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- The most beautiful Landes villages - Part 2
The most beautiful Landes villages - Part 2
Les Landes is a land of surprisingly varied landscapes, with forests, meadows, hills and vineyards stretching over a vast and complete area (France's second largest department).
The region also boasts a rich heritage of places well worth a visit. In the first part of our series, we naturally brought you five magnificent little villages typical of the Pays de Gascogne.
All located less than thirty minutes from our Mimizan vacation village/campsite, they captivated us with their colors, their stories, their gentle way of life.
| Without further ado, it's time for the second part of our Landes village tour! Go!
Saint-Justin
This time more inland, almost at the same level as Mont-de-Marsan and standing in the Landes interior: Saint-Justin. This ancient bastide (in the Languedoc sense of the word) at the crossroads of ancient trade routes has witnessed centuries of testing history, sometimes under siege during the Hundred Years' War, sometimes looted and destroyed in the 17th century. On its promontory, the village overlooking the Douze thus bears witness to its wartime past: it will reveal the remains of ramparts and a parapet walk, buildings with mullioned windows, old cobbled roads... Attaching great importance to its elegance, this well-kept town is today one of the Villages Fleuris de Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Discover: the micro chambre d'arrêt adjoining the church, the octagonal tower of the Léon Dufour manor house, the varied hiking itineraries (more info.)!
Labastide d'Armagnac
Neighboring Saint-Justin, a new town nestled in the lower Armagnac region, is a favorite with many visitors. Its checkerboard alleys converging on Place Royale, its arcades, picturesque houses (Maison Malartic ...) and other town-planning details make it a highlight of the southwest.
This commune deserves to be known, for its fortified church, the Château du Prada, the Temple des Bastides or Notre-Dame des Cyclistes.
We won't tell you, any more! Trust us, Labastide is worth the detour.
As a bonus:if your journey allows, Losse and its typical architecture will seduce you!
Solférino
You could almost walk through Solférino without paying it any attention. Yet this showcase of Napoleon III's recent creations is singular in many ways, well worth a look. In the heart of the pine forest, this village reflects a veritable urbanization plan. A former imperial estate, the "model" village boasts a number of historic farms (the Pouy and Taston farms) and a town built around five lanes, the main one lined with geometrically arranged cottages. A small church (Sainte Eugénie) standing in the middle of the Morcenx road, flanked by the presbytery on one side and the former town hall-school on the other, adds to the originality of the place!
...
Grenade-sur-l'Adour
Like Saint-Justin, "Terra Granata" is an ancient fortified bastide, prosperous thanks to its grain and cereal crops. Backing onto the Adour river, this picturesque town features a central square ("des Tilleuls"), half-timbered facades, arcades and fortifications, charming streets ("des remparts", "des anciens fossés", "du chemin de ronde"), small restored shelters .... Finally, the central square is overlooked by a 15th-century Gothic church, superbly highlighted at night. Grenade and the banks of the river are sure to please heritage enthusiasts and hikers alike, for the time of a rustic getaway!
Our journey ends on the banks of the Adour. Whether on foot or by bike, there were many discoveries to be made in all these villages (and many kilometers). But, with a map (or a GPS?) in hand, and taking your time, you'll soon discover that our country is full of unspoilt sites worth getting to know! And it's only a few steps from Landes duck to Bayonne ham! HAVE A GOOD JOURNEY!
Some images may have been retouched.
