Small heritage

Mimizan ‘s little heritage: a journey through time like no other!
Would you like to step back in time and discover our town’s hidden treasures? Our little heritage site tells the fascinating story of Mimizan, Aureilhan, Bias, Mézos, Saint-Paul-en-Born and Pontenx-les-Forges, with its mix of mystery, spirituality and everyday life of yesteryear. Follow the guide!

When monks ruled the roost! Sainte-Marie Abbey

Imagine yourself in the 11th century… An abbey stands in the heart of Mimizan, the nerve center of local spiritual and economic life. Today, the only reminder of its past grandeur is its UNESCO World Heritage-listed bell tower. But what a bell tower! Its 13th-century polychrome sculptures tell fascinating stories of saints, demons and medieval life. A veritable picture book in stone!

And that’s not all! In stormy weather, this famous bell tower was the terror of sailors. Imagine the scene: your ship is battling the elements, and suddenly you see this spire looming over the dunes… Not exactly reassuring! Gascon sailors even turned it into a saying: “Que diou nous préserbi dou cantic de la sirène, dou coudic de la balène et dou cloucher de Mamizan” – in other words, “May God preserve us from the sirens’ song, the whale’s tail and the Mimizan bell tower”! Our bell tower had a reputation as impressive as that of a mythological creature!

The first "refuge" in history Safety bollards

Long before the invention of the right of asylum, Mimizan had its boundary stones! These mysterious stones marked out a sacred perimeter where even outlaws found refuge. A zone of peace in the Middle Ages– quite a modern concept, don’t you think? Today, you can still observe these silent witnesses to a time when divine justice competed with the justice of men.

Fountain of Bouricos de Pontenx les Forges

Springs of a thousand legends The fountains

Did you know that “Born” means “fountain”? It’s no coincidence that our Pays de Born is brimming with these mysterious watering holes! Every fountain in our region has its ownstories and secrets! The Saint-Jean fountain, renowned for its therapeutic virtues, used to attract pilgrims like a magnet. Some even say that the water cured the most persistent headaches… a useful remedy after local festivals! As for the Sainte-Marie fountain, it continues to whisper its secrets to those who know how to listen. Our ancestors made no mistake when they named our region “Pays de Born” – the land of fountains. An obvious name, don’t you think?

Where local life once bubbled The laundries

A veritable village square, the washhouses were the beating heart of Mimizan! Between two washtubs, people would exchange news, laugh and sing… Gossip and laughter still echo between these old stones. Now restored, they tell us about the daily life of our ancestors, when the chore of washing clothes was transformed into a moment of conviviality.

Note: the Musée du prieuré offers a tour of washhouses and fountains on request. Follow the guide!

When the village lived to the rhythm of the furnace! Bread ovens

A little heritage that smells like warm bread? Our communal bread ovens! These gourmet witnesses to our local history transport you back to a time when bread baking was a veritable institution. The beautifully restored Bias oven even comes back into service at local festivals – the smell of warm bread turns heads and tantalizes taste buds! Its cousin in Pontenx-les-Forges is not to be outdone: it reminds us of the days when villagers would gather around the oven, waiting their turn to put their dough in the oven, while news of the country circulated as fast as the heat of the bakehouse!

Art Deco elegance The Wings monument

A landmark in our heritage, this monument pays elegant tribute to the pioneers of aviation. Erected in 1939, it still imposes its majestic silhouette with its streamlined style and slender wings. Its history is as surprising as its architecture! On June 16, 1929, a fuel shortage forced aviators Assolant, Lefèvre and Lotti to make an emergency landing on the beach at Mimizan. The three Frenchmen had achieved a historic feat: the first North Atlantic crossing ever made by a French aircraft and crew! Aboard their plane, nicknamed“L’Oiseau Canari” (now on display at the Musée du Bourget), they were astonished to discover a stowaway: Arthur Schreiber! An unplanned landing that left its mark on the history of our station, all the more so with this fourth surprise passenger. It was in their honor, and to celebrate all the pioneers of aviation, that this streamlined monument was erected. An architectural masterpiece that reminds us that Mimizan has always had its head in the stars… even when the tanks are dry!