Visit the Pilat Dune (or Pyla), the highest in Europe
Pilat Dune , located 60 km away Bordeaux in the region of the Arcachon basin, is larger dune in Europe . Also known as the Grande Dune du Pilat, the dune is huge, measuring more than 500 meters wide, 3 km long and reaching a height between 100 and 115 meters above sea level. It is considered to be made up of 60 million cubic metres of sand. Due to the unexpected location and beauty of the dune, it is a famous tourist destination in France with more than a million visitors per year.
Interestingly, the dune is constantly moving Inside, slowly pushing the forest back to cover houses, roads and even parts of the forest Atlantic Wall . The speed of movement is discontinuous: sometimes, the dune moves quickly (10 meters in a year) and sometimes very slowly (less than one meter). Over the past 60 years, the dune has moved almost 300 metres, representing an annual movement of 4.9 metres per year.
Through this movement, the Grande Dune has travelled around 20 private properties, and each year the sand of the eastern slope of the dune covers 8,000 square meters of the surrounding pine forest. On the north-eastern part of the dune, a road was covered in 1987 after a sand avalanche and was buried entirely in 1991. An article in the newspaper “L’Illustration” dated September 19, 1936 indicates that a residence was buried under the sand. In the southeast of the dune, a Bordeaux family decided to build a villa in 1928. Two years later, the sand began to invade the house and in 1936 the house had also completely disappeared under the sand grains.
♪ Maritime winds explain both the mobility and the shape of the dune: the latter offers soft slopes on the side of the ocean (West) and a steep face on its east side, on the forest side. For the most sporting visitors, climbing this slope is a real challenge . For others, a staircase allows its ascent a little more easily.
At the top, the view is spectacular: Atlantic coast , the vast pine forest the Landes and, when the sky is clear, the Pyrenees .
What to see and what to do at the Pilat Dune?
In addition to the dune in itself and the 360-degree landscapes visible from its peak, the Dune du Pilat allows the practice of many activities and reveals several curiosities to see.
We'll find some of them. German blockhaus partially overwhelmed.
You can also practice it paragliding . During beautiful summer days, for example, it is extremely pleasant to see the multicolored veils of paragliding in the blue sky above the dune and the ocean.
Today, NFB officers are trying to stabilize the dune.
How do I go to the Pilat Dune?
From Bordeaux, if you are by car , take the A63 and then the A660 to “Basin d’Arcachon Biscarosse / Dune du Pilat”. Take Exit D259 direction « Biscarosse / Dune du Pilat »
If you are by train , always from Bordeaux, stop at the station of Arcachon (Ligne 32 Bordeaux-Arcachon du TER Aquitaine). Then take the bus Baïa (line 1) in the direction of "La Salie Beach" and stop at the "Dune du Pilat" stop.
From Biscarrosse, take Bus XL’R Line 46 direction Arcachon, get off at the Dune du Pilat stop
From Arcachon and its basin, you can go to the dune of Pilat by bike or on foot safely, and in all seasons.
There's one. parking next to the Pilat Dune. By regulating the parking lot, you contribute to the maintenance and preservation of this fragile natural space. The first 30 minutes are free. Parking price beyond 30 minutes : 4€ for 4h in high season (from April 1st to September 30th as well as during the February holidays and the Toussaint holidays). And 1€ for 4h (the rest of the year). Access to the dune is therefore free if you come by bus, bicycle or on foot.
Note that a campsite is not far from the dune.
Have you ever been to the Pilat Dune?
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