Hydraviation in Biscarrosse

Are you planning to visit Biscarrosse during your camping vacation in the Landes? Particularly renowned for its surf spots, this seaside resort is also well known for its lakes and seaplanes. Discover Biscarrosse’s hydra-jet industry and its famous 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 didn’t 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 has a large, sheltered lake –ideal for trying out the seaplane. Situated close to the Atlantic Ocean, the ideal starting point for flying to the American continent, and bordered by large bodies of water, Lac de Biscarrosse is the perfect water landing ground. By 1930, the Latécoère project was well under way. The Compagnie Générale Aéropostale was born at the same time. The first Air France flights to America and the Caribbean islands are launched. Countless seaplanes will take to the skies over the Biscarrosse lake. The “Croix du Sud” seaplane is one of them. Famous aviators such as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jean Mermoz, Paul Hébrard and Henri Guillaumet have flown 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 hydraviation’s past, while inviting us to step back in time and immerse ourselves in this fascinating and atypical world. Embark on an aerial journey through a variety of temporary and permanent exhibitions. 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 Hydraviation Museum’s collections are on display from Tuesday to Sunday, from 2pm to 6pm from September to June, and daily from 10am to 7pm in July and August.