Beaches

Mimizan has some of the best beaches in Europe, where you can play in the waves, bodyboard, surf, or just fall asleep! Mimizan Plage has interesting shops, cafés and restaurants where you can find everything you need. There are dozens of cafés where you can stop for an ice cream, a crêpe, a dozen churros (Spanish doughnuts), a cold beer ...

Mimizan's North and South Beaches are absolutely unbeatable, but if you want to try some others there are plenty nearby ... Lespecier, Contis, Saint-Girons, Biscarrosse ... and then there are all the lake beaches ...

Lakes

One of the great things about Mimizan is that you have a choice of great sea beaches, and great lake beaches! The water at the lake is always calm so it's great for young ones, and the range of water-sports is unbeatable. There's a small lake beach within walking distance of Les Arbres, but a bigger one with lots more facilities about 7 miles away.

Cycling

France is very cycle-friendly and cycling is a great way to get around here. The area is generally flat and there are good quality cycle tracks all over the place. The tracks are smooth, wide, and safe. We provide several basic bikes, and there are plenty of local shops where you can hire more. The nearest cycle track starts about 100 metres from Les Arbres and runs about three and a half miles through the forest directly to the sea beach. The track keeps you completely away from any traffic, with just one quiet road to cross at the far end.

The Adventure Park

The adventure park is just a short walk or bike ride away, next to the golf course. The activities vary slightly from year to year. Sometimes there is quad-biking, usually paintball, and always the tree-top adventure. High up in the treetops are a network of platforms with zip wires, rope frames, bridges and all sorts of things to climb, slide, swing and walk across to get from tree to tree. Training and safety instructions are given before starting so it is safe and great fun. It is open at week-ends and bank holidays in May and June, all day every day in July and August, and afternoons in early September.

Horse Riding

There are three riding stables nearby. The nearest is Lous Chivaus at Aureilhan, about 5 minutes away by car. They offer treks to the lake, where you can ride right into the lake. The Centre Equestre Marina are at Mimizan Plage, and on some evenings, you can gallop through the waves as the sun sets over the ocean. Ranch Amadeus is another riding stables, at Saint-Paul-en-Born, just a short drive away.

Canoeing

You can hire canoes on the lakes, but it's much more fun to canoe down the "Courant des Forges". You meet by the lake at the end point, and a van takes you about 8km up river to the starting point. You then canoe down the river back to where you left your car. It's quite an obstacle course as the river has lots of fallen trees that you have to steer around. It usually takes about 2 to 3 hours, is really good fun, excellent value, and runs from the 1st of July until the 31st of August. You have to phone a French lady to make an appointment, but we can do that for you if your French isn't quite up to it.

Golf, Tennis, and Fishing

There's a 9 hole golf course right here in Mimizan, just a few minutes from Les Arbres. There are three tennis clubs nearby, two in Mimizan and one in Aureilhan. You can go fishing in either of the local lakes.

Markets

There are two main markets in Mimizan. In the summer, the biggest one is at Mimizan Plage on Thursday mornings. There's another in Mimizan Town on Friday mornings. The markets are a great place to buy fruit, vegetables, cheese, paté, seafood, paella, and all kinds of other local produce

In high season there is also a smaller night market at Mimizan Plage most evenings, selling mostly art and craft products.

Aqualand

The Aqualand waterpark is only about 40 minutes drive away and is a great day out for the whole family. There are pools, flumes, and water rides, including "the rapids", where you travel in a rubber ring from pool to pool via various slides. You can buy snacks there but it's best to take a picnic - there's a large picnic area under some pine trees.

Dune de Pyla

The Dune de Pyla is about 40 minutes drive away. It's the highest sand dune in Europe with stunning views over the Bay of Arcachon. The dune is almost 2 miles long and rises 350 feet above sea level. It's best to climb up using the steps, but how you get down is up to you!

Marqueze

If you want to see a little bit of the history of the area, the Ecomuseum at Marqueze has been lovingly restored to show life in the area as it was just over a century ago before the forest was planted. You walk right into the houses exactly as they were just over a hundred years ago. They had oxen in the house for heating! There are often demonstrations of ancient crafts, like the Sabotier making wooden clogs, or the bakers making traditional breads. You can go in the Manor house, the Resinier's house and all the others. Don't know what a Resinier is? Don't worry, the guide will explain it all. 

Further away

If you fancy exploring a little further, then take a day trip to Arcachon, Bazas, Bordeaux, Biarritz or Bayonne. San Sebastian is a lovely historic town in Spain and there is always Pamplona or Bilbao. We are only just over an hour's drive from the Spanish border so why not try some Spanish culture as well? La Rhune at Ascain is a funicular railway to the top of a mountain with fantastic views of the coast and the Pyrenees.

So over to you, have fun choosing!

More pictures of things to do

Mimizan-tourism.com