Mont-de-Marsan rewards curiosity. The old centre hides medieval towers and a genuinely impressive sculpture museum tucked along the riverbank, and the July Fêtes de la Madeleine transforms the whole town into a week-long street party unlike anything else in southwest France. Beyond the centre, the vast Landes pine forest fans out in every direction — flat, sandy, and ideal for cycling. The pace here is unhurried, the crowds are thin outside festival week, and the food is exceptional.