Stunning Rural Retreat «L'Airial, Moustey»

L'Airial, Moustey is a great base for exploring the Parc Naturel Régional des Landes de Gascogne. The beaches of the Atlantic coast and two large lakes (Étang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet and Lac de Biscarrosse et de Parentis) are less than an hour away. The fantastic vineyards in SW France are a great attraction; Léognan in the Graves area of the Bordeaux county has 6 chateaux and is 44kms from the house. Bordeaux city can be reached in under an hour by car or train (from Ychoux station). Bordeaux, renowned for its wines (considered amongst the best in the world) is also an exciting metropolis. After years of neglect, the former wet docks is France's new hot spot, with new cafés, gardens, and museums springing up all the time (do check out the newly opened Cite de Vin). The cultural, artistic, and music scenes in the city are very vibrant.

Plenty of local activities for groups of friends or families. Swimming (pool, rivers, lakes, and sea), kayaking (local rental), biking/hiking/jogging on forest trails, dog walking, horse riding (local stables very close at end of forest track), badminton (net and rackets provided at house). This location is great for yoga, painting, meditation, or just relaxing and reading.

Landes is located in the Aquitaine region and one of the original departments created in the French Revolution, Landes is the second largest department in mainland France. Its straight coast stretches for more than 100km and is famous for its beaches and sand dunes while lakes and forests fringe the shoreline. This is a department in which world-class surfing and a deeply traditional rural culture sit side by side. Landes has several thriving industries including forestry and agriculture. Popular seaside spots include Biscarrosse, Capbreton and Hossegor. Landes' best assets are its natural ones: professional surfers come to ride the waves while three of the department's golf courses have been noted as among the best in Europe. The flat, forested landscapes are great for family cycling trips while the abundance of lakes and coastline make fishing a popular pastime. There's plenty to appeal to wildlife lovers here too: birdwatchers should flock to the Arjuzanx nature reserve, which is home to many thousands of migrating cranes for several months of the year.

Parc Naturel Régional des Landes de Gascogne. Situated in the north of Landes and the south of Gironde, to the east of the Atlantic coast and the banks of the Arcachon basin, the Gascon Landes Regional Nature Park covers at least 315,000 hectares . Planted by man in the 19th century, with the aim of reclaiming the marshes and stabilising the moving sands of the coastal dunes, the Gascon Landes forest, mainly made up of maritime pines, is the most extensive forest in Europe!
In the heart of the Landes forest you can explore the unmissable Grande Lande Ecomuseum, constructed on three sites which are open to visitors: the Marquèze Quarter, at Sabres, a part of the Grande Lande reconstructed as it was in the 19th century; the Luxey resinous products workshop, a former workshop where pine resin was distilled; the museum of religious heritage and popular beliefs, situated in the Church of Our Lady in Moustey. The Marquèze Quarter is only accessible by train from Sabres station, and is arranged around the airial – a vast lawn shaded by oaks - including mansions, smallholdings, sheep folds, bread ovens and a watermill, which show the agricultural, pastoral way of life in the 19th-century Landes countryside.
As to leisure sports, you have the choice between walking on woodland paths, cycling along the little forest trails, a mountain bike ride along signposted paths, a horse ride or a trip down the Leyre in a canoe-kayak...
Graine de Forêt, at Garein, is an entertaining and educational discovery centre, which has an interactive museum area dedicated to the Landes forest, a nature trail in the forest, and a nursery where everyone can sow a pine seed!
In Gironde, near Belin-Béliet, lies the departmental estate of Hostens, a must for those who want to recharge their batteries, relax or enjoy a walk. As well as a leisure centre, this Natura 2000-listed natural area of 600 hectares has five lakes with very pleasant green banks. An ideal place to take a nap on one of the two white sand beaches of Lake Lamothe, enjoy a refreshing swim, ride a canoe or go fishing, picnic quietly in the shade of the pines, discover the geological history, flora and fauna of the site by following a route lined with information signs, or go hiking, riding or cycling along the tracks and trails.
The Park House (La Maison du Parc), based in the old Belin-Béliet school building, provides the public with information and literature on the Landes of Gascony Nature Park.

airialmoustey