Harbour

La paillote

Name: La paillote
Address: Biscarrosse, FR

Biscarrosse, FranceBasque coast

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Type: Harbour

Freshwater port on the north shore of Lac de Biscarrosse et de Parentis, in the Landes.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Access by the lake only. No tidal constraints, water level held constant by the Canal des Landes. Watch for shallow areas along the reed beds on approach. Speed limit of 10 km/h inside the buoyed zone near shore.

Practical

Small port used by lake cruisers, catamarans and motorboats. Slipway for trailered boats. No fuel on site, nearest petrol station in Biscarrosse town. Drinking water at the quay.

Ashore

Forest of maritime pine surrounds the lake, with a waymarked cycle path along the shore linking Navarrosse to Biscarrosse-Plage at 10 km. Lakeside beach with lifeguards in summer at Navarrosse, 500 m to the south-west. Biscarrosse seaplane museum at 3 km, the only museum of its kind in France.

History

The lake was used from 1930 to 1955 as a base for Latecoere seaplanes flying the South Atlantic mail route to Dakar and South America. The runway alignment is still visible from the air.