Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dune du Pilat
This colossal sand dune (sometimes referred to as the Dune de Pyla because of its
location in the resort town of Pyla-sur-Mer), 8km south of Arcachon, stretches from
the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon southwards for almost 3km. Already the largest
in Europe, it's spreading eastwards at 4.5m a year - it has swallowed trees, a road
junction and even a hotel.
The view from the top (approximately 114m above sea level) is magnificent. To
the west you can see the sandy shoals at the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon, in-
cluding the
Banc d'Arguin bird reserve
and Cap Ferret. Dense pine forests
stretch eastwards.
Take care swimming in this area: powerful currents swirl out to sea from the deceptively
tranquil
baïnes
(little bays).
Cap Ferret
POP 6392
Hidden within a canopy of pine trees at the tip of the Cap Ferret peninsula, the tiny
village of Cap Ferret spans a mere 2km between the tranquil bay and the crashing
Atlantic waves. It's crowned by its 53m-high, red-and-white
lighthouse
(adult/child
€4.50/3;
10am-7.30pm)
, with interactive exhibits and stunning views of the surf
from the top.
ferries from Arcachon to Cap Ferret (adult/child return €11.50/8) year-round.
FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY
Gently sloping from the foothills of the Pyrenees into the deep sapphire-blue Bay of
Biscay, the Basque Country straddles France and Spain. Yet this feisty, independ-
ent land remains profoundly different from either of the nation states that have ad-
opted it.
The Basque Country is famed for the glitzy beach resort of Biarritz, where surfers
strut their stuff in the waves, and oiled sun-seekers pack its beaches like glistening
sardines. Nearby Bayonne is a chocolate box of narrow winding streets full of
Basque culture, and St-Jean de Luz, further south, is a delightful seaside fishing
port.
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