Arcachon
Arcachon is to the west of Bordeaux, and is at the northern end of the longest, sandiest coast in Europe, stretching 200 kilometres to Biarritz - known as the Côte d'argent ('the silver coast'). It is a popular resort for people from Bordeaux to escape to, being easy to reach by train.
The big attractions in Arcachon are the beach, the town itself, which is very attractive, and the seafood restaurants. Arcachon is not exposed to the full might of the Atlantic waves, being on the edge of a large inlet, the Arcachon Basin, rather than facing the sea directly.
The town is divided into two parts - the summer town (Ville d'été) and the winter town (Ville d'hiver) slightly further inland. As a visitor you will probably spend more time at the waterfront and in the summer town, but the winter town is also worth exploring, for the magnificent houses as much as anything else - Arcachon contains a large number of interesting and ornate old houses, sometimes almost verging on the Disneyesque, a tribute to the days when many rich merchants set up home here.
The Parc Mauresque falls between the two towns, and has lovely views over the lower town and the coast.
Activities
Various boat-related trips are available from the jetties in the town centre, or if you bring a bike with you (or hire one) there is a lovely promenade and cycle path that heads south from the beach and continues 30 kilometres to Biscarrosse, via various beaches and coastal towns en route.
If you enjoy cycling, don't forget that the whole Arcachon coast is backed by the largest forest in western Europe - Les Landes. Until a hundred years ago this was just infested swamp, but was reclaimed and planted with pine trees, and is now a 'Regional Natural park'.
Of course, beach activities and boat trips off the coast are available to suit all. If you are a beach lover, even a busy weekend seems unable to overcrowd the beaches south of Arcachon, so you should always be able to find somewhere quiet, if that is what you are looking for.
And the famous local oysters will undoubtedly tempt you into one Arcachons many restaurants, after all that activity.
But perhaps the two biggest attractions in the area are found a few kilometres away:
Dune du Pilat (Dune de Pyla)
The 'Dune du Pilat' sand dune is a few kilometres south of Arcachon, and is the largest sand dune in Europe, at more than 110 metres high. It is about 3km long, and steep! The appeal is two fold:
First, you and your children can pass a happy hour in the baking sun struggling to reach the top of the sand dune (stairs are also available!), and
second, the views from the top are well worth the effort - out to sea, along the coast, and back across the Les Landes forests.
It really is an interesting and fascinating place to visit.
Parc Ornithogique du Teich
This ornithological wonderland, 14 kilometres to the east of Arcachon, is one of just two bird sanctuaries in France. Previously the area was a wetland swamp, and continues to attract very high numbers of birds - reputedly more than 250 species, including several very rare birds. such as the spoonbill, the little egret and the black kite.
There are quite a few pairs of stork nesting in the parc (picture below). Many of the birds can be seen from the observation points along marked out walks through Teich Parc.
Visit Arcachon (Aquitaine, Gironde) travel, gites and hotels
Best Prices on Hotels in Arcachon - Guaranteed
(see guarantee details) Reserve online, pay at the hotel
The Arcachon hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Arcachon is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Aquitaine gites for Arcachon holiday rentals - Holiday villages in Aquitaine Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: Arcachon Car HireVisit Arcachon Car Hire for cheap car hire optons and available car collection points VisitSee Visit Arcachon for places to visit near Arcachon including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Arcachon in our Aquitaine forum Biarritz airport at 137 km Bordeaux airport at 53 km Arcachon property for saleSee Aquitaine property for sale
|
|
||||||||||||
Tourist Classifications for Arcachon
- approved Station Classée (resort paying particular attention to facilities for tourism)
Places to visit near Arcachon, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Arcachon.
See also Arcachon (version Francais)
