Arcachon - out and about
Arcachon
offers a variety of activities and attractions for the holiday
visitor.
Beach
The best beach in Arcachon is Plage Pereire in the Ville Printemps district. This is bordered by a shaded alleyway,
and offers surf to the southern end (at Les Arbousiers).
The other fine sandy beaches of Plage d’Arcahon and
Plage d’Eyrac are easily accessible from town, and
face into the lagoon. There are pleasant promenades around most of the beaches
that surround Arcachon, and a walk to the end of Jetée
Thiers gives great views of the resort and the inlet.
Activities
Horseriding and lessons are available, with some excellent wooded trails. If you’re
visiting out of season, you can ride along the beach (Nov
– May). [Etrier Sportif d'Arcachon]
There
are plenty of options for cyclists – with cycle
paths linking the towns around the bay, as well
as Biscarrosse 30km to the south. Cycle hire is easy to
find in the town.
Plenty
of tennis courts are available at Tennis
Club D’Arachon (12 hard courts, 10 paved courts, Av
du Park, 05-57-72-09-50).
There's
also a wide range of watersports to
choose between, with several hire and tuition centres offering
sailing, sea kayaking, rowing, diving, windsurfing,
or the more leisurely pedal-boat.
Golf
can be played at Golf International d'Arcachon and nearby Gujan Mestras. Like some of the famous Florida courses, Gujan
makes the most of its natural environment of pine forest
and lakes, to which have been added bunkers of white sand. 18 holes 6225 metres Par 72, or 9 holes 2630
metres Par 35. There are also practice facilities and a
putting green.
If
you’re one of those really adventurous types, para-gliding
and hang-gliding flights can be booked
from the École Pyla Parapente, in Pyla Sur Mer (05-56-22-15-02).
Even more impressive, flying lessons and
‘introductions to air acrobatics’
can be taken in Teste-de-Buch, just South of Arcachon (Aéro-Club
du Bassin d’Arcachon).
If
you prefer watching sports, look out for pelota
Basque, usually played on Saturday evenings throughout
the summer, in the Parc des Abatilles. Similar to squash,
the most dramatic variation of the game is played on giant
courts - opponents fire a hard ball at a high wall using
a huge hooked glove, which sends the ball at incredible
speeds. Other variations of the game include bare hand,
which is played throughout the Basque country. Arcachon
hold several titles in the Chistera discipline of the sport,
so expect a display of the highest quality.
The
Union de Bateliers Arcachonnais are professional fishermen
and oystermen, who can take you on a variety of boat
excursions. These include a tour of Île aux
Oiseaux (Bird Island) in the middle of
the lagoon, fishing trips (rod and line),
a visit to the oyster beds, or anywhere else you’d
like to visit around the bay.
Alternatively,
you might like to try fishing for yourselves, in the mudflats
uncovered at low tide around the Bassin d’Arcachon.
They deliver generous amounts of cockles,
clams and winkles. The
beaches reveal green crabs at low tide,
and there are plenty of shrimps to catch
with nets. Take care on the sticky mud-flats!
Les
Abatilles is Arcachon’s own natural spring
of mineral water, located in the Spring resort
(no pun intended). It is bottled in the spa – where
you can get free tastes and a guided tour (Wednesdays in
July and Aug).
Children’s
Tourist Attractions
If
having young children means that you’re up very early
in the morning, we recommend visiting the jetties –
where the daily catch is unloaded, usually
around 6.45am.
The
Musée-Aquarium shows the marine
life found in the lagoon and nearby ocean. It has a pretty
collection of tropical fish, tortoises, seashells and stuffed
weasels, with a special area devoted to Oyster farming.
My children particularly enjoyed the shark skeletons.
Aqualand
does what it says on the tin – with every kind of
waterslide you can imagine, plus a pool
with waves. The Village Médiéval features
a reconstructed medieval Landais village, showing traditional
arts and crafts in action. The Musée de la
Maquette Marine is a museum of exquisitely made
model ships. At
the Parc Animalier la Coccinelle,
children can feed baby lambs and goats.
Shopping
For
shopping in Arcachon, Quartier du Moulleau (Av Notre Dame
des Passes) has boutiques open late. Across the bay, Cap Ferret is very similar in style to the Ile de Ré, and has great boutiques,
and Bordeaux offers a city full of shops and boutiques –
within an hour of Arcachon.
Eating
Out
Au
Cornet d’Amour, (‘The Love Cone’, Avenue
Notre Dame des Passes) offers home made ice cream
in 70 different flavours. For a real speciality
of the region, try their ‘Pinasse en Nougatine’
(an oyster boat of nougat) – filled with 30 scoops! Look
out for the mountains of oysters and mussels, available
throughout the town at good prices. Also look out for the
rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, with several
Italian, Indian and Chinese restaurants to choose between.
Restaurant guide:
Le
Bayonne, regional fayre at good prices, near the sea front
in a lively area.
9 cours Lamarque, 05-56-83-33-82
|
| Cap
Pereire – La Réserve du Park, offering views of the sea in a peaceful location away
from the busy town, great for seafood.
1 av du Parc-Pereire, 05-56-83-24-01 |
| Le
Floréal, has a nice laid back, local
vibe.
Blvd Général Leclerc, 05-56-83-48-44 |
| La
Gambetta, offers a great range of dishes, and
is always popular.
25 av Gambetta, 05-57-52-29-69 |
Les
Genêts, serves quality seafood in more
refined surroundings.
25 blvd Général Leclerc, 05-56-83-40-28
|
La
Marée, offers excellent fresh seafood
at fair prices.
21 rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny 05-56-83-24-05
|
Orient-Thé, has a wide range of quality vegetarian dishes.
39 rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 05-57-52-29-11 |
Le
Patio,
slightly more upmarket, near the marina, classic cuisine
served either under the stars on the patio, or in the
elegant dining room. Ex-chef from La Gueriniere (below)
10 bd de la Plage, 05-56-83-02-72 |
| Pizzeria
La Napolitaine, is great for a bargain meal.
28 rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 05-57-52-20-50 |
| Restaurant
le Grand Bleu, affordable seafood in good portions, between the beach
and wharf.
30 bd de la Plage, 05-56-54-92-92 |
| La Gueriniere, 18 cours de Verdun, Gujan Mestras, close to the sand dunes. 1 Michelin star but not too formal. All ingredients are local, the best of the souoth west. 05-56-66-08-78 |
| Chez Yvette, 59 bd. Gén. Leclerc, Arcachon - upscale bistrot, very central, v.fresh fish/oysters 05-56- 83-05-11 |
| Chez Pierre, 1 bd. Veyrier Montagneres, Arcachon, on the boardwalk near Casino facing north, animated atmosphere 05-56-22-52-94 |
| Chez Papa - "very reasonable Baque restaurant with great character". 3, place Roosevelt 33120 Arcachon, T : 05 56 83 01 20 |
| Cap'tain Aldo - ideally placed on the sea-front. 22 bvd Veyriers-Montagneres, T : 05 56 83 78 81 www.captainaldo.com |
Cote du Sud, 4 avenue du Figuier, Pyla, on the west beach facing Cap Ferret - nicest beach location but no direct table view as a rule 05-56-83-25-00 |
The above list has been compiled with the help of local property owners we work with, client feedback as well as these helpful guides: the Lonely
Planet Guide (South West France); The Green Guide
(Atlantic Coast); the Cadogan Guides –
always an excellent and informative read. “Gascony
and the Pyrenees” is the one that includes the
Bassin d'Arcachon.
Nightlife
The
liveliest part of the Ville d’Été is around
the Jetée Thiers (pier), but in the evening, head for
Quartier du Moulleau (Av Notre Dame des Passes) for bars,
restaurants, and boutiques that are open 'til late.
La
Feria (9 rue Jehenne) is a lively and enjoyable late bar
filled with booming music, smiling people, and a lot of
sangria.
The
Casino tables open at 9.30am, Meeester
Bond, and the 80 slot-machines can be fed coins until 4
in the morning. Here you’ll also find Le Scotch-Club
(night club) a restaurant, and bars serving great cocktails.
(boulevard de la Plage)
For
pure pose value, make sure you’re seen on
the terrace at Café de la Plage (boulevard
Veyrier-Montagnères), a 100 yr-old bar on Arcachon
beach, near the casino. Jazz concerts every fortnight, and
a great musical atmosphere in the evenings.
Arts
and Culture
The
part of the town known as the Ville d'Hiver (winter town)
is well worth strolling around, to see the quirky
architecture of its many 19th century villas. At
the heart of the Ville d’Hiver, the Parc Mauresque has
a wonderful observatory designed by Eiffel,
reached by a 19th Century lift. This observatory offers great
views of the Ville d’Hiver, and of the entire Bassin
d’Arcachon (lagoon).
Arcachon
is great for festivals: classical music
in April (‘Festival Jeunes Solistes’); a parachuting
competition in June; a Street Festival (Not’Ambules)
and sailing competition (les 18 heures d’Arcachon)
in July; Fêtes de la Mer (festival of the sea) in
August; and an international women’s film festival
in September.
Nature
On the Eastern
rim
of the Bassin d’Arcachon, Le Teich is a river delta
for the Leyre river. This provides ideal marshland for migratory
birds stopping on their long journeys between Scandinavia
and Africa. This rare environment of salt-water and fresh-water
has been designated a Parc Ornithologique, and is the nesting
ground for several species: grey herons, black cormorants,
white storks, oystercatchers, egrets, kingfishers, spoon-billed
shovellers and many more.
Also
at Le Teich you’ll find Le Jardin des Papillons –
the biggest collection of exotic butterflies
and moths in France. Hundreds of brightly coloured butterflies
flutter around tropical plants and waterfalls in complete
freedom. [Playground and picnic area within].
Excursions
The rim of the Bassin d’Arcachon features ten
communes and a variety of activities.
Beaches alternate with oyster-breeding villages,
where lime washed tiles and crates lie in front of the wooden
huts. We recommend L’Herbe (On the Cap Ferret peninsula) as the most picturesque
village to visit, but any would be perfect for trying ‘à
déguster’ (a plate of oysters).
Across
the bay, the Cap Ferret peninsula is a
treat for the senses - the scent of the pine forest, the
constant rumble of rollers washing up on the western coast,
the salty, slippery taste of oysters washed down with a
crisp Bordeaux blanc and, at the end of the day, sitting on top
of one of the dunes overlooking the Atlantic and watching
the sun go down. Bliss!
Cap Ferret village, is the chic-est spot on the the Presqu'Ile.
Smart boutiques, cafes and restaurants in a low-rise, laid-back
setting - the ambience is casual, relaxed but appreciative
of good living.
Heading on down to the Pointe is a must, stopping to climb
to the top of the famous Cap Ferret lighthouse
on the way. The lighthouse gives views across the bassin
to the sandy wildlife reserve of the Banc
d'Arguin, and over to the Dune de Pyla (Europe's
highest sand dune), both of which are breathtaking.
If you have children, there's a charming 'petit train' that
runs from the jetty on the Bassin side, over the dunes at
the Atlantic beach on the other side of the pensinsula.
The trip takes 10-15 minutes and is a delight.
For wine buffs, the famous appellations
of Pauillac and Margaux
north in the Médoc rouge are not far away. There
are many vineyards where you can visit
and taste some of the famous wines. Two very approachable
châteaux are the under-rated (and relatively inexpensive)
Château Maucaillou,
a medium-sized, family-run estate in Moulis-en-Médoc;
there is an interesting museum exhibiting some of the history
of wine-making. Or for a very special visit, Château
Giscours in the Margaux region organises tastings
of various vintages of its grand crus classés, hosted
by a particularly engaging, unpretentious and plain-speaking
'oenologue' (Master of Wine).
South
of Arcachon is the famous Dune du 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. Don’t
be surprised to see schools of bottlenose dolphins
and porpoises, playing just offshore.
If
you're feeling beached out, Bordeaux is
well under an hour away and is a 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.
Medieval
gems of the Gironde east of Bordeaux are also wonderful
days out; St Emilion, with its 11th century
basilica, is the best known but can be busy; St
Macaire and La Réole are
also enjoyable. Obviously there are more châteaux
over here but an altogether different wine experience can
be had at Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa,
in the middle of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte, vineyards,
just south of Bordeaux. The spa offers unique beauty treatments
derived from grand cru grapes of the Graves appellation
renowned for their anti-ageing and micro-circulation improving
properties - in short, visitors apparently come out feeling
good!
Up
and down the coast from Arcachon, South West France offers
arguably the best surf in Europe.
For
further tourist information about the local areas beyond
Arcachon, please browse these region guides:
» Bassin
d'Arcachon
»
La
Côte Landaise
»
Pays
des Vins
Travel Advice
In August, notably the first two weeks, the resort is very
busy and becomes congested with traffic. Our advice is to
use two wheels or take to the sea - both are there to be
enjoyed and you will get a far better insight into your
surroundings. There are many cycle paths to enjoy as well
as regular boat trips and ferries connecting the Bassin's
many points of interest.
