Holidays on the Coast of Aquitaine and the Dune du Pilat

Bordered by fine sandy beaches, warmed all year round by the Gulf Stream, the Dune du Pilat, the largest sand dune in Europe, stretches from the middle of the coast of Aquitaine to the Bay of Arcachon. The area is packed with things to do, places to see and sunshine, perfect for beach enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors !

As well as traditional beach activities from water sports to simply relaxing, there many aerial sports to choose from in the region, like paragliding and hang gliding over the dune at any time of year. The dune is an ideal place for walks, along the top then through the forest at La Teste de Buch to Cap Ferret.  To make the most of the seaside, the coast of Aquitaine has over 250km of beaches, mostly of fine sand, stretching from the Médoc to the Pyrenees.

There is no shortage of attractions for heritage and cultural enthusiasts around the Dune du Pilat with the Château de Biron, the Château de Bonaguil and the Château-Musée de Néroc, and for visitors interested in architecture, the Ville d’Hiver district of Arcachon has many villas with Basque, Moorish and even Swiss influences. The Bay of Arcachon is encircled by the Forêt des Landes, a forest of maritime pines which help to stabilise the dunes in the region.

Foodies are not forgotten in this area where heritage and traditions hold strong. The numerous markets and food festivals are the opportunity to discover local speciality foods, including excellent wines from Medoc and the cuisine of Gascony. Bathed by the mild oceanic climate, bordered by seemingly infinitely long beaches and surrounded by lush vegetation, the coast of Aquitaine is particularly well-suited to seaside holidays close to nature