Discover Hourtin
Accommodation in Hourtin
Hourtin offers several starting points for planning your trip: Lac de Hourtin-Carcans, coastal and wetland landscapes, hiking and cycling trails, and local history. The lake is shared by Hourtin and Carcans and is considered France’s largest natural freshwater lake. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hourtin, it helps to first choose the focus of your stay: time by the water, exploring the landscape or visiting cultural attractions.
Nature, trails and different time commitments
The RĂ©serve Naturelle des Dunes et Marais de Hourtin covers 2,150 hectares. Its landscapes include beaches and dunes, as well as pine and holm oak forests, marshes and a lake. The educational trail at the Lagune de Contaut offers a glimpse of the wetlands: it follows a wooden boardwalk through the marsh and is accessible to people with motor and visual disabilities. Check accessibility again before your trip.
There are two routes of different lengths to choose from, for a walk or a longer bike ride. The moderately difficult Sentier des ChĂŞnes in the RĂ©serve Naturelle de Hourtin starts in Hourtin, is 3.2 kilometres long and takes about an hour. The also moderately difficult Boucle des GenĂŞts starts there too and is a 14-kilometre bike ride lasting approximately two hours. This lets you distinguish between the two options by activity and time commitment; note that route conditions may change.
The Phares d’Hourtin also have a clear access rule: the forest road to the lighthouses is closed to cars but open to pedestrians and cyclists. Take this restriction into account when planning and check access conditions before your visit.
Enjoy the lake and coast
Plage de Piqueyrot lies on Lac d’Hourtin. It has shallow water, supervised swimming and views across the entire lake. Lifeguard supervision is seasonal. At Plage surveillée d’Hourtin-Plage, a path above the dune leads to the beach. There is also a cycle path from Hourtin, which is connected to the Vélodyssée. Access and beach conditions may vary by season. This information can help you plan beach visits and bike rides as different parts of your trip, without treating the two swimming spots as the same.
If sailing or other water sports are on your wish list, the time of year matters too: the Club de Voile d’Hourtin Médoc welcomes children aged five and over and adults from March to September. It offers sailing and other water sports. Check current opening hours and course times before booking.
Local history and guided visits
The Musée Regards sur le passé is housed in Hourtin’s renovated former railway station. It traces the municipality’s geographical, historical and sociological development. Visits take place during opening hours and include a tour led by a member of the association. Check the current opening hours and booking arrangements before your visit.
The two lighthouses also tell part of the local story: they were built in 1860 and first lit in 1863. If you’d rather have the landscape explained to you, you can discover the Réserve Naturelle des Dunes et Marais de Hourtin on a free guided tour. These tours are offered year-round for school groups and the general public; check the schedule in advance. Together, the museum, lighthouses and nature tours offer historical and landscape perspectives on the municipality.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Genis-Du-Bois, Roquebrune, Abzac, Fronsac, Daignac, Rimons, Mios, Le Pian-Sur-Garonne.
For the broader travel overview: Gironde.
