Villa,
Cottage & Apartment Holidays in South West France
Bassin d'Arcachon Tourist Guide
|
|
The
Bassin d'Arcachon is a
haven for outdoor-lovers. Over 100km of coastline from south of
Arcachon to Cap Ferret, beaches for everyone from toddlers to championship
surfers; pine forests, sand dunes, chic towns, historic oyster-farming
villages, and cycle trails to discover it all by. Every water-sport
imaginable. An abundance of nature, especially for bird-watchers.
And, in common with the rest of this part of France, it's very family-friendly
and oozes a laid-back, un-self conscious style that makes you quickly
feel at home. A delight!
|
Fly to Bordeaux - check our Travel
page |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Bassin d'Arcachon caters perfectly both those who unwind by
doing nothing, and those who do so by doing those things they
don't have a chance (or the climate) to at home. So if both
these types are in your holiday party, you won't have any
arguments if you come here! Here's a brief guide to keep the
more active ones happy:
Sailing - the bay of Arcachon is a great
place for beginners and more advanced. Arcachon's Port de
Plaisance has its own sailing club from where you can hire
boats to sail the Bassin, especially the beautiful Ile aux
Oiseaux, a wonderful place to stop off at low tide, or to
view the famous maisons tchanquées - houses on stilts.
Or venture to the mouth of the bay to view the famous Dune
de Pyla and maybe stop off on the sand banks of the banc d'Arguin.
Surfing - summer schools for beginners and big breaks
for pros. The surf is reliable throughout the year: le Truc
Ver and le Grand Crohot on Cap Ferret's Atlantic coast are
the most popular spots.
Golf - two great courses
nearby, at Arcachon International and Gujan
Mestras (the latter has been used on the European
PGA Tour). Compared to the South of France the courses
are quiet and inexpensive yet the standard is very high.
Nature - the Bay is home to wide variety
of birdlife and consequently is a popular birdwatching destination.
There are birdwatching reserves at nearby Parc Ornotholiqique
du Teich and Ile aux Oiseaux (Bird Island) in the Bassin which
can be visited by boats that depart from the Arcachon jetties.
Canoeing - an exceptional way of enjoying
the bassin's natural environment is by canoe along the river
Leyre - the 'Petite Amazone'. Guided tours from Belin-Beliet
to the delta into the bassin.
Vineyards - if
you’re feeling completely ‘beached out’
why not take the opportunity to explore some of the region’s
fine vineyards, such as Margaux, Lafite
or Mouton Rothschild.
Shopping - we all like to shop on our holidays
and in Arcachon and Le Cap Ferret you'll have a selection
of fine boutiques to choose from. Or if you really want to
exercise your wallet, spend a day in Bordeaux, just 45 minutes
away by car! |
|
BASSIN
D'ARCACHON
OUR PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS |
|
• |
Climbing
the Dune de Pyla on a clear day - and the unrivalled views
from the top |
| • |
Stroll
around Cap Ferret village, stopping for tea and cannele at
Fredelian |
| • |
The
scents
and sounds of the path through the forest and up over the
dune to le Truc Vert beach |
| • |
Admiring
the villas of Arcachon's Winter Town |
| • |
Watching
the sunset from Le Moulleau jetty, Cap Ferret lighthouse winking
as the sun goes down |
|
|
|
Arcachon
- an all year round sea-side town that's hugely popular
with French families and it's easy to see why: exceptional
sandy beaches, long, picturesque sea-front promenade, a manageable
size - shops, bars, restaurants, casino, even the train station
- all within easy walking distance. All topped
off by Arcachon's signature architecture, exemplified by the
Winter Town's magnificent villas which feature stained glass,
ornate balconies and intricate brickwork. One of our favourites!
Le Cap Ferret - chic-est spot on
the the Cap Ferret peninsula . Smart boutiques, cafes and
restaurants in a low-rise, laid-back setting - the ambience
is casual, relaxed but appreciative of good living. A
couple of 'bonnes adresses': it's worth stopping for a drink
at the stylish Tchanque bar of the Hôtel
Maison du Bassin (so named after the famous houses
on stilts close to the Ile aux Oiseaux) - the address
for an 'apéro'; and Fredelian, a salon
de thé renowned for its patisseries, especially the
local favourite (and ours), cannelés.
Dune de Pyla - the
largest sand dune in Europe, standing at over 100 metres.
A journey to the summit (try it without the staircase provided!)
is a must; sunrise and sunset are the best times.
l'Herbe, Le Canon, Piraillan - traditional and picturesque
100 year-old-plus oyster-farming villages on the bassin coast
of the Cap Ferret peninsula. A stroll among the colourful
'cabanes' (huts) is a delight, great for photographs. Try
stopping to 'déguster' a few oysters direct from the
grower - it's the way the French enjoy them the best!
Le Moulleau - a chic district of Arcachon, about
2km south of the main town, appreciated particularly by Parisien
parents wanting calm for themselves, and somewhere their off-spring
can roam independently but safely. A compact centre with a
market, a few stylish boutiques, cafés and restaurants,
a children's fun-fair and regular ferries over to Cap Ferret
village make it an ideal place to leave the car behind for
a couple of weeks.
Fortfied towns - we
recommend making a day to head inland to experience some of
this region's history: St Emilion, with its
11th century basilica, is the best known of the fortfied towns
around Bordeaux, but can be busy; St Macaire
and La Réole are also enjoyable.
Bordeaux -
is well under an hour away and is another good option for
a day-trip, whether it’s boutique shopping, sight-seeing
or culture. Walking around the 18th century old town centre
(Quartier St. Pierre), you can begin to imagine the city’s
commercial and maritime past. |
|
|
|
|
With
a shoreline in excess of 100 kms it's little wonder that seafood
is the speciality of the region. In particular, oysters
are the crustacean of choice and there are many oyster huts
('cabanes') and villages throughout the Bassin. There are
tasting ('degustation') opportunities all around the Bassin
and you'll discover all manner of ways of cooking oysters
- to live like a local, try steaming them over a bed of pine
needles!
Of course, every region in France has its speciality
cakes and pastries and thankfully,
Bassin d'Arcachon is no different! You'll find cannelés
in every boulangerie and patisserie and it's quite likely
you'll eat several on your holiday here!
Bon appétit. |
|
| |
|
