Carcans-Maubuisson is the lake’s seaside resort, where the water is gentle on everyone. While Carcans-Plage faces the Atlantic’s rolling waves, Maubuisson boasts three lifeguard-patrolled beaches on France’s largest natural freshwater lake, complete with pedal boats, a sailing school, and ice cream at the end of the promenade. From our campsite in Gironde, our guests often head there for day trips.
Here’s how to choose your spot along the shore and the activities you’ll do there.
Carcans-Maubuisson at a Glance
- A lakeside resort in the town of Carcans, in the Médoc region, 45 km west of Bordeaux.
- There are three lifeguard-patrolled beaches on Lake Hourtin-Carcans: Montaut, Pôle de Maubuisson, and Bombannes.
- Calm waters, with no waves or currents, unlike the nearby ocean.
- Sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boats, catamarans, and water skiing available right from the shore.
- Everything is accessible by bike: the town center, Bombannes, and Carcans-Plage.
Directions from Les Ourmes Campsite to Carcans-Maubuisson
From Les Ourmes Campsite
in Hourtin, it takes about 26 minutes by car (22 km) to reach Carcans-Maubuisson. Here are the directions:
Lake or ocean: the question that determines your day
It all depends onthe age of your children and the weather. Carcans-Maubuisson overlooks Lake Hourtin-Carcans, a calm body of water with no waves or currents, where little ones can wade in without getting knocked over. Carcans-Plage, just a few kilometers away, faces the ocean, with its sandbars and rip currents. Two different atmospheres, two different crowds.
The lake is the better choice on cool or windy days: the pine trees block the wind, the water warms up quickly, and you can find shade right next to the sand. The ocean has the edge when your teens want to surf and ride the swells. Many families do both in the same week, and it takes about 20 minutes to bike back and forth.
Our observations: Mornings in early July are often foggy over the ocean, while the lake is already clear. When the sky looks uncertain first thing in the morning, head toward Maubuisson rather than the ocean beach: you’ll gain two hours of swimming time, and you can switch to the Atlantic in the middle of the afternoon if the wind shifts. The Médoc Atlantique webcam, focused on the lake, makes the decision in ten seconds.
The lake’s 3 beaches: which one is right for you
The resort’s three lifeguard-patrolled beaches are all very different. Take your time choosing, because once you’re there, you’ll see they’re nothing alike.
- Le Montaut, Boulevard de la Plage: the quietest beach, slightly set back from the center, with its avenue of maritime pines, pedestrian promenade, bike path, and pedal boat rentals. A restaurant and a picnic area round out the picture.
- Le Pôle de Maubuisson, Boulevard du Lac: the main beach, right in the center, with a kids’ club, dining options, and equipment rentals. You step out of the water and you’re already among the shops.
- Bombannes, on the forest estate: the liveliest spot, featuring a long beach of fine sand shaded by pine trees, with mini-golf, a bar, a playground, ping-pong tables, and free parking.
One detail that makes all the difference when you have a baby: the Pôle de Maubuisson and the Montaut are accessible by both stroller and wheelchair, and their first-aid stations provide tiralos. In Bombannes, you’ll need to ask the lifeguards for accessible equipment.
One last thing to keep in mind before loading up the car: dogs are not allowed on these three beaches during the summer.
On the water: sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boats, and water skiing
The lake is just as much for enjoying as it is for admiring. Sailing trips depart from Pointe de Coben, on the Bombannes estate, at the Cercle de Voile de Bordeaux Carcans-Maubuisson, a club certified by the École Française de Voile and Tourisme et Handicap, open year-round.
There, you can sail a dinghy, a catamaran, an open skiff, or a cabin cruiser, and the club also rents out windsurf boards, stand-up paddleboards, and foil wingsurf boards. Courses are scheduled on a weekly basis, and an 8-person boat can be booked for family outings. The best thing about this body of water can be summed up in one sentence: sheltered from ocean waves, it’s forgiving for beginners who are still finding their footing.
Other items are finding buyers on the same side of the river:
- Pedal boats and canoes can be rented right on the beaches—no reservation or equipment needed.
- Bombannes Aventures by UCPA also features a sailing school, a water park, and a swimming school in a natural setting.
- The Bombannes Water Ski Club has been towing water sports enthusiasts behind a boat since 1986.
- The lake has designated areas for specific activities, including kitesurfing, water skiing, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Bombannes and Cycling: The Car-Free Resort
You can leave your car parked all day. Bike paths connect the village, Maubuisson, Bombannes, and Carcans-Plage through the pine forest, and this is by far the most enjoyable way to get from one spot to another. Bombannes rents bikes on-site if you didn’t bring your own .
Two trails are worth exploring. The lake trail winds its way up toward the Bombannes estate along the shore, lined with land art installations created by Pauline Beugniot in collaboration with the National Forest Service: children look for the next one around every bend. Combined with the Canal Trail, the tourist office has created an easy 7- to 8-km loop, taking between 1 hour and 30 minutes and 1 hour and 45 minutes starting from Place du Pôle.
For those looking for a more challenging hike, the Cavalles Loop covers 15 km from Lake Hourtin-Carcans to the ocean beach, and the Médoc Atlantique trails extend the hike toward Hourtin to the north or Lacanau to the south. You set out through the forest, arrive facing the waves, and return to take a dip in fresh water: few days are as simple as this anywhere else in Gironde.
Bonus tip: Stop by Bombannes even if you’re not going swimming there. The estate covers 250 hectares of national forest and offers a tree-top adventure course, archery, beach volleyball, and tennis, in addition to mini-golf. An hour there is enough to keep restless kids entertained, and the beach bar gives you a chance to relax in the meantime.
In the evening, the markets and
Place du Pôle
The action centers around Place du Pôle, right on the waterfront. Shops, outdoor cafes, and ice cream vendors keep the day going there, and you can take a leisurely stroll along the lake in the cool evening air once you’ve put away your towels.
The must-see event is still the Maubuisson market, held on Wednesday mornings from mid-June through mid-September. Carcans Ville holds its market on Friday mornings year-round, and Carcans-Plage adds a market on Monday mornings during the summer season, as well as a craft market on Thursday evenings in July and August.
For a dry evening out, the Estran movie theater is showing films in Carcans, and the summer season brings its own lineup of events: the Hourcancilloise, the Frenchman Triathlon, the Short Play Festival, and the Médoc Environment, Forest, and Trades Festival.
Why settle for just a day by the lake? Book directly with Les Ourmes Campground, our campground near Carcans: our campsites and rental units fill up fast in July and August, and the resort is just a short bike ride away.
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