Hourtin

Hourtin, in the Gironde department, is built around two distinct areas: the village itself, set beside France's largest freshwater lake, and Hourtin-Plage on the Atlantic coast, some ten kilometres away. The lake, lined by a marina and a lagoon, is well suited to water sports such as pedalo boating, paddleboarding, jet-skiing and even water karting, available on the île aux enfants. The ocean beach at Hourtin, backed by dunes and pine forest, is popular for swimming and evenings by the sea, with several restaurants nearby. An animal park, Animalia, can also be found in the area. The wider region makes for easy day trips too: Lacanau's beaches are around 40 minutes by car, while Bordeaux, with its historic centre and the Cité du Vin, is roughly 1 hour 20 minutes away. The Dune du Pilat and the Arcachon Bay take about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach. Further north, the fishing village of Talais offers another side of the Médoc coastline. Hourtin makes a practical base for combining lake, ocean and wider Gironde exploration.