Great Things to Do Near Maison de la Côte
Market days and evenings
A must for all those that love good, seasonal, local products. Stroll through the markets savouring the friendly atmosphere and leave with traditional products such as pâtés, olives, sausages and pastis landais. Parentis en Born holds its market on Thursday, Biscarrosse Ville on Friday and Saturday, Ychoux on Wednesday, Sanguinet on Saturday. During July and August, evening markets are held in Parentis en Born (Tuesday), Biscarrosse Plage (every evening) and in Sanguinet (Wednesday and Saturday).
Pilat Dune
A sight worth seeing – at 110 metres high and 3km in length, Le Dune du Pilat is Europe’s highest sand dune. There are 160 steps to reach the top but worth it for the far reaching views from all sides.
The Basque Country and Spain
Why not explore a little further south? Easily accessible by taking the A63, the Basque Country with its glorious countryside and interesting villages and towns is just under 2hrs away. Explore Bayonne with its half timbered houses, St Jean de Luz on the coast, Espelette famous for its dried red peppers (you will see them hung up to dry outside the shops and houses in the village). Take your passport and continue over the border into Spain and the wonderful coastal town of San Sebastian (2hrs).
A day or two or three or more at the beach!
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches. From the sandy beaches around Lac de Biscarrosse to the kilometres of long sandy beaches that run the length of the coast, you can take your pick. Biscarrosse Plage is popular – a vast expense of sand, choice of amenities and activities. Relax with a book or watch the surfers catching the waves, you can even have a go yourself with lessons at the local surf school.
Ychoux and Bordeaux
Head a few kilometres east to Ychoux, a lovely little village, surrounded by forest. Visit the Arboretum with its walking trails through the trees. Ychoux also has a train station, so why not catch the train in the morning and spend the day in the wonderful city of Bordeaux?
La Vélodyssée and Cycling
There are about 145km of cycle paths linking Biscarrosse, Sanguinet, Parentis en Born, Gastes, Ste Eulalie en Born, Lue and Ychoux. Hire bikes in Parentis and cycle your way through this vast area backed by forests, lakes, dunes and the ocean – a great way to see the area. 'La Vélodyssée' is an official cycle route that follows the Atlantic coastline from Brittany to the Basque Country.
Oysters in Arcachon
The town of Arcachon is famous for osticulture (oyster farming) so if you like oysters, it is the place to visit. But the oysters are not the only reason to go: it is a beautiful place, on the Bassin d’Arcachon, with 19th Century villas and architecture, a beachfront promenade, sandy beaches and great restaurants – enjoy a glass of chilled wine, a plate of oysters and a sea view!
Gone fishing…
Try your hand at trout fishing in Parentis en Born. There is no need for a license and free fishing equipment is provided. Why not catch some trout for dinner? You can also fish in the lakes – check at the local tourist offices for information on permits and costs.
Make a splash
Children and adults alike can have fun on the water at the nearby lakes and beaches, where there are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as water-skiing, catamaran, paddle boarding, windsurfing.
Mini-golf
The children can try their hand at the mini golf by the lake near Biscarrosse.
Monkeying around
Swing, climb and zipline through the trees at one of the treetop adventure parks nearby, in Parentis or at Biscarrosse-plage.
Visit the zoo!
The zoo at la Teste-de-Buch is the largest in the Aquitaine region with 150 different species, many of them rare, more than 10,000 animals in total within the wooded 22 hectare site.
Go-karting
The Kart Center Biscarosse runs 10 minute racing sessions on different tracks suitable for different age groups from as young as 3 years old!
A round of golf
Biscarosse Golf offers 2 courses of varying difficulty, the 18-hole forest-ocean course and the 9-hole lake course. There is also a driving range with 25 stations, 7 of which are covered, and there is a restaurant on site.
Conservatoire des Landes de Gascogne
At this museum in Sanguinet you can learn about the culture, history and way of life in the Landes forest, including a demonstration of how pine resin was traditionally harvested. There are authentic buildings, a collection of paintings and guided tours are possible on limited days. https://www.conservatoiredeslandesdegascogne.com/
Horse riding ...
can be enjoyed nearby at Les Ecuries de l'Hacienda at Parentis-en-Born.
