Aurice brings together a clearly defined landscape setting, sacred heritage, festival traditions and local craftsmanship. North of the Adour, the village lies on the boundary between the Landes forest and the Adour plain. This geographical context situates Aurice, while its local buildings, traditions and products each add their own cultural character. The village therefore offers several themes to consider when planning a trip, rather than focusing on a single attraction.
Church, chapel and sacred spring
The church of Notre-Dame d’Aurice houses a carved wooden statue of Notre-Dame d’Aurice. The chapel of Notre-Dame de Lagastet was built by the Barons of Estignols and preserves a Gallo-Roman holy-water font. The two sacred buildings each have a different focal point: the carved statue in the church and the Gallo-Roman holy-water font in the chapel. Visitors interested in religious art and history will find two distinct points of interest here, without reducing both sites to the same kind of historical evidence.
The Notre-Dame des Pins spring adds another point of interest. Its current location is 600 metres from the village and includes a small shrine. Several ceremonies take place there every year. The spring thus connects a specific place with recurring religious events. If you would like to plan your trip around a ceremony, check the dates for the relevant year.
Château and Arènes d’Aurice
The Château d’Estignols was rebuilt in the 17th century. The Arènes d’Aurice have a different building history: they were rebuilt in 1994, replacing the 1949 arena. Their design also sets them apart: this is a partly constructed wooden arena with five angled sides. Together, the château and the arena offer two distinct historical points of reference, from the château’s 17th-century reconstruction to the Arènes’ renewal in 1994. The arena’s distinctive form is part of the village’s character, as is its connection to the Landes races.
Landes races, bread and pastis
Landes races are traditionally held in Aurice during the annual patron saint festival in mid-August. The exact dates vary from year to year, so it is worth checking the dates of the festival in question when planning your trip. The festival is therefore a seasonal highlight alongside the buildings and other local attractions.
The Boulangerie Larrat in Aurice offers another local specialty, making bread and pastis using traditional methods. It is listed as open year-round in 2026; check the specific opening hours before your visit. Bread and pastis add a distinct connection to local production and complement the historical and festival themes, without requiring any additional events to be taking place.
A dated music event
A past cultural event is also part of the village’s history: an evening featuring Juliette Magnevasoa and the Trio Bodie was announced for 22 March 2025 at 8:30 pm in the Aurice festival hall, as part of the 28th “Chantons sous les Pins” Festival. The festival is an annual touring event dedicated to French-language chanson in rural areas. The event date places Aurice within a specific past edition; the annual touring format describes the festival as a whole.
When choosing your travel dates, it is worth distinguishing between permanent features of the village and events that change from year to year: the buildings described here and the spring offer cultural points of interest, while the patron saint festival and ceremonies take place on specific dates throughout the year. If you are mainly hoping to see the Landes races, mid-August is a useful guide, but be sure to check the exact festival dates.
Discover more destinations: Miramont-Sensacq, Saint-Julien-En-Born, Peyre, Moustey, Mimizan, Mano, Saint-Geours-De-Maremne, Josse.
For the broader travel overview: Landes.
