Carcans: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

At 6,000 hectares, Lake Hourtin-Carcans is the largest natural freshwater lake in France. The eastern shore of Lake Hourtin-Carcans is protected. The Domaine de Bombannes is also located on the shore of Lake Carcans-Maubuisson, covering 140 hectares in the Landes girondines forest.

Renting a holiday apartment in Carcans is a specific accommodation intention for a stay with an interest in lakeshores, culture and cycling routes.

Culture and history

The Church of Saint Martin in Carcans, dedicated to Saint Martin, was mentioned in the Middle Ages under the name “ecclesia carcanno”. The medieval building was replaced by the present Neo-Gothic church in 1869. The church contains a polychrome wooden statue of Saint James the Pilgrim dating from the 17th century.

The Maison des Arts et Traditions Populaires is located at 129 Avenue de Maubuisson in Maubuisson.

Nature

The Sentier du Lac in Maubuisson is a 7-kilometre hiking route. It runs along the dune range and the lake, offering views of Lake Carcans-Maubuisson. The route includes land art works made from natural materials, accessible via the “Rando Forêt littorale” app.

The Sentier des canaux starts in Carcans, is 8 kilometres long and is rated easy. It runs along canals between Lake Carcans-Hourtin and Lake Lacanau and has a telescope for birdwatching.

Paths and cycling routes

The Tour des lacs cycling tour is an easy 55-kilometre route starting in Carcans and accessible year-round.

The Boucle des Cavalles circular cycle route starts at Place du Pôle in Maubuisson, in front of the Carcans-Maubuisson tourist office. Linking Maubuisson, Bombannes and Carcans-Océan, it passes through Bombannes and Carcans-Océan.

Water and activities

Plage de Bombannes is a long sandy beach on the shore of Lake Carcans. Tiralo beach wheelchairs are available at the lakeside beaches of Montaut, Le Pôle and Bombannes; a Tiralo is therefore also available at Plage de Bombannes. Activities offered there include tennis, beach volleyball, a high-ropes course, archery, surfing, wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding and canoeing.

Near Maubuisson, Lake Hourtin-Carcans has a 2-kilometre-long equipped beach. The supervised Plage de Maubuisson can be reached by bicycle. Activities with boats, stand-up paddleboards, sailboats and pedal boats are offered there.

Other places: Lège-Cap-Ferret, Gours, Bayon-sur-Gironde, Queyrac, Saint-Vivien-De-Monségur, La Réole, Aillas, Cambes

For the higher-level travel overview: Gironde.