Festival of Cranes and Migration
Celebration of the arrival of common cranes at the Arjuzanx Nature Reserve
2026
About Festival of Cranes
Our team has not been able to confirm with an official source that this 2026 edition is taking place. The dates and program shown below may be outdated. We strongly recommend that you contact the organizer directly to verify before any travel or registration.
Festival of Cranes — edition 2026
Festival of Cranes 2026
The Festival of Cranes and Migration returns in November 2026 to the Arjuzanx Nature Reserve to celebrate the arrival of the common cranes in their Landes wintering grounds.
The festival will offer its usual program of guided ornithological walks at dawn, free access to the northern trail, artistic exhibitions, scientific and fun workshops, and activities for all audiences. The detailed program will be announced in the autumn of 2026.
Practical information — Festival of Cranes
Access to the Arjuzanx Reserve
By car
The Arjuzanx Nature Reserve is located in the municipality of Morcenx-la-Nouvelle, in the heart of the Landes, about 40 km north of Dax and 50 km south of Mont-de-Marsan. From the A63 motorway, take the Morcenx exit and follow the signs to the reserve. Free parking is available at the site entrance.
By train
Morcenx station, served by the TER Bordeaux-Dax line, is located about 10 km from the reserve. A vehicle is necessary to reach the site from the station.
Location
Activities take place at the Site House of the Arjuzanx Nature Reserve and on the reserve's northern trail. The Site House hosts exhibitions, the workshop area, and the reception point.
Opening Hours
The festival takes place over two days, usually the first weekend of November:
- 7:30 AM - 10 AM: guided ornithological walk with a naturalist (by reservation, limited places)
- 10 AM - 4 PM: free access to the marked northern trail (6.5 km through the heart of the reserve)
- 10 AM - 5 PM: free access to exhibitions at the Site House
- 3:30 PM - 5 PM: scientific and fun workshops at the Site House
Prices
Access to exhibitions, the trail, and workshops is completely free. The morning ornithological walk requires reservation with the Tourist Office of Pays Morcenais (limited places, reservation strongly recommended).
Booking
Tourist Office of Pays Morcenais: 05 58 04 79 50 or [email protected]. Reservations for the ornithological walk generally open one month before the event.
Recommended Equipment
- Bring binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens for observing cranes
- Wear warm and waterproof clothing (cool temperatures in November)
- Bring waterproof walking shoes for the trail (terrain can be muddy)
- Maintain silence near observation areas to avoid startling the birds
- Bring a water bottle and a snack for the 6.5 km hike
Contact
Arjuzanx Nature Reserve
Website: www.reserve-arjuzanx.fr
Phone: 05 58 04 79 50
The Festival of Cranes: celebrating migration in the heart of the reserve
The Festival of Cranes and Migration is a major naturalist event organized every autumn at the Arjuzanx National Nature Reserve, in the Landes de Gascogne. This event celebrates the arrival of the common cranes (Grus grus), mythical birds that choose the Landes as their wintering ground each year. Between 150,000 and 200,000 cranes pass through the department each year, and the Arjuzanx reserve is one of their favorite sites.
Ornithological walks at dawn
One of the festival's highlights is the morning ornithological walk, offered from 7:30 AM to 10 AM. Accompanied by naturalist guides, visitors set out to discover the reserve's birds, from passerines to common cranes, using trails usually closed to the public. The walk culminates at the observation tower, from where one can witness the spectacular take-off of the cranes at dawn.
An exceptional trail in the heart of the reserve
During the festival, the reserve's northern trail is exceptionally open for free access. This marked 6.5-kilometer trail crosses the heart of the nature reserve, offering a unique immersion into the landscapes of heathlands, wetlands, and forests that constitute the cranes' habitat.
Workshops, exhibitions, and activities
The program includes numerous scientific and fun workshops for all ages: nature games, readings, bird-making workshops, naturalist mediation, origami, and climate quizzes. Exhibitions of paintings, ceramics, and ornithological photographs are presented at the Site House, including the exhibition “Funny Birds”.
Concerts and screenings
The festival also offers an artistic dimension with concerts related to nature. Jazz pianist Lorenzo Naccarato, who travels across Europe from north to south following the western migration corridor of the cranes, offered a serenade at dusk accompanying the cranes' take-off from the piano, blending music and soundscapes. Documentary film screenings about cranes and migration complete the program.
An exceptional natural site
The Arjuzanx National Nature Reserve is a former mining site rehabilitated into a protected natural area, managed by the Regional Natural Park of Landes de Gascogne. Its landscapes of heathlands, lakes, and wetlands offer an ideal habitat for flora and fauna, and constitute a major wintering site for common cranes in Europe.
Where does it take place — Festival of Cranes
Festival of Cranes in brief
History of Festival of Cranes
Edition 2025 Nov 2025Other festivals near Arjuzanx
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