Activities at the lake
Water based activities available on Lake Biscarrosse include canoeing, stand-up paddling and pedal boat hire. You can swim and relax at the lake beaches at Parentis and Biscarrosse.
There are plenty of walking and hiking trails in this area, often by one of the lakes or in the forest. And the terrain here is fairly flat so ideal for cycling. From Parentis to Gastes, a town on the south side of the lake, is 8.5km. For a longer ride, continue on to Sainte-Eulalie-en-Born (another 8.5km) or even to Mimizan and its beach beyond (37km altogether).
The lake is also known for aviation, and there is the possibility of riding in a sea plane, light aircraft or helicopter from the airfield between Parentis and Biscarrosse. In Biscarrosse, you can learn about this area’s significance to the history of hydro-aviation in the dedicated museum.
Féria
The event of the year in this area is the Féria Sen Bertomiu held in Parentis over several days in early August. It kicks off with an opening ceremony at ‘Les Arènes’, the bull ring arena, and over the ensuing days there are parades with decorated floats, family friendly activities, and the cooking of a giant omelette! The major focus of the féria, however, is contests and events featuring the local Landaise cattle. During the ‘Encierro’, brave locals run in front of the cattle in the streets, and ‘La Course Landaise’ is a less brutal form of bullfighting where the emphasis is on skill in avoiding the bull with acrobatic leaps and feints.
In addition to official events, there is lots of music and fireworks, and regional food and drink at the bodegas around town.
Cuisine
As in much of South West France, duck and foie gras are very typical in this area, and a typical ‘Salade Landaise’ pairs duck with walnuts. Thanks to the proximity of lake and coast, fresh fish and seafood is also prevalent, and you will also come across dishes influenced by Basque and Pyrenean cuisine.
Many fruits and vegetables are grown in this region so the market stalls should be full of local produce – particularly look out for blueberries from Parentis.
A sweet speciality in this region is Pastis Landais, a cake infused with flavours of orange, vanilla and rum.
Wine lovers can choose a bottle from the nearby Chalosse or Adour areas, or of course the more well known appellations around Bordeaux.
More to do nearby and further afield
Other fun things to do in the area include the skate park in Parentis, the treetop adventure park beside the lake, and go-karting at the circuit a few kilometres north of town.
The long beaches and Atlantic rollers at Biscarosse Plage or Mimizan Plage provide the ideal conditions for surfing and kite-surfing, both for beginners and aficionados.
Further afield, you may like a foray south towards Biarritz and the Basque country. Or, to the north, the Arcachon basin is a lovely nature reserve which is great for watching birds and other wildlife, and the city of Bordeaux offers countless sights and entertainments.
