Use your stay in the Landes countryside to explore Lévignacq, a delightful village with picturesque, low, half-timbered houses.
Flanked by an impressive bell-tower, its fortified church, dedicated to St Martin, is splendidly ornate, as shown by the wooden vault decorated with 18th-century paintings, the altarpiece of the high altar and the 15th-century frescoes which adorn the vault of the choir!
Then take the time for a stroll past Lévignacq's pretty, timber-framed façades...
Lévignacq is a commune in the Landes department, in the New Aquitaine region, 25 km south-east of Mimizan.
Its vast territory of 42 km² belongs to the natural region of the Landes de Gascogne (a plateau characterized by its sandy soil), within the Pays de Born. The locality is covered mainly by forests (in this case pines but also oaks) on 47% of the municipal area, shrubby or herbaceous environments (44%) and some agricultural areas (6%).
Crossed by the narrow valley of Vignac, now with some 320 inhabitants, Lévignacq has preserved a quality built heritage and highlights its particularly green natural environment.
Formerly more active but impacted by the rural exodus in the 20th century, the town enjoys a charm typical of the region (half-timbered houses), and visitors and holidaymakers alike will appreciate the leisure facilities available to them. This is a stage not to be overlooked between the forest and the Landes coastline (the Atlantic beaches are only a dozen kilometers away…).
The parish church of Saint-Martin is the jewel of the heritage of the town. Protected as historical monuments, with a Romanesque base, it was fortified by the English in the 14th century, as evidenced in particular by its bell tower in the form of a keep (a pyramidal tower with buttresses and covered with curved slates, equipped with arrow slits and 'a walkway). Chapels were added in the 17th century and over the course of the restorations, frescoes and paintings have embellished the building. The vault of the choir was painted in the 15th century and the walls of the nave were decorated with frescoes in the 18th century, signed by the Bordeaux artist Fautier, evoking biblical themes (scenes of the Nativity, the Trinity and the Transfiguration by example). Once covered with whitewash, these frescoes have since been enhanced. We should also mention the wrought iron and wood door in the Louis XIII style, the decorated wooden ceiling of the nave, statues and paintings, the high altar in gilded wood and especially the central wooden altarpiece, with five shutters punctuated with twisted columns with winding vine branches (18th century). These pieces of furniture are classified as objects.
An explanatory leaflet for visitors is available in the church or at the town hall: contact +33 5 58 42 82 37.
Another notable element of the heritage of the town, the Château Dentomas built in 1850 on an area of 18 hectares composed of gardens, vegetable gardens and vineyards. The complex, which belonged to a noble family that had a mayor and deputy at the end of the 19th century, was then acquired by industrialists. More recently, the municipality bought the castle and its wooded park of six hectares.
In the village, we finally notice that many traditional half-timbered houses have been preserved and contribute to the charm of the locality.
On the cultural level, the Jean Boucau museum, which is managed by an association, was created in 1994. Its collections (objects, documents, works of art) make it possible to understand the heritage and daily life in the village of the middle of the 19th century to the 1950s. The establishment also regularly schedules themed temporary exhibitions, conferences and workshops. Open in July and August and the rest of the year by appointment. Free admission. Information on +33 6 71 15 37 44.
For sports enthusiasts, note that near the municipal stadium, there is a tennis court, a basketball court, and a multi-sport playground.
As for the potential offered in terms of walks, is first available on Lévignacq a "Terra Aventura" course intended for young people and families: this 2.5 km route allows you to discover the heritage in a fun through puzzles. The game is downloadable to a mobile phone. Information on +33 5 58 42 82 37 or +33 5 58 42 89 80.
Other routes should also be mentioned: such as the Voie Verte linking the coast to the west to the villages of "inland", including Lévignacq, i.e. 50 km of safe route for pedestrians or two-wheelers.
In the town, the Bazargue circuit has also been developed, which is dedicated to the discovery of remarkable wetlands and forests (8.7 km, or 50 minutes for mountain bikers and 2h30 for walkers) and the circuit du Moulin neuf which runs along the eponymous stream then agricultural land and pine forests (8.5 km).
Maps and information from the tourist office on +33 5 58 42 89 80.
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The third Saturday of September, Watercolors festival with exhibitions and artists "working" in public in the streets of the village.
On the third Sunday of September, in the church, closing concert of the Abbayes Festival (most of the concerts take place in June in the region).
