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DAY
1 : Arrive at ARCACHON, late afternoon.
An
internationally renowned seaside town, Arcachon was born during the 19th
century from the imagination of daring pioneers who staked their bets on
the popularity of seaside bathing. Come and discover this city, the winter
town and sumptuous villas from the second empire, its churches, its walks
alongside the Bassin and its port.
Night in
3* hotel in Arcachon. Breakfast included.
Free dinner
and evening.
DAY 2 OR 6 (flexible or depending on the availibility) :
ARCACHON – LA DUNE DU PYLA – ARCACHON.
25 km.
This
step is not included in the 7 days trip.
After breakfast, you will start your trip by cycling
to the Pilat dune, the largest dune in Europe at 105 meters high, 2700
meters long and 500 meters wide. The dune, formed recently (only 35
meters high in 1855), is still not stable and moves towards the forest at
a rate of 3 to 4 meters a year. Having left your bikes for a moment,
you can climb to the summit
using steps or by a marked path.
You will
follow beaches on a magnificent track and you will join the “Pyla sur Mer”
then Moulleau, a suburb to the west of Arcachon, a very lively place in
summer with chic boutiques and trendy cafés.
You will be
surprised by the Notre dame des Passes church, of byzantine style, built
at the top of a sand dune by the Dominicans. It houses the Vierge de
l’Avent, one of the 3 statues in France representing a Virgin Mary heavy
with child.
You then
return to Arcachon and your hotel.
Night in
a 3* hotel in Arcachon. Breakfast
included.
Free dinner
and evening.
DAY 3 : ARCACHON – BIGANOS – ANDERNOS.
25 à 30 km
You will
take the train from Arcachon to Biganos with your bike.
Since the
station of Biganos, you will progress towards the Port de Biganos
and towards the Port des Tuiles.
You
continue towards Audenge and Audenge port where former basins are used as
swimming pools.
Following
the dykes of the Graveyron estate, with its fish reservoirs, you reach the
castle. Having enjoyed the splendid views over the basin and watched the
many species of migrating birds, you come back inland towards Cassy port
using a wide shady path, by following the “Domaine de Certes”.You will
cycle gently along the cycling track to Andernos Les Bains, a very
pleasant seaside town.
For the
evening you can enjoy a number of activities; bars overlooking the sea, a
walk on the pier or the beach, or go for a walk alongside Andernos to the
church at St Eloi as far as St Brice port.
Night
and breakfast in a 2* hotel in Andernos.
Free dinner
and evening.
DAY
4 : ANDERNOS – LE GRAND CROHOT – ANDERNOS. 37km
A nice day
in the big forest of Cap-Ferret: the pleasure to pedal in the heat,
accompanied by the “cigales” song and the pine odours.
You will
leave Andernos and will pursue your circuit between ocean and forest,
along the fine sand beaches where the ocean comes to smash in magnificent
rollers. After a well deserved bathing, you will leave the beach and will
take back your road through the national forest to join Lège-Cap-Ferret,
then Ares, and finally Andernos. The vegetation is there different and
replace the forest of pines which was along the ocean. You can make a
stopping place for the hut of the résinier, a space of animation and
discovery which you should not miss. You will cross the Oyster-farming
port of Ares and will pursue then your trip towards the saint Brice's
magnificent site, which mixes forest and natural bank of the “Bassin
d’Arcachon”.
You can
take advantage of a last stopping place in this peaceful place before
taking back your road for Andernos.
Night
and breakfast in a 2* hotel, in Andernos.
Free dinner
and evening.
DAY 5 :
ANDERNOS-LES-BAINS – LE CAP FERRET– ARCACHON.
30 km
Cap Ferret
separates the Atlantic Ocean on the West and the Bay of Arcachon in the
East, offering an original geographical situation which allows to take
advantage on one side of landscapes of the Bay of Arcachon, where from we
observe the Pyla Dune and The “banc d’Arguin”, and other one of the waves
and the unlimitedness of the “Côte d’Argent”
You
will leave Andernos and will join the hamlet of Jane de Boy, then you will
take the track to discover the famous oyster fishing villages of Herbe and
Canon.
This
portion of the peninsula is enchanting: nature, preserved… the panoramic
view on leaving the fishing village takes your breath away! Take the time
to absorb it all: the bird island, Arcachon in front and the Dune of Pilat...
magic. Don’t forget to visit the Algerian chapel at Herbe... You leave Cap
Ferret and cross the Bassin to return to Arcachon and your hotel. You’ll
admire the sandbank « le banc d’Arguin » in the middle of the channels,
the Bird Island and the famous wooden cabins on stilts. Return to your
hotel from the landing stage.
Night in
3* hotel in Arcachon, breakfast included.
Free dinner
and evening.
DAY 6
: J6 (ou J2): ARCACHON – LE TEICH – ARCACHON. 40 km
Leave
Arcachon and take the cycling track via the Port of La Teste. Leave the
track and take the “7 oyster ports of Gujan Mestras” small road that runs
round the bay alongside the railway station.
You arrive
at the oyster port at Teste the port of Rocher passing by the “Salt
fields”, vast expanses uncovered by the sea and only covered up during
Spring Tides. It’s home to a special vegetation, refuge to a variety of
fauna: crabs, shellfish and crustaceans, which are adored by many breeds
of bird!
You enter
Gujan- Mestras, capital of oyster fishing which boasts no less than 7
ports dedicated to oyster farming. You’ll discover its ports and wood
cabins lined up along the channel where flat-bottomed boats are moored and
a few “pinasses”… boats typical of the basin. You will see a few marshes
with curious dug-out shelters one after the other for hunting the water
game, before reaching the Teich bird park.
This
natural reserve is set up to attract wild birds. The site offers various
landscapes, from forests to prairies and lagoons. You will see many
different breeds of birds including swans, grey herons, little egrets as
well as mating pairs of storks.
Return in
your hotel at the end of the day.
Night in
a 3* hotel in Arcachon. Breakfast
included.
Free dinner
and evening.
DAY
7 : ARCACHON.
End of the
bicycle ride. Don’t leave Arcachon without having seen the winter town and
the Moorish park.
Departure
by train from Arcachon train station. Or by car (If arrival by car)
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"Around the Arcachon bay"
