Cap Ferret - out and about
Cap
Ferret is a superb choice for beach lovers, but there's a lot more to this stunning peninsula than sand dunes and Atlantic rollers.
Beach
The Bassin d'Arcachon beach at Cap Ferret village has
amazing views over to the Dune de Pyla,
the largest sand dune in Europe. The Atlantic beaches are popular with surfers,
but be warned of the powerful currents especially when the tide is
going out. Always follow local advice - beaches are normally supervised in July & August only.
The bay itself offers year-round sailing and windsurfing with spectacular
views. There
are beautiful beaches all around the Bassin d'Arcachon,
separating the oyster farming villages.
Activities
From the
village débarcadère (Cap Ferret's jetty, also
the location of an excellent brasserie) you can take
a ferry over to Arcachon, Le Moulleau, or catch
a trip to the Dune de Pyla (infinitely easier than driving
around the bay!) Or try a boat tour spotting the oyster
beds and bird life of the Bassin d'Arcachon.
Heading on down to the
Pointe is a must, stopping to climb to the top of the famous
Cap Ferret lighthouse on the way. The lighthouse
gives views across the bassin to the sandy wildlife reserve
of the Banc d'Arguin, and over to the Dune de Pyla (Europe's
highest sand dune), which are breathtaking. This is a stunning setting.
Another must is visiting
one of the peninsula's oyster farming districts
at l'Herbe, le Canon or Piraillan. Here the careful raising
of these exquisite delicacies has continued for over 150
years. Can oysters ever have tasted better than here, at
the edge of the waters where they grew?
You might like to try fishing
for yourselves, in the mudflats uncovered at low tide around
the Bassin d’Arcachon. They deliver generous amounts
of cockles, clams and winkles. The beaches reveal green
crabs at low tide, and there are plenty of shrimps to catch
with nets. Take care on the sticky mud-flats.
Children’s
Tourist Attractions
There's
a charming 'petit train' that runs from
the jetty on the bassin side, over the dunes at the Atlantic
beach on the other side of the pensinsula. The trip takes
10-15 minutes and is a delight, even if you don't have children.
Aqualand at Gujan Mestras on the Arcachon side of the Bay, does what it says on the tin – with every
kind of waterslide you can imagine, plus a pool with waves.
The Village Médiéval features a reconstructed
medieval Landais village, showing traditional
arts and crafts in action.
The Musée de la Maquette Marine is a museum of exquisitely
made model ships.
At the Parc Animalier la Coccinelle children can feed baby lambs and goats.
Shopping
Cap Ferret village has a good selection of boutiques. Across
the bay in Arcachon, Quartier du Moulleau (Av Notre Dame
des Passes) has boutiques open late. If you need yet more
choice, Bordeaux is within an hour of Cap Ferret.
Eating
Out
We
recommend the following restaurants:
Chez
Hortense is laid back (what else
could it be here?) and popular with France's VIPs
|
| Fredelian
is a salon de thé renowned for its patisseries,
especially the local favourite (and ours), cannelés |
| The
Pinasse Café overlooking the Bassin and the oyster pools, this original
brasserie (named after the pine oyster-fishing boats)
offers home-made local cuisine. The wood panelled walls
are decorated with paintings of boats and fish. 2 bis
av de l’Océan, 05-56-03-77-87 |
This
list has been compiled with the help of local property owners
we work with, client feedback as well as these helpful guides:
the Lonely Planet Guide (South West France); The Green
Guide (Atlantic Coast); the Cadogan Guides
– always an excellent and informative read. “Gascony
and the Pyrenees” is the one that includes the
Bassin d'Arcachon.
Nightlife
It's worth stopping
for a drink the stylish Tchanquee bar of the Hôtel
Maison du Bassin (so named after the famous houses on stilts
close to the Ile aux Oiseaux) - the address for an 'apéro'.
Arts
and Culture
Across
the bay in Arcachon, the Ville d'Hiver
(winter town) is well worth strolling around, to see the
quirky architecture of its many 19th century
villas. At the heart of the Ville d’Hiver, the Parc
Mauresque has a wonderful observatory designed by
Eiffel, reached by a 19th Century lift. This observatory
offers great views of the Ville d’Hiver, and of the
entire Bassin d’Arcachon (lagoon).
Arcachon is great for festivals: classical
music in April (‘Festival Jeunes Solistes’);
a parachuting competition in June; a Street Festival (Not’Ambules)
and sailing competition (les 18 heures d’Arcachon)
in July; Fêtes de la Mer (festival of the sea) in
August; and an International Women’s Film Festival
in September.
Nature
On the Eastern rim of the Bassin d’Arcachon,
Le Teich is a river delta for the Leyre river. This provides
ideal marshland for migratory birds stopping
on their long journeys between Scandinavia and Africa. This
rare environment of salt-water and fresh-water has been
designated a Parc Ornithologique, and is the nesting ground
for several species: grey herons, black cormorants, white
storks, oystercatchers, egrets, kingfishers, spoon-billed
shovelers and many more.
Also
at Le Teich you’ll find Le Jardin des Papillons –
the biggest collection of exotic butterflies
and moths in France. Hundreds of brightly coloured butterflies
flutter around tropical plants and waterfalls in complete
freedom. Playground and picnic area within.
Look
out for bottle-nosed dolphins and porpoises
playing off the Atlantic coast – they are often seen
around Dune de Pilat, south of Arcachon.
Excursions
If you feel the urge to leave the
Cap - and many don't while they are here - the famous appellations
of Pauillac and Margaux
north in the médoc rouge are not far away. There
are many vineyards where you can visit and taste some of
the famous wines. Two very approachable châteaux
are the under-rated (and relatively inexpensive) Château
Maucaillou, a medium-sized, family-run estate in Moulis-en-Médoc;
there is an interesting museum exhibiting some of the history
of wine-making. Or for a very special visit, Château
Giscours in the Margaux region organises tastings of various
vintages of its grand crus classés, hosted by a particularly
engaging, unpretentious and plain-speaking 'oenologue' (Master
of Wine).
South
of Arcachon is the famous Dune du Pilat, 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. Don’t
be surprised to see schools of bottlenose dolphins
and porpoises, playing just offshore.
If
you're feeling beached out, Bordeaux is
well under 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.
Medieval gems of the Gironde east of
Bordeaux are also wonderful days out; St Emilion,
with its 11th century basilica, is the best known but can
be busy; St Macaire and La Réole are also enjoyable.
Obviously there are more chateaux over here but an altogether
different wine experience can be had at Caudalie Vinotherapie
Spa, in the middle of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte,
vineyards, just south of Bordeaux. The spa offers unique
beauty treatments derived from grand cru grapes of the Graves
appellation renowned for their anti-ageing and micro-circulation
improving properties - in short, visitors apparently come
out feeling good!
Up
and down the coast from Arcachon, South West France offers
the best surf in Europe.
For
further tourist information about the local areas beyond
Arcachon, please browse these region guides:
» Bassin
d'Arcachon
»
La
Côte Landaise
»
Pays
des Vins
Travel Advice
In August, the Cap is very busy and it's best to get around by bike (several bike hire shops are here) and boat (frequent trips to Arcachon, le Moulleau and Pilat dune). It can take hours to drive around the Bassin in the summer and it's best avoided.
Even in a place as popular as Cap Ferret (and Arcachon too, for that matter), the coastal resorts are seasonal and some restaurants, shops and amenities will shut down during September.
