The best cycling routes in Réserve Naturelle Du Courant D'Huchet

village cemetery at a crossroads. adjacent to the fire station

The cork oak (Quercus suber) is a characteristic evergreen broadleaf tree of the western Mediterranean and the Atlantic-influenced coastal regions of southwestern Europe, primarily known for its thick, elastic bark layer. The trees typically reach a height of 10 to 20 meters and develop a wide, open crown. Perfectly adapted to hot, dry summers, the cork oak has small, leathery leaves with slightly serrated edges, protected from excessive evaporation by a waxy coating, and they remain on the tree for up to three years. However, its most outstanding feature is the cork bark, which can reach several meters in height: in its natural, fire-prone environment, it serves as a brilliant, natural heat shield that can even survive forest fires. The economic and ecological heart of the cork oak is its sustainable use through cork harvesting, where the tree, unlike other forest trees, does not need to be felled. The bark is laboriously peeled off the trunk in large plates using special axes – a process that requires absolute precision to avoid damaging the underlying living growth layer (cambium). A tree can first be harvested at around 25 years of age, with this so-called "virgin cork" still being very uneven and cracked. Only from the second or third harvest, which occurs at a strict interval of every 9 to 12 years, does the regenerating cork possess the necessary quality and elasticity for the production of high-quality wine corks, insulation materials, floor coverings, or modern vegan textiles. A healthy cork oak can be stripped approximately 10 to 15 times during its lifespan of up to 200 years.

the beautiful traditional washhouse at the Fontaine Saint-Orens (also called Pourrut de Maâ in the local dialect). It is located on the Route d’Huchet (or Rue d'Huchet) in the municipality of Moliets-et-Maâ, directly bordering Léon to the south. This small, idyllic building is an important testament to the rural heritage of the Landes (petit patrimoine rural) and is deeply rooted in local history. The washhouse consists of an open, rustic wooden structure with a classic tiled roof, built directly over a water basin. The facility is fed by the historic Saint-Orens spring directly opposite, named after an old bishop of Auch. What is special about this place is the mystical story that surrounds the spring and the washhouse. For centuries, the water of the Saint-Orens spring was considered healing in the folk belief of the region. It was said that the bubbling, slightly sulfurous water could alleviate or even cure persistent skin diseases (affections cutanées). For this reason, the place was once a small, regional place of pilgrimage. However, the women from the surrounding area naturally used the flowing spring water at the washhouse primarily for the hard daily work, to collectively beat and clean the village laundry on the sloping wooden boards. Today, the small washhouse on the Route d'Huchet has been completely restored and is excellently maintained. It is nestled in a quiet natural landscape amidst pine forests on the way to the historic district of Quartier de Maâ. For walkers and cyclists on their way to the nearby mouth of the Courant d'Huchet, the shady washhouse offers a wonderfully cool and historically rich resting place.

A boat trip on the Courant d'Huchet is indeed strongly reminiscent of a gondola ride in Venice, but it takes place in a very special, protected natural landscape. The boats in which one is transported are called „Galupes“. These are traditional, colorful regional boats with a completely flat bottom and a pointed shape. They were historically constructed in such a way that one can move perfectly through the extremely shallow, winding riverbed overgrown with roots. Just like a Venetian gondolier, the boatman, called „Batelier“ here, uses an approximately 5-meter-long wooden pole (la perche) to silently push the boat forward through the water using only muscle power. Motorboats, private canoes, or other boats are strictly forbidden on the river in order not to disturb the sensitive ecosystem and wildlife of the inland dunes and moors. Therefore, these traditional barges are the only way to experience the nature reserve from the water. The tours are conducted by the traditional association of Bateliers, whose boatmen explain the flora and fauna in detail during the trip. The tour starts directly at Lac de Léon lake and leads through a dense, primeval forest-like gallery forest of bald cypresses, cork oaks, and ferns. The boats can usually accommodate a maximum of six passengers. There are two different tours to choose from: The „Small Tour“ takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, covers about 8 kilometers, and costs 20 euros for adults. During the main months of July and August, the „Grand Tour“ is also offered in the afternoon. This lasts almost 3 hours, covers 12 kilometers further into the direction of the Atlantic estuary at Moliets-et-Maâ, and costs 25 euros per person. Children under 6 years old pay a reduced price of 9 or 12 euros respectively on both tours. The season runs annually from the beginning of April until the French All Saints' autumn holidays at the beginning of November.

very nice and pleasant track

Very nice track, very pleasant

Very nice surf instructor. Speaks good English! And if the kids don't understand English themselves, they can also learn a little surfing English from Rémi.

There are some impressive cork oaks to see here. Some have been processed, others are not yet "peeled."