Landes

Landes is a department in southwestern France, part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, known for having the largest continuous forest in Western Europe, primarily consisting of maritime pine trees. The department is famous for its Atlantic coastline with long sandy beaches, its traditional stilt houses called "échasses," and being a major center for France's timber and resin industries. Landes is also renowned for its unique cultural traditions, including stilt-walking shepherds and distinctive regional cuisine featuring duck, foie gras, and Armagnac brandy.