Hourtin

Hourtin is a commune with 3,250 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the Gironde department in the region of Aquitaine. Hourtin located on an alternative route of the Via Turonensis, the northernmost Camino de Santiago through France.

Geography

Hourtin located northwest of Bordeaux in the Medoc. To the west Hourtin on the Atlantic and shares with the neighboring community Carcans one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in France, the Lac de Hourtin et de Carcans. Lakeside was built in the 1980s, a tourist complex of hotels, restaurants, and a sailboat harbor, which is now called Hourtin port. Located on the Atlantic coast about 12 km from the main town of the resort Hourtin- Plage. In addition to access to the sea here numerous dining establishments, hotels, and large campsite are located. Other towns of Hourtin are Contaut, Piqueyrot and Lachanau.

The town itself has around the church sufficient infrastructure with post office, several shops, doctors etc. Once a week is market day. Hourtin was hooked up in the 1960s to the railway network. In the newly renovated Station Building ( created 1854-1856 ) is housed a small museum for modern art.