Le Bassin d'Arcachon

The Arcachon Basin, a breathtaking panorama

Reaching the summit of the Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune in Europe, is to take in a breathtaking landscape at once, offering one of the most beautiful panoramas. The blue of the ocean, the golden hues of the islands, the green of the pine forest… A magical and unspoiled place. You have an exceptional view of the Arcachon Basin, the tip of Cap Ferret, the Banc d'Arguin sandbar, the stilted huts, and Bird Island, a place so beautifully celebrated in song by Pascal Obispo.

Located just 50 km from Bordeaux, in the heart of the Landes de Gascogne region, the Arcachon Basin is a vast bay where the calm waters of the Leyre River mingle with the turbulent waters of the ocean. The Basin enjoys a microclimate. From spring onwards, the mimosas release their delicate fragrance. The first rays of sunshine give a taste of summer to the water, which takes on turquoise hues. Once known as "the little sea of Buch," the Arcachon Basin has inherited a true maritime culture. The waters of the Basin constituted an extraordinary fishing ground for the many fishermen of the Pays de Buch.

Navigation was carried out on pinasses, flat-bottomed boats that facilitated navigation in the channels. The Arcachon Basin has also preserved its oyster farming tradition. One can fully appreciate the beauty of this vast natural area by boat, by bicycle thanks to its 150 kilometers of cycle paths circling the basin, on foot, and even by hang glider, paraglider, and helicopter.

Arcachon, a mosaic of the four seasons

Arcachon was born with the rise of the first seaside resorts. On May 2, 1857, Arcachon was established as a commune by Napoleon III, and the railway line between Bordeaux and La Teste was extended to the seaside resort. The brothers Émile and Isaac Pereire, wealthy bankers and shareholders of the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi (Southern Railway Company), bought land and built a sanatorium, villas, and a casino… The Winter Town was born.

The municipality, which is very large, is made up of several districts, each with its own particular charm that gives it its unique identity.

The Winter Town, listed as a Historical Monument since 1985, is home to elegant and sumptuous 19th-century villas in neo-Gothic and neo-classical styles, sometimes hidden in vast parks where Bordeaux residents loved to spend their holidays. Seventy-three such residences are listed today.

It was also here that a Moorish-style casino was built, destroyed by fire in 1977. A beautiful 4-hectare park remains, featuring an arboretum with numerous plant species, rare varieties, and century-old trees. Nearby, a belvedere, called the Sainte-Cécile Observatory, built in 1863, offers a panoramic view of the bay. However, access is only possible for those without a fear of heights, as it requires climbing a very narrow, spiral metal staircase, held by metal cables, 15 meters above the ground. A funicular railway, now converted into an elevator, provides access from the park to the summer town. This is the modern part of town, where small apartment buildings have sprung up along the seafront. Certain areas, such as the one around the newly built Place des Marquises, near the brand-new covered market, have become very lively. Numerous shops have opened.

The neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica dominates the city and houses an alabaster statue. Legend has it that a priest, having saved several ships from a storm, received it as a gift from the waters.

The Autumn Town extends around the fishing and pleasure ports. The Spring Town is located near the Sainte-Anne des Abatilles spring, discovered by chance during oil exploration in 1923. Beautiful beaches (Pereire and Moulleau beaches) welcome families.

A striking Greek Orthodox church, perched on a promontory, overlooks the district that houses the only thalassotherapy center in the Gironde department. The aquarium-museum invites visitors to discover the species in the tank, as well as tropical fish. As for the zoo, it encompasses 14 hectares and is home to hundreds of big cats, which can be viewed from a suspension bridge.

Pyla and its dune

The Dune du Pilat steals the show from the small seaside resort of the same name, home to Daniel Meller and Corniche beaches. It impresses with its dimensions: 110 m high, 500 m wide, and 2700 m long. For 8,000 years, its panorama has captivated visitors, especially from its summit. Worth seeing:

• Maritime pine and oak forest;
• Banc d'Arguin, the largest sandbank on the coastline;
• Atlantic Ocean;
• Bird Island, whose surface area varies with the tides and which is home to many species of birds;
• Stilted cabins standing like sentinels. They owe their name to the Gascon term designating the stilts used by the shepherds of the Landes region; the tip of Cap Ferret.

Constantly in motion between the sand, the wind and the tides, the dune has the particularity of advancing every year, from 1 to 5 meters.

La Teste-de-Buch, between ocean and forest

It is the largest municipality in the Arcachon Basin, covering 26,000 hectares, including 10,000 hectares of maritime pine forest. La Teste-de-Buch boasts some of the Basin's most iconic heritage sites, visible from the Dune du Pilat, including the salt marshes and Lake Cazaux-Sanguinet. The latter is the second largest freshwater lake in France, connected by a canal to the Arcachon Basin.

It is the ideal place for practicing many outdoor sports in the heart of a magnificent forest.

GUJAN-MESTRAS, OYSTER CAPITAL

The town of Gujan-Mestras, which has preserved its authentic charm, boasts no fewer than seven ports : La Hume, Meyran, Gujan, Larros, Le Canal, La Barbotière, and La Mole. These ports are dedicated to oyster farming, which professionals will introduce you to. You can learn and taste the local delicacies in a friendly and festive atmosphere. Beaches, golf, cycle paths, an animal and amusement park, bowling, a casino, a nightclub… the town has plenty to offer sports enthusiasts and partygoers alike.

At the port of Larros, the Oyster House is a museum created by oyster farmers to share their craft through history. Gujan-Mestras produces half of the oysters in the Arcachon Basin. La Hume beach, near the small marina, is ideal for families and offers a magnificent view of the basin.

Le Teich, a bird paradise

Paradise is on earth at Le Teich, as well as in the air for all bird species. Located in the heart of the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park, on the Leyre delta and on one of the most important migratory routes in Europe, this 110-hectare nature reserve, with marshes and forest, is home to exceptional fauna and flora.

Numerous hiking trails and 12 km of cycle paths allow for close exploration, as do canoe and kayak trips. A 6 km marked trail, dotted with 20 observation huts crossing all areas, has been specially created for observation.

Audenge and its little cabins

The small port of Audenge is completely authentic, as are the colorful little wooden cabins that line its shores. The small town boasts a 50-meter seawater pool that is replenished with each tide, an open-air swimming pool created by a swimming enthusiast.

At the northern exit of Audenge in Lanton, the Domaine de Certes and Graveyron are sensitive natural areas, owned by the coastal conservatory, to be discovered for its typical vegetation and its bird fauna.

Biganos and its lakes

Rural, aquatic, and forested landscapes define this town located within the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park, crisscrossed by numerous waterways. Biganos boasts four lakes : Lac Vert, Lac Lambert, Lac de Pont Neau, and the Trous des Tuileries; two harbors: Port de Biganos and Port des Tuiles; and one island: Île de Malprat. Situated between two branches of the Leyre delta, which is not open to the public, it shelters a diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna.

Biganos is known for its Aquitaine caviar production at the Cassadotte mill and Caviar Perlita in Le Teich. The Saint-Gervais church, like the 9th-century Comprian priory, was a stopping point for pilgrims on the Way of St. James.

Andernos-Les-Bains, for all nature lovers

The small seaside resort of Andernos-les-Bains, nestled close to nature, boasts a rich Gallo-Roman heritage, many vestiges of which are still visible today. Numerous attractions are sure to charm visitors:

• The good life on the oyster port and near the huts.
• Quinconces beach, bordered by pines and tamarisk trees and its eponymous natural site, longest jetty in France (with its 232 m).
• Events, including the jazz festival.

As in several towns in the basin, it is possible, for a morning, to embark on a boat with a fisherman or an oyster farmer to learn about the sea and the trades related to it.

Ares, between marsh and clearing

In the Middle Ages, Arès traded Médoc wines with the British Isles. In the 19th century, the town boasted five mills, of which only the tower of one remains. What characterizes this small seaside resort today is its extraordinary natural heritage. The flora and fauna thrive on the Quinconces site, which can be explored with a naturalist guide, amidst the forest, marshes, and salt meadows.

You can also walk along the coastal path, stopping at the Saint-Brice cove which is home to a pine forest and three freshwater bodies, monitored from June to September.

Lège-Cap-Ferret, the peninsula as a horizon

Like Arcachon, Lège-Cap-Ferret is the chic resort of the Gironde. It has managed to retain its wild and authentic character thanks to its unspoiled natural environment. It stretches for 25 kilometers, dotted with small villages and hamlets: Lège and its town center, Grand Crohot (Lège-Océan), Claouey, Les Jacquets, Petit Piquey, Grand Piquey, Piraillan, Le Canon, L'Herbe, La Vigne, and Le Cap Ferret.

Nearly half of the peninsula is covered by a vast national forest of 7,500 hectares. It offers a variety of walks, horseback riding, and cycling on its numerous bike paths. For swimming, you can choose between the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean or the calmer waters of the Arcachon Basin.

The lighthouse, located at the tip of Cap Ferret, offers a unique view of Bird Island, the Dune du Pilat, and the bay. After climbing the 2,580 steps, you're over 50 meters high, so it's no wonder!

The tip of Ferret is a place of wild nature where the ocean enters the basin and where waves, winds, tides and currents shape the landscape.