On 23 May, Center Parcs will open the doors of its first estate in the south-west, the 7th in France: LES LANDES DE GASCOGNE. A domain with an original concept, designed to raise awareness and awaken families’ understanding of and respect for nature. Located about 100 km from Bordeaux, it offers an open experience of the riches of the Lot-et-Garonne and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. 

Entirely pedestrian, the estate has a strong local base. In addition to the bastide-style village centre, which will host a market place with local producers, this anchoring is also reflected in the restaurant menus, the plants in the vegetable gardens, the preserved environment, the architecture of the buildings, as well as in the excursions and tours of the region offered.

An educational and recreational dimension on the theme of the “wonders of nature

Center Parcs Les Landes de Gascogne covers some 85 hectares of pine forest. The estate invites you to enjoy a unique family experience thanks to its 4 vegetable gardens designed according to the principles of permaculture. All are designed to help visitors learn about the cultivation of the land over the course of the seasons, the importance of biodiversity and the role played by each living creature: the Family Garden, with its rows of vines and rose bushes, the Gourmet Garden, with its different cultivation methods and its local fruit and vegetables, the Mandala Garden and its fruit spiral, and the Participatory Garden, where visitors can learn about permaculture in the acidic and sandy environment of the pine forests.

In the educational farm, chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep and goats live in freely accessible pens, under the eye of animal caretakers. There is also an enclosure for endangered breeds from the region, as part of a conservation programme. Visitors can learn more about the black turkey of Gascony, the Gascon chicken and pig and the Landes sheep. 

Children can take advantage of fun activities based on the plant and animal dimensions and, for a few hours, put themselves in the shoes of a real chef, gardener or farmer. Paper, nature, bread and cooking workshops are also offered, based on the seasons and local resources.

Unusual and immersive accommodation

The Farmhouses immerse visitors in a revisited and modernised atmosphere of the region’s farmhouses. They offer an immersive and fun stay in the heart of the educational farm area, each with its own participatory vegetable garden and henhouse. Each day, an exclusive programme is offered to them to experience the daily life of a farmer, from collecting eggs, to maintaining the vegetable garden, to feeding and caring for the animals. With the gardener, visitors learn about composting and help produce the fertiliser needed for the vegetable gardens.

The Tree Houses, with their futuristic architecture, invite visitors to immerse themselves in the forest. Their elevated design takes the form of a nest offering a breathtaking view of the Landes pine forest. The warm decoration brings a feeling of well-being and a glimpse of the surrounding nature thanks to the numerous exterior openings.

With its warm decoration echoing the moor (wood, sand, green of the pines and moss, yellow of the brooms…) the VIP cottage reinvents with chic and elegance the traditional cabin. In the bathroom, a hammam shower and a whirlpool bathtub invite you to feel good, with a view of the forest. 

Fun and colourful, the Comfort cottage offers families a playful and poetic environment to share unique moments together. 

A village centre with a bastide spirit

At the heart of the estate, the Village Centre is revealed. A contemporary take on the traditional market place, and largely inspired by the Halles du Sud-Ouest, it is totally integrated into the modern architecture thanks to its undulating canopy. This living and meeting space houses :

The Aqua Mundo, which is distinguished by its modern and original architecture with a wooden framework inspired by the traditional tobacco drying sheds of the region. It includes a wave pool, a children’s area with a water tree and paddling pool, a wild river, an outdoor beach, 3 slides and whirlpools.

The Deep® Nature spa with sauna, outdoor and indoor whirlpools, 3 single cabins, 1 double cabin and a hydrojet cabin. Exclusively, Deep® Nature has developed a unique treatment with a product that is emblematic of the region: the hazelnut! The vineyards are also in the spotlight with the Vinésime facials, which use a unique complex of Pinot noir and blackcurrant.

The restaurants with the Bistrot Café, offering south-western specialities brought up to date, under the leadership of Michel Dussau, a well-known chef from the Lot-et-Garonne region, and a cellar that gives pride of place to regional wines. But also the Comptoir des Halles and its terrace which comes alive in summer, the Cabane and the Bar-Lagon for snacks, a mini-market with an area dedicated to regional products, not forgetting the meal or shopping delivery service.

Visitors will also find the essential elements of the Center Parcs experience: the Action Factory, an indoor games area with its different worlds, bowling, Gametown and its arcade games, children’s play areas scattered throughout the estate, sports activities (mini-golf, archery, multi-sports ground, petanque, etc.) and a programme of events adapted to the season.

A responsible approach

With its energy performance, waste management and choice of building materials, Center Parcs is implementing strong measures to control its ecological footprint.

The new resort is committed to soft mobility and a wood-fired boiler room that provides 80% of the heating needs of the central facilities. The cottages are all equipped with 100% LED lighting and their bioclimatic construction limits the need for heat in winter. The cottages, like the central facilities, are not air-conditioned. Thanks to air renewal systems, solar protection and the orientation of the windows, they are naturally cooled. The consumption of drinking water is also reduced thanks to hydro-economical equipment.

From the start of the project, an environmental committee was set up to identify areas of high environmental concern and protected species. This committee meets every year to ensure rigorous monitoring of biodiversity on the estate. The monitoring of species is carried out by a local expert association.