Lit-et-Mixe, 30 km from our campsite in the Landes, is a small seaside resort on the Côte d'Argent, famous for its huge sandy beach at Cap de l'Homy. But that's not all. We tell you more!
The beach of Cap de l'Homy
Between Mimizan and Moliets-et-Maa, away from the major seaside resorts of the Landes, the beach nicknamed "the Grande Dame of Marensin" has more than one trick up its sleeve to seduce tourists. Starting with its immense 10-kilometre long fine sandy beach, whose dune has remained untouched by construction.
Set in the middle of the wild coast, the Cap de l'Homy beach is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the Landes. Supervised from mid-June to mid-September, it attracts families looking for space and a change of scenery as well as water sports enthusiasts looking for powerful and sporty waves. This Landes beach-break attracts numerous surfers, kitesurfers and other surfing fans all year round.
Practical: in August, a free shuttle bus links the village of Lit et Mixe to the Cap de l'Homy beach.
What to do in Lit et Mixe when you are hungry for fresh air?
Make the most of your camping holiday in the Landes to take a deep breath of nature. Nestled between the vast Landes forest and the Atlantic Ocean, Lit et Mixe has plenty to offer campers in search of open spaces and fresh air. The state-owned forest here covers more than 11,000 hectares!
Lovers of long bike rides can take the Vélodyssée, a cycle route that runs along the Atlantic Ocean from Brittany to the Basque coast, passing through the Landes department. From Lit et Mixe, you are free to go north to the Contis lighthouse, or south to the Léon lake.
For hiking enthusiasts, the Cap de l'Homy circuit is a lovely 11 km forest loop through the coastal dunes and pine forest. On the way, stop for a moment at the Yons spring, a source of ferruginous water said to be miraculous. It is said to cure headaches and stomach aches. Departure and arrival at the Parking "sous les pins" (Cap de L'Homy).
Leaving the dunes behind you, set off to discover the small Landes villages, inland, deep in the Landes forest. The Vignac cycle path (24 km), which has been laid out as a greenway, leads to Lesperon, a former stopping place for hunters, brigands and pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.
You can also take advantage of your camping holiday near Lit et Mixe to wander around the Pigeon plain, to the north of the village, not far from the Contis stream. This ecological breeding ground is home to several species of orchids and herbaceous plants that are rare in the Landes, such as the Stellaire des marais. Equally remarkable for nature lovers, the old pond of Lit et Mixe is an exceptional reservoir of biodiversity, classified as a Natura 2000 zone.
What to visit in Lit et Mixe if you are thirsty for culture?
In the heart of the village of Lit et Mixe, the Musée vieilles Landes is dedicated to old trades and local traditions. It gathers a collection of old tools, machines and utensils which tell the story of rural life in the Marensin in the 19th and 20th centuries (forestry, gemmage, fishing with a pinasse, etc.).
A little further on, the Notre-Dame de Lit church is also worth a visit. It was built in the 15th century for defensive purposes, as evidenced by its square turret. At the beginning of the 20th century, the bell tower was covered with a spire which gives it its characteristic silhouette. Inside, you can admire paintings signed by the Bordeaux artist François-Maurice Roganeau, to whom we owe the ceiling of the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux.
On the road to the Lakes, there is a second church: that of Saint-Vincent de Mixe (17th century). Two churches in one village? In 1826, the parish of Mixe merged with that of Lit to form the new commune of Lit et Mixe. That's how and why!
Did you know that?
Who said that Lit et Mixe was a small village in the Landes? With its 1,500 inhabitants, the village has made a name for itself in the people pages of magazines. Indeed, the beautiful Quebec singer Natasha St-Pier (more than 3 million albums sold) got married in Lit-et-Mixe in 2012, to a Landes man! Since then, it is not unusual for the singer to spend a few days in this little corner of the Landes between two tours!
