La Vélodyssée - De Lacanau océan à Arcachon

Arcachon Bay is located in the heart of the Landes de Gascogne (Gascony). It is triangular in form, and its borders are set by 80 km of flat coastline or wooded sand dunes. It opens mostly onto the Gulf of Gascony, the tide brings considerable amounts of water in and out twice a day. The ‘Bassin’ is partially cut off from the ocean by a line of sand dunes that is notably comprised of Cap Ferret, the Dune du Pilat and le Banc d’Arguin. There is only one way out to the Atlantic Ocean: the channels that are approximately 3 km wide and allow the water to circulate between the bay and the ocean. At the centre of the bay lies l’ile aux Oiseaux, or ‘the Isle of Birds’, plus its famous huts on stilts in the water.

Let Andernos les Bains’ various historical sites work their charms on you: its jetty, St-Eloi church and some Gallo-Roman vestiges, its oyster port, the Maison Louis David and more. A fold-out map is available at the Andernos les Bains Tourist Office or on the website.

On the Vélodyssée, on a small bike-less break, explore the Domaine de Certes-Graveyron. This 530 hectare property, owned by le Conservatoire du Littoral, is on some former dammed salt marshes. Nowadays, it’s a protected site that lets you discover some remarkable flora and fauna. Château de Certes is a beautiful chartreuse constructed by the Marquis de Civrac, and is currently undergoing restoration work.

The pine forests of the Landes de Gascogne are omnipresent in the three communes of Lanton, Audenge and Biganos: 3000 hectares of forest in Biganos, 1800 hectares in Audenge and more than 11,000 hectares in Lanton, the third most forest-covered commune in France ... The tourist office offers tree tapping demonstrations (harvesting resin) so that you can discover this ancient traditional forest activity.

Set out, either as a family or as a group of friends, regardless of age, on the discovery of one of the Bassin d’Arcachon’s most famous natural sites. As far as bird conservation goes, it is a site of international importance, with over 260 species visiting, of which 80 nest on-site. The reserve provides 6 km of walking trails, allowing you to observe the birds from one of twenty cabins constructed near to the most popular spots. The Robin Trail (‘le Sentier du Rouge-gorge’) has been especially designed for children in order to help them get to the know the ornithological reserve’s environment while having fun. Exploration activities are available nearby such as the canoe or the sea kayak, allowing you to discover the La Leyre delta in an original way.

Let the Great Dune work its magic on you. On arriving, you’ll surely be impressed by its size (109m high, 2.7 km long and 60 million m3 of grains of sand), and don’t imagine that you’ll be alone! Take a run-up then head up the dune, either on the sand or on the stairway. Reaching the top is an emotional experience, as you witness an exceptional panorama over all the marvels that the Bassin d’Arcachon has to offer: the Arguin Bank, the forest, the Cap-Ferret lighthouse, etc. It’s been a listed site since 1978, and the spirit of the place will remain intact until the next time you come back again.