# Capbreton

> commune in Landes, France

**Wikidata**: [Q189918](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q189918)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capbreton)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/capbreton

## Summary

Capbreton is a coastal commune in the Landes department of southwestern France, situated on the Bay of Biscay along the Atlantic coast. Known for its beaches and port, it serves as a commune within the arrondissement of Dax and the canton of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse. The town has a rich maritime history and remains a notable seaside destination in the region.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Southwestern France, Atlantic coast, Bay of Biscay
- **Department**: Landes (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Dax
- **Canton**: Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 43.6419°N latitude, 1.4322°W longitude
- **Official Website**: http://www.capbreton.fr
- **Aliases**: Capbrutus, Capberton, Cap Berton
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Landes, France
- **Wikipedia Sitelink Count**: 42
- **Administrative Classification**: commune of France (territorial subdivision, inception: 1789)
- **Image**: Central beach of Capbreton (photographer: Tangopaso, public domain)

## FAQs

**What type of administrative region is Capbreton?**

Capbreton is a commune, which is the smallest administrative division in France, equivalent to a municipality. It is located within the Landes department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France.

**What is Capbreton's geographic position?**

Capbreton sits on the Atlantic coast of France along the Bay of Biscay, positioned at approximately 43.64°N latitude and 1.43°W longitude. It lies within the southern part of the Landes department, near the border with the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department.

**What is Capbreton known for?**

Capbreton is known for its coastal beaches, maritime port, and position as a seaside town in the Landes region. Its central beach is a notable feature, documented through photography by Tangopaso. The town serves as part of the canton of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse and falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Dax.

**What is the relationship between Capbreton and the French administrative system?**

As a French commune, Capbreton operates as a territorial subdivision within the French Republic. It belongs to the department of Landes (established March 4, 1790), the arrondissement of Dax, and the canton of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse. The commune system in France dates back to 1789, making Capbreton part of a centuries-old administrative framework.

**Does Capbreton have a web presence?**

Yes, Capbreton maintains an official municipal website at http://www.capbreton.fr, providing information about local services, tourism, and civic matters.

## Why It Matters

Capbreton represents an important example of French coastal communal life in the Landes department. As one of the communes along the Bay of Biscay, it contributes to the region's identity as a destination for Atlantic coast tourism and maritime activities. The town's inclusion in the canton of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse and its administrative position within the arrondissement of Dax place it within a structured local governance system that has evolved since the French Revolution. Its historical aliases (Capbrutus, Capberton, Cap Berton) reflect the evolution of French place names and the town's historical development. Capbreton's presence in the Wikidata and Wikipedia ecosystems, with 42 sitelinks, indicates its recognition as a notable French commune within knowledge bases.

## Notable For

- Coastal location on the Bay of Biscay in southwestern France
- Part of the historic Landes department (since 1790)
- Seaside tourism destination in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
- Administrative center within the canton of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse
- Documented maritime and beach features through public domain photography

## Body

### Geography and Location

Capbreton is situated in the southwestern portion of France, precisely on the Atlantic coast along the Bay of Biscay. The commune's coordinates place it at approximately 43.6419 degrees north latitude and 1.4322 degrees west longitude. This positioning places it within the southern reaches of the Landes department, a region known for its extensive forests, sand dunes, and coastal beaches. The town lies near the boundary between the Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments, giving it a strategic position in southwestern French coastal geography.

### Administrative Structure

Capbreton operates as a commune within the French administrative system, a structure that originated during the French Revolution in 1789. The commune is organized under several layers of local government:

- **Department**: Landes (established March 4, 1790, during the early Revolutionary period)
- **Arrondissement**: Dax, one of the administrative divisions within the Landes department
- **Canton**: Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse, the cantonal seat with which Capbreton is associated

This administrative hierarchy reflects the decentralized structure of French local governance, where communes serve as the foundational unit of municipal organization, grouped into cantons, which in turn fall within arrondissements and departments.

### Historical Context and Naming

The commune has been known by several names throughout its history, including Capbrutus, Capberton, and Cap Berton. These variations reflect the evolution of French orthography and the influence of local linguistic traditions. The current name, Capbreton, suggests a connection to the Breton coast or perhaps to historical figures or landowners associated with the area. The historical development of French commune names often involved simplification and standardization over centuries.

### Cultural and Tourism Significance

Capbreton's position on the Atlantic coast makes it a destination for beach tourism and maritime recreation. The town's central beach has been documented photographically, with images such as "Central beach of Capbreton" by photographer Tangopaso being released into the public domain. This documentation contributes to the town's visual representation in digital knowledge bases and Wikimedia Commons. The beach serves as a primary attraction for visitors to the area, consistent with the coastal tourism industry that characterizes much of the Landes department's shoreline.

### Digital Presence and Knowledge Representation

Capbreton maintains an official municipal website at http://www.capbreton.fr, providing information about local government, services, and tourism for residents and visitors. In the digital knowledge ecosystem, Capbreton is represented in multiple languages and databases, with a Wikipedia sitelink count of 42 indicating its presence across various language editions of the online encyclopedia. The Wikidata entry for Capbreton provides structured data including geographic coordinates, administrative classifications, and related entities, facilitating machine-readable access to information about the commune.

### Regional Context

Capbreton exists within the broader context of the Landes department, which is part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. The department is characterized by its distinctive landscape of pine forests, sand dunes, and lakes, as well as its Atlantic coastline. The arrondissement of Dax serves as an administrative division containing multiple communes, with Capbreton among them. The canton of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse provides another layer of local governance, grouping several communes together for electoral and administrative purposes.

### Relationship to Other Entities

Capbreton is connected to several key entities in the French administrative and geographic system:

- **France**: The sovereign nation within which Capbreton is located
- **Landes**: The department providing intermediate administrative organization
- **Arrondissement of Dax**: The sub-departmental administrative unit
- **Canton of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse**: The cantonal jurisdiction
- **Commune of France**: The category of territorial subdivision to which Capbreton belongs

These relationships define Capbreton's position within the French state's administrative hierarchy and its connections to broader regional and national structures.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. [Source](http://www.archives.landes.fr/_depot_images/ead/FRAD040_E_DEPOT_65_0001.pdf)
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Annuaire de service-public.fr
9. [Source](http://datos.bne.es/tema/XX5591252.html)
10. MusicBrainz
11. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
12. Populations légales 2016
13. Populations légales 2017
14. Populations légales 2018
15. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
16. Populations légales 2019
17. Populations légales 2020
18. Populations légales 2021
19. Populations de référence 2022
20. Populations de référence 2023
21. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
22. [Source](http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=6848)
23. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
24. GeoNames
25. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
26. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
27. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
28. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)