| Seignosse | |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Coordinates: | 43.69°N -1.3717°W |
| Arrondissement: | Dax |
| Intercommunality: | Maremne-Adour-Côte-Sud |
| Mayor: | Pierre Pécastaings[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Elevation M: | 18 |
| Elevation Min M: | 0 |
| Elevation Max M: | 62 |
| Area Km2: | 35.09 |
| Insee: | 40296 |
| Postal Code: | 40510 |
| Canton: | Marensin Sud |
Seignosse (in French pronounced as /sɛɲɔs/; Occitan (post 1500);: Senhòssa) is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.[2]
Seignosse is prized for surfing. With Biarritz and Hossegor, Seignosse is one of the historic place of birth for surfing in France (head office of the "Fédération Française de Surf" from 1977 to 1984).
Surfers from all over the world know today the surf spots of Hossegor/Seignosse/Capbreton.
Seignosse has about thirty surf schools. They give lessons in Seignosse because the waves are steady and suitable for surf training.
Every year Seignosse organises together with Hossegor a stage of the Surfing World Championship for Professionals and many other competitions all year.
Seignosse has an 18-hole golf course. The course extends over 70 ha and was designed by the French golf architect Pierre Thévenin and the American golf architect Robert van Hagge in 1989. The course (Par 72 of 6 124 m) rated as the best course in France by British golf operators, is set in a huge, undulating area planted with pines and cork oaks.
Seignosse has a water park : Atlantic Park. It is the largest water and leisure park in the Landes "département". This private establishment features 2 800 m2 heated pools, multi-lanes water slides, tubes, tunnel, a kamikaze, a superkamikaze 9 m drop, whirlpools, 25 m pools, a cross-current river, paddling pools and minislides for kids. The water park features a bar/restaurant and shady picnic areas.
A raised boardwalk takes into the heart of a dense vegetation characteristic of damp moorland where numerous protected animal species are hiding. At the end of the boardwalk is the pond "Etang Noir". Guided visits are organised during the summer season. The reception centre supplies full information and a comprehensive guide on the fauna and flora of the reserve.
The Etang Blanc is located in a natural environment surrounded by pines and cork oaks. It is possible to go fishing or get a row boat ride. The Etang Blanc features duck blinds on the water locally called "Tonnes".
The skate park : is located at the entrance of Le Penon beach.
Seignosse has 70% forest cover. The "Landes" pinewood is the largest in Europe. Seignosse has over 40 km of signposted footpaths in the forest. The town features 20 km of cycle tracks including "La Vélodyssée", a cycle route along the French Atlantic coast from Brittany to the Basque Coast.
Its two main economic drivers are woodcraft and tourism.
The classified sea resort, close to the ocean lies 5 km west of Seignosse Bourg. It was developed in the 1970s as part of the Aquitaine coastline development. It features a water park "Atlantic park", 4 patrolled beaches extending over 6 km : Les Casernes beach, Le Penon beach, Les Bourdaines beach, Les Estagnots beach. The resort has numerous shops, campsites and holiday villages.
During the summer season, a free shuttle bus drives to Seignosse beaches and to Hossegor and Capbreton.
Summer market : food, clothes, arts and crafts.
The resort was renamed "Seignosse Océan" in 2009. It features Les Estagnots, Les Bourdaines and Le Penon quarters.
The town is steeped in traditional cooking with its quality products : duck, foie gras, asparagus, kiwis, beef from "Chalosse".