Details
Address
Réserve Naturelle Nationale de l´Etang de Cousseau
85 bis avenue du Pouch
FR - 33121 CARCANS
85 bis avenue du Pouch
FR - 33121 CARCANS
Telefon: +33-(0)6 08 43 07 03
Email: → rnn-cousseau@wanadoo.fr
Webseite: → http://site.sepanso.org/RNN_Etang-Cousseau
Dimension
875 ha
Description
The Nature Reserve of Etang de Cousseau (« Cousseau Lake ») is situated 50 km West of Bordeaux and 3 km East of the Atlantic Ocean. Cousseau lake is inserted between the two Lakes of Médoc region : Carcans-Hourtin lake and Lacanau lake.
In the middle of the XIXth century, the massive draining of the region of Landes de Gascogne (« Gascogna heathlands ») and the plantation of Maritime Pine completely transformed the habitat of this region. The costal mobile sand dunes and the lowland heathlands became forested by Maritime Pines.
The reserve is composed of a freshwater lake locked by forested sand dunes on the West side and a complex of peaty marsh and heathland on the East side. The forest is much older than the plantation of Maritime Pines and is made of English Oak, Holly Oak, Strawberry tree, Holly and Plymouth Pear. The Maritime Pine, although massively planted and now dominant is an autochtonous species.
A great feeling of calmness and wilderness overwhelms the visitor who faces the typical landscape of Landes de Gascogne. The Nature Reserve offers a wide range of habitats typically found in the region :
- 200 ha of mixt deciduous old-growth forest.
- 93 ha of wet depressions within the sand dunes (locally called « barins »).
- 50 ha of freshwater lake.
- 445 ha of marsh.
- 87 ha and lowland heathland typically made of Purple Moor-grass.
The management of the marsh is operated by a herd of a local rustic breed of cows (Marine Landaise breed). The cattle evolves naturally between the marsh in summer and the old-growth forest in winter.
The legend tells they were brougth with the Moorish invasions. They were then abandonned and returnt to a wild state. One thing is sure : this breed belongs to the Iberian type. The phenotype is described as followed : 3.4 to 4.2 feet height, body colour ranging from cream to red or black and slim black-tipped horns.
In the middle of the XIXth century, the massive draining of the region of Landes de Gascogne (« Gascogna heathlands ») and the plantation of Maritime Pine completely transformed the habitat of this region. The costal mobile sand dunes and the lowland heathlands became forested by Maritime Pines.
The reserve is composed of a freshwater lake locked by forested sand dunes on the West side and a complex of peaty marsh and heathland on the East side. The forest is much older than the plantation of Maritime Pines and is made of English Oak, Holly Oak, Strawberry tree, Holly and Plymouth Pear. The Maritime Pine, although massively planted and now dominant is an autochtonous species.
A great feeling of calmness and wilderness overwhelms the visitor who faces the typical landscape of Landes de Gascogne. The Nature Reserve offers a wide range of habitats typically found in the region :
- 200 ha of mixt deciduous old-growth forest.
- 93 ha of wet depressions within the sand dunes (locally called « barins »).
- 50 ha of freshwater lake.
- 445 ha of marsh.
- 87 ha and lowland heathland typically made of Purple Moor-grass.
The management of the marsh is operated by a herd of a local rustic breed of cows (Marine Landaise breed). The cattle evolves naturally between the marsh in summer and the old-growth forest in winter.
The legend tells they were brougth with the Moorish invasions. They were then abandonned and returnt to a wild state. One thing is sure : this breed belongs to the Iberian type. The phenotype is described as followed : 3.4 to 4.2 feet height, body colour ranging from cream to red or black and slim black-tipped horns.
Category
Protected area/Reserve
Opening hours
The Nature Reserve is open all year-round, from dusk till dawn.
Admission price
Entrance is free when you visit by yourself.
The fee for guided tours ranges from 1 to 5 Euros.
The fee for guided tours ranges from 1 to 5 Euros.
Offer
The guided tour program is available on the following website : https://site.sepanso.org/sorties-natures
Booking is compulsory via the tourist office : 0033556032101
Booking is compulsory via the tourist office : 0033556032101
Revision: 12. 04. 2021