Nestling against an emerald forest, caressed by the ocean, lined with endless fine sandy beaches and the 250 hectares salt-water lake, Hossegor reflects the image of an old traditional welcome. This town, chosen by so many artists in the past, has managed to comprehend and preserve its ecological inheritance.
Nowadays, Hossegor is a very elegant town, which takes advantage of its heritage from the past and is flexible with a view towards tomorrow. In the past, Hossegor was a theatre of traditional pastoral life and later praised as a paradise by an intellectual community, which formed a new and unique architectural style. From the meeting of the 2 cultures, Basque and Landaise, was born a coastal resort which has managed to combine the two styles perfectly. This resort has integrated its various types of accommodation among the pine-trees and blended all with parks and gardens to form a perfect balance with the original nature and beauty of the area.
The atmosphere in the Pubs, Piano bars, Cafes, Restaurants and Disco's are as in the rest of the South of France, very friendly. The sports and leisure facilities will suit all your wishes, Sporting-Casino, Swimming pool, Tennis clubs, Shopping, Marinas and 18 hole golf courses to name but a few.
Enjoy your visit

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Seignosse has two centres, Seignosse Bourg (town centre, which is 4-5 kms away from the beach) and Seignosse Plage (the beach). The Village of Seignosse is typical of the old Landes coastal villages, picturesque, quaint and with the village church, the town hall (picture below left), a few bars, 2 hotels and small lanes with scattered typical Landes colombage farmhouse architecture, and on the outskirts of this, some developments of new houses. Nothing different then you may ask? and the answer would be yes. Two very large Lakes exist just to the North of the Village which makes all the difference, the "Etang Noir" (Black pond or lake) and the very much larger "Etang Blanc" (White lake, why the names? don't ask, I haven't established or received a sensible answer yet), all surrounded with the Landes natural pine forests (very tranquil, calm & relaxing). Hidden down the lanes surrounding the lakes and nestling in the pine trees, are a few very isolated Landes style Restaurants with views over the lakes.

Between the Etang Noir & the Village is a large Sports Centre with several activities (Pelote Basque, 6 Tennis Courts & arranged Cycling Tours, some short, some long, around the area (this area of the Landes has especially concerned itself with the cyclist. Adjacent to all main roads from Capbreton to Moliets, they have constructed independent cycle roads for the safety of all)) and between the lakes is an Equestrian Centre (Pony Club, which arranges regular promenades into the Forest for the avid Horseman (or woman) on Horseback).

Seignosse Plage is a vast area of apartments (picture below right) with the centre at Penon Plage, where you will find Bars, Restaurants, a cinema (showing films in French, of course) a disco and the brand new Water Park. All kept in impeccable trim, with what must be an army of gardeners (it reminds me and has the appearance of a large Alpine ski resort, with the snow replaced with very fine white sand). The coastline has immense beaches (deep & long) & enormous sand dunes, enough space for all.

Between the village and plage is the most immaculate Golf Course ever imagined or constructed with lakes & ponds creating hazards for the most discerning golfer, with the most beautiful modern Landes style houses nestling between the pine trees and the fairways of the Golf Course.

3 kms South is the Towns of Hossegor & Capbreton (with more Beaches, Casinos, and another 18 hole Golf Course and Marinas etc. With a bit more nightlife.

Enjoy your visit!

Capbreton, on the southern coast of the Landes, is the neighbouring town to Hossegor. In days passed Capbreton had its involvement with forming history. King Henry IV of Navarre (Basque) rode his horse into the then gothic Church in the Convent (and bumped his head on the entrance portal over the doors). Up to the 16th Century, the Capbretonnaise used to fight on Land & Sea with the Bayonnais from that other country, the "Pays Basque", which at that time was independent from France & Spain, over which should be the larger Port and service the Southwest. In 1492 Charles VIII of France decreed that Capbreton was to be the major port & harbour for this area, and so it was, until the river Adour was re-routed to Bayonne in 1578. Over the next century Capbreton was reduced to being an alternative back up to the then busy Port of Bayonne.

The Capbretonnais, it is said, discovered Canada before Christopher Columbus discovered America and the Antilles (Caribbean Islands) and named an Island in Nova Scotia "L'ile du Cap-Breton", which exists today North of Halifax.

In the 19th century the Emperor Napoleon III came to Capbreton on 3 occasions to survey the work on the reconstruction of the port (the table & chair at which he sat, can be seen in the town hall of Capbreton). Nowadays the large sheltered port of Capbreton has become the only Marina area on the Landes coast and the largest on the total length of the Cote d'Argent, with 960 berths for boats from 2m to 23m (60 berths reserved for visitors).

Capbreton has 7 km of beaches of two entirely different types. The central beach is typical of many seaside resort with bars and hotels on the sea-front, the rest of the beach as it extends south becomes very deep, private and with sand dunes, where the Landes pine forest merges gently with the incredible beauty of the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean (excellent for nudists and plenty of space for surfers & wind surfers alike).

For the Nightlife, Restaurants and Bars, there is no restriction, a large selection of all 3 exists, through the 3 Towns (including Hossegor & Seignosse).

The Architecture here is a mixture of old and new and all very similar to the Basque style with exposed timbers on the facades, but with the slight Landais difference in the rooflines.

Labenne has 2 centres like most Landais coastal resorts. The Centre Town is straddling the Route National 10, this is where you will find the town hall, Church, pelote, some shops, go-kart track and the 800 hectare (World Wildlife Foundation) Protected Nature Reserve, Orx Lake, with its many verities of birds and wild fowl.

The other area is Labenne Ocean this is where you will find the beaches, some commerce and large camp sites, the cycling routes along the river and the local Equestrian centre & Pony club. As you approach the beach area, off to your right and high on the sand dunes you will discover an old Chapel, which appears to be disused, but I have no confirmation that it is.

Enjoy your visit!