• The quest of a dream

From our “waterside “ you can travel around on foot, by bike or by car and discover the landes and the Basque country.

The barthes, where our house is located, is a protected zone bordering the Adour river.

This narrow plain, just above water level, is only separated from the minor river bed by a dike which limits the floods along which runs the towpath in a long flat ribbon.

Whether on foot or by bike, you can take this tarred and little frequented road with no fear of difficulties as far as urt ( 11 Km) and Bayonne ( 20 km) or upriver, towards Saubusse (18 km) and discover this marshy area, so unusual.

You will see picturesque riverside houses along the way, last witness of a flourishing past, a time when the galupes” ( sort of large flat-bottomed boat) linked inland towns to those on the coast (Aire-sur-Adour, Dax, Bayonne, etc…).

Today, fishing in “couralins” (small traditional flat-bottomed boat), the cultivation of maize, the breeding of  ”Blondes d’Aquitaine” cattle (A competition is held every year, at the end of august, in Sainte-Marie-de-Gosse, the production of kiwis ( those from the Adour region are the best in Europe, with the red label ), are just some of the resources for the inhabitants of this “flat country”, criss-crossed by draining canals.

• A little history...

Did you know that the draining system of marshy areas was perfected in the XVII century by Dutch engeneers who installed “flood gates” ?

These gates, still in operation, let the water flow into the Adour or, on the contrary, close when the water level rises too dangerously. The last important floods date back to 1981.

The Barthes have been classified a Natura 2000 protected area in order to preserve the fragile balance of this exceptional biotope.

You will be thus be able, when you go to these damp areas, to discover various rushes, reeds and water lilies. You will have the joy of seeing the flight of the grey heron or of watching the not-so-shy egrets, or you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the new inhabitants : storks.

You will be surprised to notice that the river Adour sometimes “flows” in one direction, sometimes in another, and the effect of the tides can be felt strongly as far as our house because the altitude is only 1 metre !

And if you like fishing, the good spot is right here, on the banks of the Adour, just a few steps away ! At rising tide, and depending on the season, “pibales” (baby eels), lampreys, shad, salmon and eels come back up the river or the tributary streams. Get a licence and good fishing !