An extraordinary environment.

"A voyage through space and time..."

Of course, there is the lake to (re)visit, where the sky takes all different shades of colours, from blue to green to grey.
Of course, everybody hopes to see the snout of an otter, or the carapace of a water turtle, that rises above the waves.
But, although the discovery of the lake is a good enough reason for a stroll, the site of Cousseau offers more than that. Because, if you know to appreciate and notice it, the nature around also shows other wonders. To begin with the forest, with its lovely smells, or the dunes, that create a hilly landscape and can hide stories about long ago.

Because, behind these lush settings, a visit to the lake of Cousseau offers you a voyage through space and time.

Contrary to the easily accessible lakes of Lacanau, Hourtin and Cazaux, situated near our modern civilisation, the lake of Cousseau is very isolated; to discover it demands some efforts. The imposed way of going by bicycle or on foot, the only authorised means of transport for a large part of the area, will make you aware of the distances and the diversity of the landscape.

The stroller will start his track winding between the shrubs; where pine trees, oaks, ferns and holly grow. Then, you get a clearer view with wooded dunes that stretch to the horizon, and where gorse, broom and heather flank the path. And suddenly, after some strides, the setting changes again, announcing the nearby presence of water. Silver birches and willows are in the majority beside the steep path that descends to the borders of the lake; here grow king ferns and reeds. Soon you will spot the lake itself, sometimes covered with white or yellow water lilies, and the swamps of Talaris that form an inaccessible setting as far as you can see.

After pausing at the panoramic terrace over the lake, and following the western lakeside, you will have to decide to leave this lovely place.

The track is long, and you will become aware of the environment. At that moment, some will realise that they also pass through time.

On the way there you have been busy discovering and observing; the way back is a time for contemplation.

Because how could you not wonder about the presence of such a vast amount of fresh water at this isolated spot. Wouldn't there be a link between the lake of Cousseau and the lakes of Hourtin, Lacanau an Cazaux, which could be its big brothers ? And what to think about the forest, with its straight patterns that show that nature was not its only architect ? Or the dunes, so far east of the beaches, that makes you wonder how such quantities of sand could have been transported ?

Nowadays all the answers are known. They reach back to the 20 000 years of geological and human history that formed the caostal area of the Gironde, and that have already partly been described - see the rubrics "existence of the lakes" (soon available) and "the dunes", and also the one headed "landscapes of the past" (soon available), at the introduction pages of the ocean coast -

So when the walk, that started as a simple discovery of a lake in the woods, is completed, some will keep a memory of going through a sort of open air museum. Its beauty showed the past, but also the present, through an observation of the surrounding nature; and finally it can assure its future by continuous care.

Taking into account the distance (7 k total), and the setting, we recommend to take a bottle of water and field glasses.
And if you want to pause at the lakesides, we recommend to use a mosquito repellent, as the insects can be very vicious in certain seasons.
Finally, we ask the visitors to be respectful and not to litter the environment, and to be quiet for everybody's comfort.

To enjoy your visit even more, we recommend the very complete work (in French) by Jean-Yves Rossignol, edited by the Conseil General de la Gironde, titled "L'étang de Cousseau", its profits serving the preservation of endangered natural sites of the Gironde (45 Francs).

More information about the nature reserve of the lake of Cousseau (entrance, guided visits...) are available at the rubric "tourism" at the pages of Lacanau, section Lacanau-Médoc.