Moustey is a commune in the Landes department, in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, 15 km south of Belin-Béliet.
Its vast territory of 67 km², which increased in 1965 during the merger with the locality of Biganon, to the northwest, borders the department of Gironde to the north.
Crossed by the courses of the Petite and Grande Leyre, whose confluence, on the site of "Houc d'Eyre", is located to the north-east of the town, the commune is a member of the Landes Regional Natural Park of Gascony. It reveals itself to be a faithful reflection of its landscape identity, covered with forests (50% of its surface area), shrubby or herbaceous natural environments (36%) and some agricultural areas (12%).
The activity there has always been focused on the exploitation of wood and its history is marked by that of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. This is why two churches are located next to each other in the village: one of them served a hospital dedicated to pilgrims…
Equidistant from Bordeaux and Mont-de-Marsan, at heart of an ocean of nature, the heritage and potential in terms of hiking of Moustey (680 inhabitants) can only delight lovers of green tourism!
A heritage discovery tour inevitably begins at Moustey with its two churches only a few dozen meters apart.
The first is the old Notre-Dame church, dating from the 12th and 15th centuries. It depended on a hospital (which also served as a leprosarium) located on the Way of Saint-Jacques, the last remains of which were demolished in 1872. Until then, the building was still called the "pilgrims' chapel". Built in "garluche" (a local stone rich in ferruginous sandstone), it has a picturesque bell tower-wall. Housing wall frescoes in the choir representing scenes from Genesis, but also furniture and an altar classified as objects, the church itself listed in the Inventory was restored by the Landes Regional Natural Park and now hosts exhibitions of artists and artisans in summer. Contact on +33 5 57 71 99 99.
Nearby, an old marker has been preserved which marks the distance still to be covered by pilgrims heading towards Santiago de Compostela via the route from Tours: exactly 1000 km !
We continue with the neighboring parish church, dedicated to Saint Martin. Dating from the 12th and 15th centuries, in flamboyant Gothic style, the building, also protected as a historic monument, has a particular "west" facade: it is made up of a wall bell tower which probably replaced a first square or rectangular bell tower. We also observe a round turret housing a staircase at the southwest corner of the nave and the aisle. Finally, on the facade, a front porch was added later to the church, which ends with a flat apse.
It is then appropriate to mention, in the village of Biganon, to the northwest, the church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens, built in the 11th century and remodeled in the 19th century. Large in size, it was built in "garluche" in a Romanesque style and is made up of a single nave, a transept and an apse with three apses. Note that medieval wall paintings were discovered in the choir in 1982. On the "west" side, a porch was added later, renovated in the 19th century. The church is also listed in the Inventory, as is the fountain (called "miraculous") nearby, dedicated to Sainte-Ruffine.
On a religious level, again, throughout the village, hamlets and forest paths, we notice a number of fountains and crosses... They always serve as landmarks for walkers.
This is also the case of the wooden statue made in the 20th century by the sculptor Mier which represents a pilgrim, in the village.
Finally, still in terms of heritage, the access porch to the cemetery with its picturesque architecture, the water tower with its curved jambs which make the utilitarian building a work of contemporary art in itself (20th century), the Basque-Landes style village hall, the old glassworks (which ceased activity in 1990) and a few characterful residences punctuate this walk...
Then it's time for leisure. In addition to the community activities and shows hosted in the multipurpose room (information at the town hall on +33 5 58 07 71 26), we first note that fishermen (especially trout lovers) can take advantage of the routes set out along the Petite and the Grande Leyre. Find out about the regulations from the local association on +33 5 58 07 73 15.
There remains the extraordinary potential available to hikers. They have the ability to follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims, but also to discover the richness of the forest and its different landscape aspects. Obviously, some loops are focused specifically on biodiversity and others on the unique "rural" heritage of the territory. Safe routes for two-wheelers have also been designed. Maps and information on +33 5 58 06 89 89.
To enjoy the forest in an original way, you can prefer a horseback ride: information from the association of Cavaliers des deux Leyre on +33 6 50 70 91 86 or +33 6 16 63 41 39.
We will not forget to finally contact the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park which programs exhibitions, thematic hikes, activities or conferences all year round: call +33 5 57 71 99 99.
