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100 kilometres to discover the landscapes,
fauna and flora of the Bassin : an authentic experience in a
well-preserved natural environment… The
Bassin d’Arcachon
is the only lake on the Aquitaine coast to have maintained an
opening to the sea. Twice a day, the water of this inland sea
is renewed by the tide through narrow channels. For many years
only frequented by fishermen, the Bassin d’Arcachon became the
kingdom of the oyster in the middle of the last century and
its 84 km of beaches fringed with pine trees make it an
original and privileged place, unique to the French coast.
Delimited by the wild ocean to the west, the Bordeaux
vineyards to the north and east, and by the huge Landes Forest
to the south, the Bassin enjoys a mild climate where the
invigorating aromas of the sea air and the pine trees mingle.
The calm waters of the Bassin are the love of those who
appreciate nature at its finest, where there are none of the
dangers associated with ocean beaches and the temperature of
the water is very pleasant. Through little ports with their
coloured cabins; along the huge beaches; in the calm of the
nature reserves for the birds and the pine forests; this walk
is filled with the scent of sea air, the perfume of the pine
trees, and mimosa and gênet shrubs.
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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
a 2* or 3* hotel, breakfast included.
Free evening.
DAY
2 OR 6 (flexible or depending on the availibility) : ARCACHON – LA DUNE
DU PYLA – ARCACHON.
Warning –
This step is not included in the 6 days walking tour
After
breakfast, a taxi will take you to the bottom of the Pilat sand 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. You can climb to the summit using steps or by a marked path, and
walk along the crest until the edge of the forest where it meets the sea
again. You follow the beach, between the sea and the Dune to return to
Corniche beach and carry on towards Pilat, still along the sea shore, or
by a few roads lined with villas at the edge of the forest. This way
you’ll reach 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 port and your hotel.
Night in
a 2* or 3* hotel by the sea front,
breakfast included. Free evening.
DAY
3 : ARCACHON – GUJAN MESTRAS (16 Km)
You leave
Arcachon along its large avenues bordered by pretty villas or by rejoining
the port and the Pointe de l’Aiguillon (a traditional district of Arcachon,
behind the port, whose fishing cabins strike a contrast with the splendid
villas of the “winter town”). 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! Having
crossed the Landes canal, 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 walk along the sea wall where you will see a few marshes with
curious dug-out shelters one after the other for hunting the water game. Night in
a 2* or 3* hotel, or in a guesthouse, with breakfast included. Free evening.
DAY
4 : GUJAN MESTRAS – BIGANOS (16 Km)
Having gone
back to your route, visited Barbotière port, then Molle port, you walk
around the boundary wall of the Teich bird park and then visit the Eyre
estuary, an integral part of the 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. After
following the Eyre upstream, you rejoin Biganos port and then your
accommodation at Biganos. Night
and breakfast in a 2* hotel or in guesthouse. Dinner included tonight. Free evening.
DAY 5 : BIGANOS - ANDERNOS LES BAINS (24Km)
From
Biganos, you carry on towards the Port des Tuiles in the forest. You
continue towards Audenge and reach the water’s edge at 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. You continue until the old port of Taussat which has kept a
few traditional cabins, and then reach Betey port, before coming to
Andernos Les Bains, a very pleasant seaside town. (This marks the halfway
point!)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* or 3* hotel or in guesthouse. Dinner included
tonight. Free evening.
DAY 6 :
ANDERNOS-LES-BAINS – LE CAP FERRET– ARCACHON (20 to 22 Km)
The days
starts with a taxi transfer to ARES. After
leaving the oyster fishing port of Arès you visit the salt fields nature
reserve. This very fragile area, now protected, encloses a large number of
plants and important fauna, including 145 different species of birds.
These salt fields used to be grazed by cattle and sheep and the former
fish reservoirs are evidence of the salt water fish farming from the past.
You cross the marshes and further on, reach the hamlet of Jane de Boy,
still on the edge of the basin. Your circuit continues between ocean and
forest, along fine sandy beaches that the ocean comes crashing against and
amazing waves which are the joy of so many surfers. Then you
come back to the Bassin 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... (Moorish
style, a religious building destined for Christian worship, with Mary,
Christ’s cross and the Islamic crescent) before heading back to the
landing stage to catch the boat. 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
a 2* or 3* hotel, breakfast included.
Free evening.
DAY
7 : ARCACHON.
End of the
trail. Don’t leave Arcachon without having seen the winter town and the
Moorish park. Departure by train from
Arcachon train station.
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Walking
around the
Arcachon Bay
