Hydraviation in Biscarrosse

Are you planning to visit Biscarrosse during your camping vacation in the Landes? Particularly famous for its surf spots, this seaside resort is also well known for its lakes and seaplanes. Discover Biscarrosse’s famous seaplane museum.

How did Biscarrosse’s hydra-jet industry come about?

It all began with engineer Pierre-Georges Latécoère, who wanted to set up an air link between Toulouse and Santiago de Chile. Traditional air travel did not inspire confidence, so he decided touse a seaplane. He chose the town of Biscarrosse, which is both relatively close to the Ville Rose factory where the parts are produced, and features a large, sheltered lake –ideal for trying out seaplane flight. Situated close to the Atlantic Ocean, the ideal starting point for flying to the American continent, and bordered by large bodies of water, the Biscarrosse lake is the perfect watery terrain for ditching. By 1930, Latécoère’s project was coming to fruition. The Compagnie Générale Aéropostale was born at the same time. Air France’s first air routes to America and the West Indies were set up. Countless seaplanes take to the skies over the Etang de Biscarrosse. The “Croix du Sud” seaplane was one of them. Famous aviators such as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jean Mermoz, Paul Hébrard and Henri Guillaumet have flown in these spectacular aircraft.

The Hydraviation Museum, a must-see in Biscarrosse

You’ll find this original museum on the 1,250 square metre site of the former Latécoère base in Biscarrosse. It tells the story of hydra-aviation and invites you to step back in time and immerse yourself in this fascinating and atypical world. Embark on an aerial journey through a variety of temporary and permanent exhibits. Enjoy refurbished old seaplanes, pilot uniforms, models, mechanical elements such as propellers and engines, paintings, archives… An impressive variety of seaplane-related objects await you, for a unique visit in the footsteps of Latécoère and the most famous aviators. The Musée de l’Hydraviation is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 2 to 6 p.m. from September to June, and daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in July and August.