La Vélodyssée: The Landes coast by bike!
A freewheeling vacation! Take advantage of your camping holiday to discover the Landes region by bike on the La Vélodyssée cycle paths. All aboard!
La Vélodyssée in a nutshell
La Vélodyssée® is a 1,200-kilometre cycle route along the Atlantic coast from Roscoff(Finistère) to Hendaye(Pyrénées-Atlantiques). France’s most famous cycle route crosses the Landes département, along the coast to the Basque Coast, via the EUROSOL campsite. Perfectly signposted and safe, the route alternates between cycle paths, quiet country roads and greenways. Ideal for families!
The stages of the Vélodysséein the Landes
Here is a short summary of what awaits you on this beautiful cycling trip in the Landes:
Biscarrosse > Parentis-en-Born (25 km): from Biscarrosse-Plage, head for Etang de Cazaux and Sanguinet, then the Musée de l’Hydraviation on the former Latécoère base near Lac de Biscarrosse. The track then descends gently to Parentis-en-Born, “the land of black gold” in the 1950s, as evidenced by the oil wells on the lake.
Parentis-en-Born > Mimizan-Plage (31 km) : une jolie balade qui mène du petit port du Piaou, au bord du lac de Parentis-en-Born, jusqu’à Mimizan, la Perle de la Côte d’Argent. À mi-parcours, la Vélodyssée fait un passage par la forêt domaniale de Sainte-Eulalie et le lac d’Aureilhan.
Mimizan-Plage > Léon (47 km): head for the Landes forest as far as the Contis lighthouse, then on to the Cap de l’Homy beach, the Lette Blanche beach, then theEtang de Léon and its nature reserve. In between, the EUROSOL campsite in Vielle-Saint-Girons will be delighted to welcome you.
Léon > Soustons (14 km): this stage of the Vélodyssée takes us to Moliets and its international golf course, between the Landes forest and the ocean, before heading straight on to Messanges and Vieux-Boucau. This is the perfect opportunity to put on your swimsuits for a dip on the beach, or to make a detour to the magnificent Lac de Soustons.
Soustons > Capbreton (20 km): the next part of the ride takes us back into the forest, before flirting with the most famous surf spots on the Côte d’Argent: Seignosse, Hossegor and Capbreton. Along the way, cyclists in search of a refreshing stop-off will find themselves on the banks of theHossegor marine lake, a remnant of the formerAdour riverbed. The cycle path then leads directly to Capbreton, a seaside town renowned for its fishing port, its pier and its gouf, the only underwater canyon in the world to be connected to the coastline.
Practical tips:
- How many kilometers can a beginner cycle? As a rough guide, anyone in good physical condition can easily cover 20 to 40 km a day, at an average speed of 15 km/h.
- Bike hire: if you don’t have a bike, don’t worry! The EUROSOL campsite offers its residents bike rental at reception.
- Safety tip: before setting off, check the condition of your two-wheeler (tires, brakes, lights, chain, etc.) Helmets must be worn by cyclists under 12 years of age.