Мимизан: Жемчужина Серебряного Берега Франции

Mimizan (mimizɑ̃; ) is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle Aquitaine in south western France. There are two separate districts of the town: Mimizan Bourg (town center) and Mimizan Plage (resort).

Mimizan is a seaside resort on the Atlantic Ocean in southwestern France.

This resort was divided in two by the current: Mimizan North Beach where the majority of summer activities take place, the seasonal markets, the pedestrian street and Mimizan South Beach with cycling paths and walking trails make it an exceptional holiday location. The stretches of fine sand of the Mimizan Beach acquired the nickname the "Pearl of the Silver Coast" when the poet Maurice Martin made a stop with his caravan in 1905. Mimizan Beach has also witnessed major events such as the emergency landing of the Canary Bird, also commonly referred to as the Yellow Bird, out of fuel on the Plage des Ailes on 16 June 1929. Coming from Old Orchard (the United States), on the occasion of France's first Atlantic crossing by plane (see Alcock and Brown, 1919, for the first transatlantic flight), the young flamboyant crew included Jean Assolant, René LeFevre, Armand Lotti, and a stowaway named Arthur Schreiber, whose extra weight was the reason for the fuel shortage.

Coming out of Aureilhan lake, Mimizan Current that is 7 km long is also the spillway for the three lakes in the north of Landes (Cazeaux Sanguinet, Parentis Biscarosse and Aureilhan Mimizan). A natural boundary, it marks out the north and south areas of the district. Its history is like the meanders of its course. In 1812, it flowed into the ocean at 3.5 km more in the south (a locality named Maillouyère). In 1928, a strong current of water destroyed the littoral dune on the origin mouth. Two dikes built by man dictate its course today. But sea erosion does not always suit the infrastructures and the current is still subject to close monitoring. At the edge of Courant, enthusiasts meet throughout the year to partake in the age old, and strictly regulated, sport of elver fishing. During the summer months children can also learn the delights of rod fishing; lessons can be arranged at the fishing school near the lake.

In Neolithic times, the countries of the oceanic fringe were populated by people who hunted and fished, leaving archaeological evidence behind. At the end of the Neolithic Age, small groups of farmers began to settle. During the first Iron Age (7th to 5th c. BC), small tribes who can be considered as proto Celts, settled in the area. The presence of a civilization called the Boïens installed in the Buch countryside and who moved down to Born country have also been recorded. However, these small tribes were not deeply implanted in the Lande. When the Romans invaded the Aquitaine, they discovered tribes quite distinct from these Celtic tribes, more like the Iberians, organized in ethnic groups known under the name of the Novempopulania. At the end of the third century the region under Rome's rule organized itself into one province: Aquitania Tertia. It would be lined with roads listed in the Antonine Itinerary, which in the early fourth century retraced the Roman routes, symbols of an economic opening, e. g., the "coastal" path and the railway station of Segosa (Saint Paul le Vieux). In Born and Marensin, the bays which had not yet been closed off by dunes obviously served as ports that permitted trade and commerce, such as that of resin collected in the ancient dune forests. The period of barbarian invasion was subject to controversy because several legends took birth there (like at Mimizan that at the battle where St. Galatoire perished under the assault of invaders). However, it was unquestionably after the Roman era the invasion of sand forming modern dunes saw the closure of bays and then the ruin of little ports. Among the people that we meet between the 5th and 10th centuries are the Gascons. In 602 the name Vasconia appeared for the first time, to describe the countryside situated between Garonne and the Pyrenees. The Carolingian influence transformed Vasconia into Gascogne. Next the country was to face the Norman invasions.

The Aquitaine duchy sprawling out from the Loire to the Pyrenees was constructed in the 11th century. It was also from this time on, and for seven centuries, that the pilgrimage to saint Jacques de Compostelle began. Pilgrims came from all over Europe crossing the Landes. They followed itineraries that outlined resting stops, places of worship, castles or mottes surrounded by stakes. They used three routes including that of the coast. A number of commanderies or hospitals erected by the Templars or the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (e. g., Contis, Saint Paul en Born, Parentis, etc.) were regrouped on this coast road. Mimizan was created as a Sauveté (a sacred refuge created by the church for the protection of the weak). Its limits were set by nine monumental posts (safety posts) in the form of pyramids. Today, only five still exist and are classified as historical monuments. If the first mention of salvitas (sauvetat) did not appear until 1270, the term frangitas was employed during 1009–1032. In 1154, the Aquitaine Duchy entered into the Kingdom of England by the marriage of Alinéor (Eleanor) of Aquitaine with Henri II Plantagenêt, and remained so up to 1453. Born was part of the diocese of Bordeaux. The large Albret family played on the rivalry between the King of France and the King Duke. They came from the heart of the Landais countryside and carried the modest title of senhor of Labrit up to 1312, then through purchases, marriages, and inheritances went on to settle in Marensin and Born and then Bazadais. In writings the name of another family who would go on to mark history also appears: Foix Béarn.

Paper mill (Groupe Gascogne Co), tourism (seaside resort).

Old Orchard Beach, United States.

The bell tower of the old church is on UNESCO's World Heritage List as part of the Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. The hunting lodge Château de Woolsack was built in 1911 for the British Duke of Westminster (the architect was Detmar Blow).

Popular activities include surfing, fishing, cycling and sunbathing.