A Class I river with amber-coloured water, the Leyre flows for over 90 kilometres through the heart of the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park before joining the Arcachon Basin. Here is its history, from its sources in the Landes to the delta, to help you better understand the valley before setting out on the river.
01
Two Leyres that become one
The Grande Leyre and the Petite Leyre both rise in the Landes, in the heart of the forested plateau, and converge at Moustey. From there, the Leyre flows northwards for over 90 kilometres, passing through Saugnac, Belin-Béliet, Salles and Mios, before forming a delta at Le Teich and Biganos and flowing into the Arcachon basin. Downstream, locals often refer to it as ‘the Eyre’: the same river, two names. Its delta is one of the few river deltas in France; it is now a protected area and renowned for the Teich bird sanctuary.
02
Why is she called the Little Amazon?
The Landes plateau is flat and sandy: the River Leyre flows across it at a very gentle gradient, which explains its steady current and the absence of rapids. It has carved a channel several metres deep into the sand, and within this damp channel grows a forest quite unlike the surrounding pine trees: alders, oaks, willows, ferns and royal osmunds grow together above the water. This is the gallery forest. The water itself is amber-coloured: this is due to the tannins from the forest and the iron in the sand of the Landes, not mud. It is clear; you can see the bottom, and it remains cool even in the height of summer.
03
A valley shaped by human hands
Until the mid-19th century, the Landes was a vast, marshy moorland traversed by shepherds on stilts and their flocks. The Leyre valley formed the heart of the inhabited area: it was home to the villages, mills, meadows and the few patches of arable land. The 1857 Act required local authorities to drain the land and plant trees: within a few decades, a pine forest emerged, and with it an entire economy – that of resin tapping – which sustained the region right up until the 1960s. On the Grande Leyre, in Sabres, the Marquèze Ecomuseum preserves a reconstructed Landes village and tells this story. In Belin-Béliet itself, tradition holds that Eleanor of Aquitaine was born at the castle, and the Tours route of the Way of St James still passes through the commune.
04
A protected area, and why it matters to you
The Leyre Valley forms the backbone of the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park, established in 1970, and its two branches of the Leyre are designated as Natura 2000 sites. The river is home to otters, the European pond turtle, kingfishers, herons and one of the last remaining habitats of the European mink. This status explains a few simple rules we ask you to follow: stay on the water and in the designated areas, camp only where permitted, take all your rubbish away, and keep your voice down — this is also why we can still spot wildlife from a canoe.
05
Where we sail
Our trips take place on the middle section of the river, between Moustey, Saugnac and Belin-Béliet: this is where the gallery forest is at its densest and the river at its wildest. The 6 km trip starts at the Saugnacq Bridge; the 13 km and 20 km trips set off from our base at 89 Route de Bayonne in Belin-Béliet. Multi-day trips continue downstream, with overnight camping at authorised sites, as far as Salles. Further downstream, the river widens, flows through Mios and then into the delta, a protected area which can be explored on foot from Le Teich but is not part of our routes.
This is due to the tannins released by the forest and the iron contained in the sand of the Landes region. The water is clear, not muddy: you can see the sandy seabed, and it is ideal for swimming.
Where does the Leyre flow into?
In the Arcachon Basin, in a delta situated between Le Teich and Biganos. This delta is a protected area and is home to the Le Teich bird sanctuary.
Is it possible to travel down the Leyre to the basin?
Not with us: our day trips end at Belin-Béliet, and the hiking trail continues down to Salles. The delta is a protected area that can be explored on foot.
What is a gallery forest?
The strip of deciduous woodland growing in the damp valley carved out by the river, where the trees meet above the water. It contrasts with the pine forest planted on the plateau since the 19th century.
