Messanges on the Côte D'Argent in the Landes (Aquitaine)

Messanges is a small rural coastal village with an enormous area for a commune (located exactly half way between the two bigger resorts of Vieux Boucau 4 kms (2.5 miles) South and Moliets 4 kms North), which for the best part of the year relies on farming & forestry for its living and for the summer months 10 very large good quality (2 star - 4 star) camp sites, which are located all over the commune in the various areas of pine forest.
The 2 small lakes (with no beaches) and the large expanse of coastal beaches, all surrounded by the Landes pine forest is assisting them to join the 20th century tourist movement (hence their logo, Forests - Lakes - Beaches/Dunes - Sea).
Here you can wander aimlessly in the forests, at one with Nature so to speak, the sounds of the pigeons, cuckoos, owls and woodpeckers chanting their daily song, with deer, squirrels and rabbits playing in the tall ferns and all with not many people around. The beach area is vast just as the rest of the Landes Plages are but with only two accesses, Messanges North & South Plages both with ample parking but not many bars or shops. The Lakes are a fair size by any standards (definitely not ponds), but dwarfed into indifference with the lakes of Soustons, Port d'Albret and Leon close by, but with an enormous abundance of peace, calm and tranquillity.
The photograph below right is of the French Navy's semaphore tower, still manned today watching shipping movements visually and by radar, plus also for forest fires (it is not possible to enter).
Enjoy your visit!

"Forêt - Lacs - Plages"

in the Landes "Côte d'Argent", south west France


TourAdour.com South West France Holiday Guide