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Self-Catering Holidays in Atlantic Aquitaine, South West France - Villas, Cottages & Apartments

Call 0870 6092845 or email info@alternative-aquitaine.co.uk for information & booking


 Family Holiday Sites in Aquitaine, south west France

FHS005 Les Rives Marines,
Bassin d'Arcachon - Le Teich

Les Rives Marines - click for enlargement
Authentic holiday residence at the edge of the renowned Parc Ornothologique bird-watching reserve near Arcachon
Three Reasons to Les Rives Marines...
Natural wetland setting and bird-watching haven
Very peaceful setting away from roads
Explore the Bassin's combination of wildlife, oyster-culture, beaches and outdoor activities
Example apartment interior - click for enlargement
The residence by night - click for enlargement Moliets Plage (no enlargement available)
Parc Ornothologique - click for enlargement
In Our Opinion...

Opened in 2007, Les Rives Marines is a low-key, authentically designed holiday residence favourably situated on the edge of the Bassin d'Arcachon adjacent to the Ornithological Park.

Featuring a large shared swimming pool (heated June to September), the site architecture reflects the picturesque fishermens' cabins (cabanes tchanquées) which line the Bassin's edge
.

The accommodation is spacious and each apartment benefits from a private terrace. This is an ideal venue for a family with young kids who will enoy the pool, peace and tranquility, as well as birdwatching enthusiasts and nature lovers who want access to the bird reserve.

Next Steps
1
2
Check for special offers
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Call 0870 6092845 or email us to book or hold an option for 48 hours
 
 Key Facts :

Nearest town :
Le Teich 500 metres; Arcachon 15kms
Type of location :
Tranquil location on the edge of the Parc Ornotholigique (birdwatching reserve)
No. of bedrooms :
1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments available
Sleeping capacity :
Party sizes from 1 to 8 are catered for
No. of bathrooms :
1 or 2 per apartment depending on the type
Style of property :
New, low-rise holiday residence comprising 139 apartments. The style is contemporary with good use of timber materials to successfully blend with the local fishermens' cabins
Quality guide :
SIMPLE-GOOD QUALITY » see definition
Price per week :
Price Band for this venue:
Check prices and availability:
» Don't forget to check the Special Offers too
What's included in the price:
> bed linen and bathroom towels
> fresh sheets and towels can be renewed each Saturday at reception for bookings of 2+ weeks
> outdoor parking space
> free wifi access at reception

What's not included in the price:
> Modest tourist tax payable locally - less than €1 per day per person
> €260 security deposit collected on your credit card on arrival. Deductions are made only if necessary (e.g. apartment left untidy or there are breakages)

Optional supplements are available too - all payable locally:
> baby cot (no linen) EUR 36/wk - please pre-book
> high chair EUR 19/wk - please pre-book
> pets EUR 38/pp wk - please pre-book
> end-of-stay clean up to EUR 140 - please pre-book

> TV 25/wk
Linen Arrangements :
• Bed linen and bathroom towels are included in the rental price - collect from reception on arrival
• Fresh linen & towels can be collected from reception each Saturday
Cleaning Arrangements :
You can arrange cleaning if required
Arrival & Departure :
Arrival is 5-8pm and departure is by 10am please. From 28 June to 30 August, the period reserved must be Saturday-Saturday. This means you can actually arrive and depart any day of the week but the period reserved must be Saturday-to-Saturday. For other periods it is possible to accommodate arrival and departure on days other than Saturday.
Nearest beach :
Local beach 4 kms via cycle track or pedestrian walkway. Arcachon is the main resort on the south side of the Bassin - 15kms. There is a sandy cove / children's play area just a couple of minutes walk away - this is suitable for paddling
Nearest boulangerie :
Le Teich village 500 metres. The village has a cafe/bar, pharamacy and Tourist Office. NB. There is a breakfast delivery option available at Les Rives Marines - please enquire at reception
Nearest airport :
Bordeaux 45-60 mins
Nearest ferry port :
St Malo 7 hours (approx)
Swimming pool :
Yes - shared heated outdoor swimming pool (usually heated June to September)
Facilities :

Reception office, outdoor parking, laundry room. free wif-fi at reception

Suitability for children :
Very good for young children - pool, safe location away from roads, footpaths and cycle tracks, plus a sandy cove (for paddling) within walking distance. Excellent for kids with an appreciation of nature; less appealing to active teenagers who want to be in a busier resort.
Things to see & do :
Birdwatching, nature excursions, fishing, canoeing, watersports, cycling. Visit Arcachon, Bordeaux, Cap Ferret, Dune du Pilat, vineyards of the Médoc...
Pets allowed :
Yes - supplement applies
Location

Map reference: B3
View Map of Bassin d'Arcachon

The Résidence Les Rives Marines is situated approximately 50 kms south west of Bordeaux on the south eastern corner of the Bassin d'Arcachon..

By train : Le Teich station - connect from Bordeaux via SNCF (Arcachon line)
By road : autoroute A63 exit 22 direction Arcachon
By air : Bordeaux Merignac c.40kms

 
Accommodation

Les Rives Marines consists of 18 houses inspired by the traditional architecture of the Bassin d'Arcachon. The houses are split into 139 apartments.

We offer three types of apartment.
Duplex apartments are on two floors.

In each apartment you will find:
• satellite TV (one English-speaking channel - supplement applies)
• kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, ceramic hob, fridge freezer
• furnished terrace

FHS005-BBQ - 1 bedroom • Sleeps 4-5 • 37m2
Living area with sofa-bed & 1 single bed • 1 bedroom with either double or twins • bathroom with bath • separate WC
» CHECK PRICES + AVAILABILITY
FHS005-BCF - 2 bedroom duplex • Sleeps 6 • 47m2
Living area with sofa-bed • 1 bedroom with double bed • 1 bedroom with twin beds • bathroom with bath & WC • shower room • separate WC
» CHECK PRICES + AVAILABILITY
FHS005-BDF - 3 bedroom duplex • Sleeps 8 • 55m2
Living area with sofa-bed • 3 bedrooms with either double or twins • bathroom with bath • shower room • 2x separate WC
» CHECK PRICES + AVAILABILITY
Traditional Bassin architecture - click for enlargement
Example bedroom - click for enlargement
Example kitchenette - click for enlargement
Example apartment interior - click for enlargement
 
About Le Teich

Le Teich itself if a modest district of Arcachon. There's a handy boulangerie and bar-restaurant in the village but it's probably not going to be a place where you spend much of your time.

In fact, Le Teich is really all about the ornothological park which is 1km from the village centre, at the Bassin's edge.

This is a bird-watching paradise and tranquil haven for nature lovers of all ages. The nature reserve covers an area of 120 ha in the Eyre delta - a series of marshes linked to the Arcachon lagoon. The reserve is home to many endangered species and the parc's role is really to protect species of wild fowl threatened with extinction. One of its great successes has been the return of the mute swan, which had vanished from France at the time of the revolution.

The Bassin provides a traditional stopover each Spring and Autumn for tens of thousands of migratory birds. Visiting species include heron, egret, teal, stork, cormorant and dunlin. May is a good time to see species rarely seen in the UK and in the early Autumn, birds from Scandinavia and Greenland drop by.

It's really a quite exceptional place to visit and the visitor centre - Maison de la Nature du Bassin d'Arcachon - will tell you all about the possible trails you can take, including guided walks and the opportunity to view birdlife from a hide or camouflaged observation point. There are two main 'sentiers' (walkways), a short one of 2.5km and a longer one of 6km.

If you'd rather take to the water, the visitor centre organises guided sea-kayak tours of the Leyre delta - this is a wonderful adventure for younger kids.

At low tide, when the lagoon drains back out into the Atlantic ocean, the lagoon also offers the possibility of fishing for cockles, clams, winkles, mussels, green crabs, and shrimps. Try collecting the razor-shells too although you'll need to be waryof the mudflats. You should note too that gathering oysters is prohibited and something taken very seriously around here!

In nearby Gujan Mestras you will be in the oyster centre of the Bassin d'Arcachon. It is certainly worth a visit with its picturesque oyster cabins, fishermen's hunts and boats. There are several huts along the water's edge here which offer oyster-tasting. It's a great place to take lunch or dinner.

Links:

Arcachon Tourist Office
Parc Ornothologique

 
The Region
Discover the Bassin d'Arcachon region of Aquitaine

Arcachon and its districts
Arcachon is an all year round sea-side town that's hugely popular with French families and it's easy to see why: exceptional sandy beaches, long, picturesque sea-front promenade, a manageable size - shops, bars, restaurants, small casino, even the train station - all within easy walking distance. All topped off by Arcachon's signature architecture, exemplified by the Winter Town's magnificent villas which feature stained glass, ornate balconies and intricate brickwork, built over 100 years ago for the town's first holiday-makers. Arcachon is one of our favourite Aquitaine destinations!

Less well-known are Arcachon's southern districts such as Pereire and Le Moulleau, both a short bike-ride or free bus-journey from Villa d'Este. Both offer quieter beaches than those found in central Arcachon and, for those with smaller children and a lot of equipment, easier car-parking. Pereire beach (2kms from teh apartments) is regarded by locals as the most picturesque around.

Ferries run from Arcachon and Le Moulleau to a host of destinations including Cap Ferret, a stylish resort on the other side of the Basin at the point of the peninsula of the Presqu'Ile de Cap Ferret. The 'petit train' runs from close to the jetty on Cap Ferret over to the magnificent rollers of the Atlantic beach on the other side of the peninsula, a wonderful trip, especially for children. Or, without kids, why not have dinner and return on the late evening ferry?

The Banc d’Arguin sits at the foot of the famous Dune du Pyla 5 kms south of Arcachon, the largest sand dune in Europe, standing at over 100 metres. A journey to the summit (try it without the staircase provided!) is a must; sunrise and sunset are the best times.

Back into Arcachon, stroll along the seafront - at night you'll see Cap Ferret's Phare (lighthouse) shining across the bay, a beautiful, romantic sight. A short walk from Villa d'Este, through the Parc Mauresque is the delightful Ville d’Hiver (Winter Town), well worht exploring for its fabulous collection of eclectic villas. The Parc Mauresque offers plenty of shade to cool off in the shade, and a chance to watch the locals play petanques and enjoy the view over to the Ville d'Eté (the summer town, the main resort district of Arcachon) below and to the sea beyond. A fascintaing walk leads from the Parc to the 'Belvedere', a viewing platform with magnificent 360 degree views of the town.

The Arcachon Basin is packed full of oyster farms and you will have no difficulty finding these delicacies to dine on in one of the town’s many seafood restaurants, or head to Gujan-Mestras (France's oyster-farming capital) or one of the villages on the Presqu'Ile (l'Herbe is recommended) and 'déguster' a few at the water's edge direct from ostréiculteur (oyster farmer).

The Basin is also home to wide variety of birdlife and consequently is a popular birdwatching destination. In fact, there are birdwatching reserves at nearby Parc Ornotholiqique du Teich and Ile aux Oiseaux (Bird Island) in the basin which can be visited by boats that depart from the Arcachon jetties.

The Parc de Loisirs, 3kms south of La Hume, on the Route des Lacs, is a centre of family fun including Aqualand (water park), La Coccinelle (kids' zoo and amusement park) plus Kid Parc (fairground attractions, water rides, trampolines, etc.

As a change from the sea-side, a little further down the coast there is bathing in Sanguinet and Biscarrosse lakes - with no ocean currents to worry about and the forest setting providing plenty of shelter, these are especially popular with families with young children.

If you’re feeling completely ‘beached out’ why not take the opportunity to explore some of the region’s vineyards, such as Margaux, Lafite or Mouton Rothschild.

Golfers are spoilt for choice; there are two great courses nearby, at Arcachon International and Gujan Mestras (the latter has been used on the European PGA Tour). There are numerous cycle tracks, and opportunities for horse-riding. For children, Zooland and Aqualand are nearby.

The city of Bordeaux is an hour away and is a good option for a day-trip, whether it’s boutique shopping, sight-seeing or culture. Walking around the 18th century old town centre (Quartier St. Pierre), you can begin to imagine the city’s commercial and maritime past.

For further information try the links below. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for the content of third party sites.

Alternative Aquitaine's Guide to the Bassin d'Arcachon
Arcachon Tourist Office
Bordeaux Tourist Office
Gironde Tourist Office
Wines of Bordeaux
French National Tourist Board

Call 0870 6092845 or email info@alternative-aquitaine.co.uk for information & booking
Updated 07.12.09 ja
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