The Nature Reserve of the Dunes and Marshes of Hourtin is an area of 2150 ha, which presents all the landscapes of the sandy coast of Aquitaine: beaches, dunes, pine and holm oak forests, marshes and lake!
The management of this area has been entrusted to the Office National des Forêts, whose staff are responsible for surveillance and scientific monitoring, as well as for welcoming the public.
You can discover this site from the various pedestrian, equestrian or cycling routes (departures from Contaut, Piqueyrot and Hourtin plage).
Note the educational trail of the Contaut lagoon where the visitor crosses the marsh on a superb wooden platform (platform accessible for motor and visual disabilities). You may come across the stealthy otter or the all-too-fast kingfisher, but the majestic Royal Osmonds are sure to be waiting for you along the way!
Walkers, beware, there are specific regulations for the reserve, so ask for information.
Guided tours are also offered free of charge throughout the year to schoolchildren and the general public (some of which are accessible to the visually impaired and the motor-impaired) with a programme available from your Tourist Office: don't hesitate to register directly with Médoc Atlantique!