In which city house around the Arcachon basin?

Are you leaving for the Gironde and south-west of France? Let’s discover together in which city stay around the Arcachon basin!

The Arcachon basin is a lagoon located in the Gironde, in the Gascogne Landes, and is surrounded by a small interior sea, opening onto the Atlantic Ocean, with an area of 40 km2 at low tide to 155 km2 at high tide. It is a high place of nature, of fishing, of ostreiculture and of pleasure navigation. About 50 kilometers west of Bordeaux , this place was the place for many French writers and artists, like Jean Cocteau, Jean Anouilh, Jean-Paul Sartre, François Mauriac, Pierre Benoit.

Where to sleep around the Arcachon basin? A multitude of localities are located around the basin: Cap-Ferret, Arès, Andernos-les-Bains, Audenge, Gujan-Mestras, La Teste-de-Buch and Arcachon. To help you in your selection of a city where to sleep, we have concocted a presentation of the cities where to stay around the Arcachon basin.

Lège-Cap-Ferret

Lège-Cap-Ferret is a cord of 11 villages surrounding the basin to the west, where you can truly enjoy a holiday in nature, with absolute calm and tranquility. The summit of Cap Ferret and its tip are essential. Go by bike, access is easy. In your wake, you will be able to enjoy the waves of the Atlantic Ocean and you will enjoy the vast sandy beaches on the pond side, to the east: the beach of the Grand Crohot, the beach of the Horizon, the beach of the Green Truc and the beach of the Garonne. At the Pointe aux Chevaux level, a superb view of the postcard type awaits you with a magnificent view of the Island of the Oiseaux – to note that on the island, the famous tchanized huts (houses on pilotis) are to be made inevitably.

Arès

The town of Arès will sublimate your family stay, from the oyster port to the walks on the marked paths of the National Natural Reserve of the Salted. This is the place of habitat for cistude turtles and green lizards. Enjoy an evening walk – at sunset – along the Arès Pier, famous for being the oldest in the Arcachon Basin. There are 6,126 inhabitants, so you can find a place to sleep in Arès and continue your journey the next day to the south.

Gujan-Mestras

In the south of the basin, the town of Gujan-Mestras has 20,817 inhabitants, seven oyster ports and beautiful walks in nature to do. As for the accommodation in Gujan-Mestras, there are few hotels but you can count on the accommodation at home, book in advance because the summer season can dry out the offer of apartments. In Gujan-Mestras – the capital of the Arcachon Ostreiculture – you will observe the daily work of the ostreaters and – of course – you will be wearing oysters without moderation. Fold from port to port and contemplate the colored huts sprinkling the shore. Between basin and nature, forest landscapes are preserved and wild. For children, the theme parks are numerous: La Coccinelle, Kid Park, Aqualand, Bassin Adventures, Max’ Golf, Laser Lander. If you want to sleep south of the basin without being too much in the tourist influx, you have to stay in Gujan-Mestras.

The Teste-de-Buch

Undoubtedly the second most famous commune in the Arcachon Basin, especially because the Pilat Dune is on its territory. With an area of 180 km2, it is one of the largest municipalities in France, yet only 26 110 inhabitants. A stopover in La Teste-de-Buch is a must because its historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage is important: ostreiculture, wine and fishing and nature mark the popular life of the city. Of course not to miss climbing on the Dune du Pilat, the highest in Europe (110,9 meters in 2016) and moreover, natural. We have already gone there during our peregrine and we guarantee that this walk is worth a visit: climb the steep slope at 30-40° to overlook the forest of the Landes de Gascogne and go back on its west side (slighter slope) to contemplate the sea: one would believe in the Sahara!

Arcachon

With a population of 10,891 inhabitants and an urban area of 65,500 inhabitants, Arcachon is one of the largest seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast and is visiting all year round. Many bars and restaurants are scattered around the coastline, ideal to finish good walks along the jets. Enjoy strolling through the shacks of the Aiguillon district, still populated by the fishermen. Finally, it’s the city where to stay at the Bassin d’Arcachon if you like lively and cultural evenings: theatre, cinema, café-concerts, evenings on the beach.

Main photo credit: Flickr – Jacques Froissant