THE DUNE OF PILAT

Is it still necessary to present the highest dune in Europe located at the entrance of the Arcachon basin? And did you know that "Pilat" means heap or mound in Gascon? On foot, by bike, by bus and even by boat, there are many ways to reach the Dune du Pilat. But above all, you must dare to climb this mountain of sand to enjoy the view of the ocean, the forest, the Arcachon basin, the Cap-Ferret peninsula, but also the Arguin bank. In front of you, 60 million^m3 of sand are piled up, witnesses of 4 000 years of history. This masterpiece of nature, both fragile and mobile, moves over the forest in an irregular manner of 1 to 5 meters per year. Grain of sand after grain of sand, the dune of Pilat advances, burying everything in its path... When the tide is low, you can see superb sandbanks with heavenly colors. From April to October, a staircase is installed to facilitate and protect the rise of the dune. Some shops are located at its feet to eat or to enjoy activities. In the summer, prefer a visit early in the morning (at sunrise) or later in the evening (sunset tour). A fun guided tour, punctuated with games, is organized from the beginning of April for children on the theme "Tell me about the dune" (30 minutes). Another must-see is the sunset tour accompanied by a guide which takes place on Fridays in June and September as well as on Mondays and Thursdays in July and August. Count on another 1 hour. The little extra? It's the permanent open-air exhibition entitled "The hidden face of the dune". But also: hikes, storytelling walks, a treasure hunt... The revenues from the parking lot are entirely put back into the management of the site: garbage collection in the natural areas, naturalist monitoring, free tools for environmental education... To climb the dune, remember to take water, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. The Dune du Pilat is a member of the Réseau des Grands Sites de France like the cliffs of Etretat, the Puy de Dôme, the Marais Poitevin... During the renovation of the reception area, accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers is possible up to the ephemeral village where you will find a reception and information point and sanitary facilities. However, the path leading to the dune is impassable for people with reduced mobility. Secondary accesses allow to reach the foot of the dune via the stairs of the Corniche establishment.