Contis, beach resort

Contis is a seaside resort in Saint-Julien-en-Born, Landes, split by the Courant de Contis, a small coastal river that flows into the Gulf of Gascony and marks the border between the pays de Born and the Marensin. Contis-Plage, on the right bank, runs from the pink bridge to the ocean and is no more than 900 metres wide, with dunes and pale sand; the beach is smooth and bare, with a faint line of wet sand where thin water has receded. The resort is a low band of white-walled houses and small blocks with terracotta pitched roofs between a wooded slope and the shore, with a tall white flat-roofed building among them.

Contis grew during the 19th century as the Landes coast was opened up by large-scale reforestation and the draining of marshland. The lighthouse, put into service in 1863, was one of the first permanent structures built here and remains a reference point for the area.

Contis-Plage was historically called Contis-les-Bains. The settlement grew around the mouth of the Courant de Contis, the coastal stream that separates the pays de Born to the north from the Marensin to the south. The old customs post, now a post office and library, keeps its period architecture above the river mouth. Since 1996 a film festival has been held here, and the local cinema is classed Art et Essai.

The beach at Contis is supervised in summer, and parking near the shore tends to fill up on busy days, so arriving early is a good idea. Those who want to explore the canal and the lake behind the beach should wear sturdy footwear, as the paths along the banks can be uneven.

The lighthouse at Contis stands not on the shoreline but in the middle of a pine forest, about 650 feet (200 meters) from the sea, which gives it an unusual appearance. It can be visited inside, and from the top there is a wide view over the treetops and the coastline.