Pine forest
The Landes forest today covers some 600,000 ha almost exclusively planted with maritime pine. It is part of the Landes de Gascogne forest, the largest cultivated forest area in the E.U., covering 1,200,000 ha. The forest is a business operation, being managed and cultivated with the main objective of producing timber and wood products for industry. For the main part it is in private ownership, playing an important economic and social role, but it is also a place for the public to enjoy leisure activities and to get away from it all. 60 km cycle tracks allow the forest to be explored in perfect peace. The flat, tarmac tracks are ideal for exploring on mountain bike or rollers (Map of the tracks).

Beaches
Mimizan enjoys vast stretches along the Atlantic coast on which to laze. You only need to go a short distance to find deserted beaches. The beaches on the north of the lakes offer safe facilities for children.

The Lake
This is a bucolic, protected area, a real little paradise for painters with its light that changes with the seasons. It is also a favourite place for fishing enthusiasts.

Culture
All year round Mimizan offers a unique cultural and festive programme. The "Le Parnasse" Theatre is the main theatre for the Landes département, and presents all kinds of artistic events: theatre, music, dance, comedy, opera, etc.

UNESCO world heritage site
After many years of renovation, the doors to the ancient Abbey of Mimizan, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, are now open once again. In the Middle Ages this was an essential stopping place on the pilgrims' road to Compostello, and today we can gaze in astonishment at a unique set of polychrome sculptures and wall paintings dating back to the 13th and 15th centuries. Another look at medieval art.

The French paradox
Mimizan lies in the heart of good food country. Here people pay particular attention to seeking out healthy produce on offer by local farmers (asparagus, carrots, blueberries, free-range chickens, ducks) or fishermen (trout, oysters).

Conference halls
Mimizan "Communauté de Communes" offers companies a meeting room for up to 200 people. The Parnasse hall has a seating capacity of 700 with excellent visual and acoustic qualities (giant screen, Dolby stereo sound system).

Flowered Promenade
The jewel of Mimizan's gardens is the flowered promenade along the lake with over 600 different varieties of plants: a wonderful picture of flowers on the banks of the peaceful Aureilhan-Mimizan lake.

Athéna multimedia Center
In order to facilitate the access to any training, the "Communauté de Communes" created since 1994 one of the very first centers of remote formation using the TIC. An intelligent wiring of the site offers an infinite flexibility to organize spaces. Each room has many multimedia access points, making possible to use all the type of sources (voice, data, images). Registered training center, it works with the big companies of the area like the Paper mills of Gascogne. Prize winner of the "Puces de Silicium" in 1997.