Visit the Banc d'Arguin nature reserve

Few people know the origin of the name of the Banc d'Arguin. It was first used to designate the reserve in 1835. After a French ship, La Méduse, sank on the Banc d'Arguin in Mauritania, the engineer Paul Monnier inscribed its name on a maritime chart of the Arcachon basin.

And yes, the Ile aux oiseaux is not the only place in Arcachon where you can observe nature and its surroundings. The Banc d'Arguin is also home to a host of species worth protecting, including the oystercatcher, the gravelot and the tern. Situated at the foot of the Dune du Pilat and facing Cap Ferret, this long stretch of sand, 4km long and 2km wide at low tide, is first and foremost a nature reserve. Its fine, clear sand and crystal-clear water make it a paradise. Depending on the wind, the seasons and the sea currents, the shoal is constantly changing, and every day you'll be treated to a new landscape. Warm up your calves and you'll reach the top of the Dune du Pilat. The view is breathtaking, a 360-degree panorama of the Arcachon Basin, with the magnificent Banc d'Arguin right in front of you.

The charm of this small island lies in its wildness. A comfort and protection zone for migratory and wintering birds, it is monitored by SEPANSO (Société pour l'Étude et l'Aménagement de la Nature dans le Sud-Ouest) rangers.

You can get there, but you mustn't be accompanied by a dog or a bivouac. To get there, take a boat from Arcachon or Cap Ferret. In around thirty minutes, you'll reach the Banc d'Arguin. If you prefer, you can hire a boat for the day. Volunteer nature guides from SEPANSO will be delighted to take you there and share all their knowledge of the Arcachon Basin. Once you've arrived at the nature reserve, you'll be surprised to see the seemingly harmless Pilat Dune in the distance, but you only have to climb it to realise the opposite.

Mauritania also has a Banc d'Arguin, named after a local plant in Berber. It is slightly larger than the Banc d'Arcachon, covering 12,000 square metres. But size is the only thing that sets them apart, as it also helps to protect the ecosystem and conserve biodiversity.

🚈 By train: daily TGV line Paris Montparnasse > Bordeaux > Arcachon (3h10).

✈️ By plane: numerous flights from all over France land every day at Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, located a 50-minute drive from Arcachon or 36 minutes from Andernos-les-Bains.

🚘 By car: A10 Paris-Bordeaux (5h30) then RN250 (1h00) to Arcachon.

🚍 Take the shuttle to the Banc d'Arguin from Dune du Pilat or Cap Ferret.

While camping is popular in summer on the Bay of Arcachon, in winter we prefer the warmth of seaside hotels in Arcachon, Andernos, Cap Ferret or La Teste-de-Buch.

⭐ A hotel with a spa? The Hôtel Les Bains d'Arguin Thalazur and its cosy atmosphere just a stone's throw from the beach. Open all year round, it offers a 240 m² indoor seawater pool heated to 32°, as well as a sauna and hammam.

⭐ In particular, you can head for the Ha(a)ïtza hotel in Pyla-sur-Mer, just a few metres from the Pilat Dune and therefore the Banc d'Arguin. Its colours, ranging from light to warm, will immerse you in a soft, warm atmosphere. The hotel is home to the Skiff Club gourmet restaurant, which has been awarded a green star.