Lacanau, Coastal resort town in Gironde, France
Lacanau is a commune in the Gironde département along the Atlantic coast. The area stretches from the ocean to a large inland lake and includes wide pine forests, sandy dunes, and several separate settlements.
The settlement originally developed around the inland lake of the same name. During the First World War, a naval air station was established here that operated seaplanes over the Atlantic.
The name comes from the Gascon word for lake and describes the position between ocean and inland water. Locals clearly distinguish between the older village center inland and the modern beach community that developed only in the twentieth century.
A network of cycling paths connects the separate settlements and runs through the forests to the beach. The routes are mostly flat and well suited for exploring the entire area without a car.
Every August, an international surfing competition takes place here, with athletes from around the world riding the Atlantic waves. The nature reserve at the lake serves meanwhile as a resting area for migratory birds that stop here on their journey along the coast.
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