Travel to the heart of the Landes with my unique Landes posters
What a magnificent department the Landes is! Yes, okay, I'm a bit chauvinistic and not very objective because I was born in the heart of the Landes. But what better way to take you on a journey to his country than through the stories and creations of a Landes artist? Come on, I'm sure you can already hear my Landes accent behind my screen every time you read the sound "in", am I right? 🎶
So let me tell you where I come from and come with me to travel and understand this Landes region through my posters.
Let's start with Chalosse, this Landes region where I was born, grew up and made me who I am today. We will then go to the Landes coast after a short hour's drive and end our trip by immersing ourselves in the Landes culture and its traditions. And if you are nice and patient, I will reveal to you the secrets of a Chalosse tradition little known to the general public 😉 .
Chalosse, my native land
Chalosse is a region located south of the Landes region. It stretches between Béarn to the south, Adour to the north, and Dax to the west.
Located inland and protected from mass tourism, the gastronomy and traditions are rich and authentic.
For my part, I was born in a small village near Hagetmau, a famous Chalosse town.
Here, we live around agriculture and sports (especially basketball and rugby).
This particular terroir owes its richness to its geographical location (between the Pyrenees and the Adour Valley), its cereal agriculture, its gastronomy, its traditions, and its living environment. Contrary to the cliché of the Landes, the Chalosse region is very hilly since it is at the foot of the Pyrenees. Moreover, there are magnificent views of the entire Pyrenean chain and the Pic du Midi d'Ossau.
The Landes coast, between pine forests and sand dunes
The Landes coast is the greatest natural resource in the Landes region. It stretches 106 km, from Tarnos in the south to Biscarrosse in the north.
Its beaches are among the most beautiful in France and are famous worldwide, particularly for surfing. Several spots are well-known, such as Hossegor, where the Quiksilver Pro France, a round of the World Surfing Championship, takes place every year.
Tourists flock here in droves during the summer, enjoying the many seaside resorts that line the coast. And there's something for everyone: wild beaches in the north, a much more urban coastline in the south, more party-oriented resorts like Capbreton, and others that are more family-oriented like Vieux-Boucau.
And in this magnificent setting between pine forest and sand dunes are natural treasures such as the Huchet stream and the Orx marsh.
In addition to this sublime setting, it's an opportunity for you to discover Landes folklore.
Landes folklore
Landes folklore is a collection of popular Landes traditions passed down from generation to generation. From the Landes stilt walkers to the wild dances of the bandas, every corner of the Landes vibrates to the rhythm of these customs. Immerse yourself in the festive spirit of the ferias, where the warm atmosphere and colorful costumes transport the festivities into joy and conviviality. The bandas poster I created, as well as the poster for the Hagetmau 2023 ferias, perfectly illustrate this cultural richness, offering a visual window into the vibrant soul of the Landes, where folklore becomes a true spectacle for all the senses.
Come on, since you've read this article to the end, I'll reveal another lesser-known tradition that is mainly present in Chalosse: the hailhes de Nadau (Christmas fires in Gascon).
On Christmas Eve, the evening of December 24th, large bonfires are lit in villages, in every house or neighborhood. These bonfires are said to show the way to Santa Claus.
These hailhes de Nadau bring together the inhabitants of the village or neighborhood for a very convivial moment during this festive season. The Landes people accompany these fires with a song that people sing around the fire: "Hailhe de Nadau, lou porc à la sau, la poule au toupin, couratye bézin" (Christmas fire, the pork in salt, the hen in the pot, neighborly courage).
I will probably make a poster of it soon, to be continued...