The Barthes de l'Adour covers the alluvial plains on either side of the Adour, stretching for 80 km from Pontonx-sur-Adour to Tarnos. The alluvial plain of its tributary, the Luy, is also included in the Natura 2000 sites as far as Sort en Chalosse. With a total surface area of 20,000 hectares, the boundaries of the site correspond to the area covered by the hundred-year flood of 1952 in the 45 municipalities concerned, as well as some of their associated hillsides.
The Barthes de l'Adour are vast wetlands criss-crossed by ditches and canals, with richly varied natural environments ranging from grazed or mown meadows to the large oak groves of the Adour, 17 of which have been targeted by Europe (oak grove and alder grove-alluvial oak grove, high peat bog, amphibious lawns, aquatic grass beds, megaphorbia, etc.). This mosaic of environments is home to a remarkable fauna and flora typical of wetlands, 47 of which are targeted by Europe (White Stork, European Cistude, Otter, Barbastelle, Marsh Copper, Sea Lamprey, Graslin's Gomphe, Four-leaved Marsileia, etc.). Fans of flora and fauna will be able to observe a remarkable diversity of species.
A partner of the Tourist Office for many years, the CPIE (Centre Permanent d'Initiatives pour l'Environnement) Seignanx et Adour is one of the historical players in the preservation of the Barthes. In association with the Landes Nature association, the Landes Hunting Federation, the Syndicat Adour Midouze and the Landes Federation for Fishing and the Protection of Aquatic Environments, it is the Natura 2000 coordinator and implements the objectives documents for the Natura sites. As such, it offers owners and users of the Adour and its Barthes to take action to preserve this remarkable natural heritage (maintenance of natural meadows, preservation of old woodland, maintenance of water bodies, restoration of peat bogs, etc.). You can also find all the information you need about the Adour and its barthes on the Barthes Midouze Marensin website.
In the Kiwi Valley, the Barthes are accessible from the communes of Port-de-Lanne, Saint Etienne d'Orthe, Pey and Orist. During your hike in the Kiwi Valley and its barthes, adopt the good habits of the responsible hiker: respect the fauna and flora, stay on the signposted paths, leave no trace of your passage and take full advantage of nature by preserving it.
Barthes Port de Lanne © Landes Attractivité
