maritime pine and heather forest at Mimizan
Pine forest at MimizanJust imagine 10,000 km² of forest that breathes, lives and beckons! The Landes forest is the largest cultivated forest in Western Europe, and we’re pretty proud of it.
In the 19th century, this land was barren moorland. Then some men had the crazy idea of transforming this desert into an ocean of pine trees. The result? A unique ecosystem, planted by men who literally reforested the region.
think of it as silviculture planting, harvesting for industrial processing
Forest management
Deer in a pine forestAs far as wildlife is concerned, it’s highly likely that on one of your forest walks you’ll come across the many species that call the area home: deer, roe deer, foxes, badgers, weasels, hedgehogs, squirrels, wild boar, hares and rabbits.
If you then look up to the sky, you may witness the aerial ballets of chickadees, cuckoos, finches, barn owls and other nesting birds, whose nests are built on the branches of the pines. At certain times of the year, you can even enjoy the admirable spectacle of migratory birds such as goshawks, ortolans, ducks, woodcocks and cranes that have chosen to winter in the Landes climate. There are also species that exist nowhere else, such as the greater noctule bat.
Because this forest is our living heritage, we won’t let it down.
Our concrete actions:
Sustainable management: every tree cut down is a tree replanted. We don’t take, we exchange with nature.
Species protection: Foresters and environmental managers protect endangered species like bodyguards for biodiversity.
Awareness-raising: Activities and interpretation trails make every visitor an ambassador for the forest.
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femmes cyclistes faisant du vélo sur la piste cyclabe bordée de bruyèreWhether you’re a family, a couple or a sportsman, the Landes forest has a playground for you:
For families:
Discovery trails, treasure hunts, terra aventura and observation points for amazing moments with the kids.
For sports enthusiasts:
Cycling, hiking: the forest is your ultimate playground. Your GPS? Your legs and your sense of adventure!
For romantics:
Quiet paths, peaceful clearings… The Landes forest is the ideal place for two, far from the world.
The Landes forest is waiting to welcome you. Come and write your vacation in this unique natural setting!
Incredible news! Between 1985 and 2000, Mimizan concealed an unusual secret: cross-country skiing was practised here. .. on pine needles! A trail unique in the world, where skiers glided not on snow, but on a natural carpet of pine needles (or garbaye). This unusual adventure came to an end when the pines were felled by the ONF, but it remains one of the most original curiosities of our Landes forest. Who’d have thought it?
Skiing on pine needles in Mimizan, LandesMaritime pines, also known as Landes pine or Pinus pinaster, were chosen for several reasons:
Climate adaptation: Maritime pines are a local species, and have always been present on our territory, as they are well adapted to our capricious climate.
Soil type: Maritime pines are also undemanding, tolerating our poor, acidic soils, and their root system makes them ideal for our region.
Water management: in addition to the drainage network set up in the moors to clean up swamps, maritime pine maintains a high level of water absorption.
Economy: for a long time, the maritime pines of the Landes forest were harvested for their resin until the 1970s. Since then, the forest has been exploited almost exclusively for its wood, which is transformed into carpentry, parquet flooring, panelling, furniture and, for the more naughty, paper or energy wood.
Wetlands are like nature’s spa!
They are natural spaces where water is present, either permanently or temporarily. They can be freshwater, saltwater or a mixture of both. The vegetation that grows there is adapted to these conditions and thrives for at least part of the year. These areas play a key role for the environment, promoting biodiversity and regulating water levels and filtration.
There are several reasons why there are no forest bike trails in Mimizan.
Private property: the Landes forest is 94% private, which means that every time you enter the forest you are in someone else’s home, and responsibility for accidents in the forest lies with the owners.
Fire: fire follows man, so every time you enter a forest, you run the risk of starting a fire. To limit the risks, we restrict forest penetration.
Nature conservation: Mimizan forest is protected in places for reasons of biodiversity conservation. Local authorities or forest management bodies may restrict access to preserve fragile ecosystems.
Costs and maintenance: Creating and maintaining bike trails requires financial and human investment. Available resources may be limited, and priorities may be shifted to other infrastructures or services.
