-Hourtin-Maubuisson, a real inland sea covering 6,000 hectares just an hour’s drive to the northwest of Bordeaux.

From Carcans, the northernmost of the coastal lakes, you head down towards Lacanau Lake, via the Etang de Cousseau. On their shores all sorts of activities are practised over the seasons, from tree climbing to pedal boating, along with sailing, water-skiing, cycling and golf.



Further south, after the Bay of Arcachon , there are the 5,800 hectares of Cazaux-Sanguinet Lake. Remarkably, the ruins of villages from the Iron Age (4th to 1st century BC) and the Gallo-Roman period have been discovered at depths of 13, 8 and 5 metres. Sanguinet Museum exhibits the discoveries (dugout canoes, objects of worship, ceramics…) and recounts the work of researchers since 1977.

Biscarrosse Lake experienced its period of glory in the 1930s when Aéropostale tested its seaplanes there, then again in 1954 with the discovery of an oil deposit, which is still operated today. With 3,345 hectares, it too is dedicated to leisure activities first and foremost, primarily water sports.

Continuing south and following the Courant de Sainte-Eulalie, you reach the Etang d’Aureilhan, which had the privilege of the presence of Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin for their holidays, staying in the house of the Duke of Westminster. They were charmed by the beauty and peacefulness of the lake.

At the Etang de Léon, even further south, you can climb aboard a galupe (traditional flat-bottomed boat) and descend the Courant d’Huchet as far as the Atlantic and discover its luxuriant “gallery forest”.

Nature reserves are home to hundreds of species of plants, birds and mammals: Soustons Lake, the Etang de Hardy, Lac Blanc with its sandy soils, and so on until the Marais d’Orx, south of Capbreton.

Whether you are an angler, a cyclist, a photographer, a horse-rider or a walker, the lakes of the Atlantic coast are a paradise on earth.

To find out the quality of the water in all swimming areas (ocean and freshwater) in the départements of Aquitaine, visit the website of the Ministry of Health: http://baignades.sante.gouv.fr