021 - l'Arcachonnaise  Arcachon (500m)

In our opinion

What makes l'Archonnaise a great holiday rental

An original Arcchon villa, located just 800m from Pereire beach - regarded by locals as Arcachon's best - and close to the Parc Mauresque, the shady Parc Pereire, plus local shops and cafes... we think this is the perfect town-and-beach location. Inside, it's a family home, outside the pool, gardens and basketball court will keep any children busy. There are few more convenient places for a large group to enjoy the beautiful bassin d'Arcachon.

Best for:
Two or three families or a group of friends who will enjoy the beaches, exploring the Bay, and taking advantage of the amenities of a good-sized sea-side town like Arcachon

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - garden is gated & fenced to ensure toddlers can't get onto the footpath around the lagoon; rear terrace fenced. Front steps will require supervision.
• Teenagers - teen bedroom (complete with Eminem posters!). Ideal venue for teens who will enjoy exploring Arcachon
• Reduced mobility - not suitable, house in on three levels and entrance is raised

Anything to watch out for?
Some of the bedrooms are quite simple in style; the bathroom & toilet fittings are old-fashioned French. Light traffic noise is audible from the garden.

Why Arcachon?
The French have been taking holiday in Arcachon for 150 years now and you can see why: sea-front restaurants, excellent shopping, attractive town walks, bars and nightlife (including the Arcachon Casino) make it a great destination. There's laid-back Cap Ferret to visit across the Bay too.

Accommodation

Classic Arcachon Villa with pool near the sea.

This is an authentic "Villa Arcachonnaise" in the famous Ville d'Hiver, built in the 1880's with 12 foot ceilings, 12 rooms of which 7 are bedrooms located on three floors, 320 sq. metres, sleeps 12 very comfortably and up to 16. The owners live here for a good part of the year. They have furnished it accordingly, with a great deal of attention to the house feeling comfortable and homely as well as stylish.

Inside:

Ground floor accommodation:

The front entrance leads into a small entrance hall with tiled floors.

Leading from the entrance hall are the conservatory/living room and TV lounge.

The conservatory/living room is a double room. Half of this room is a large seating area in a bay window, the other half with a drawing room feel, enhanced by a working upright piano.

The TV lounge contains several bookcases (included books and DVDs), and is equipped with TV, DVD player and VCR.

Just off the conservatory/living room is a small study/reading area which overlooks the garden. This leads to a large dining room with table sitting 8-10, and a fireplace.

The kitchen, off the dining room, is fully-equipped and includes oven & hob, microwave, fridge freezer, dishwasher and breakfast table. The back door leads onto a raised terrace area (fenced), overlooking the rear of the garden.

The laundry,has a washing machine and dryer. There is also a WC with wash basin downstairs.

First floor accommodation:

A staircase leads to the first floor with a long corridor linking 3 double bedrooms, a bathroom with shower, a family bathroom, and 1 children's bedroom (children's bunk bed, plus 2 x pull-out beds). All three double bedrooms open onto a large terrace with fantastic views of the Ville d'Hiver.

Both bathrooms are fairly old-fashioned, one with shower, another with bathtub. There is a separate WC across the corridor.

Most bedroom wardrobes are locked and not accessible to guests. Temporary hanging space is provided, and there are several hooks on the backs of each bedroom's entrance door.

Second floor accommodation:

The staircase continues to the second floor with three further double bedrooms. One is definitely a teenager's room, covered with music posters. One of the other bedrooms contains large bookcases dividing the room in half and providing storage for some of the owners' belongings behind (not accessible to guests). A further shower room and WC at this level.

Outside:

A 1200m2 garden surrounds the house, separated from the road by a high hedge ensuring complete privacy and seclusion.

There are reasonably-sized grassed areas to the front and rear of the villa - large enough to kick a football around. There are two terraces and a basketball court.

At the front of the house is a fenced pool area, containing a 10 x 4 m swimming pool, deckchairs, and an outdoor dining/barbecue area.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (44.65882437, -1.183530092)

We endeavour to be as accurate as possible using Google maps but some error is possible.

Things to Do & See

Nearby Activities
Surfing · Kitesurfing · Windsurfing · Sailing · Water-skiing · Jet-skiing · Kayaking · Golf · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Wine-tasting · Degustation · Adventure Parc · Aqua Parc ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Take a foot ferry to Cap Ferret, & 'Petit Train' to l'Horizon beach
• Climb the Dune de Pilat
• Take a tram ride around Bordeaux
• Tour the Médoc vineyards wine-tasting
• Stroll around St Emilion (UNESCO world heritage site)

Our Personal Highlights

Any day on Periere beach – one of the nicest this side of the Bay
Evening stroll around the Parc Mauresque, Ville d'Hiver and Belvedere
Take the water shuttle to Cap Ferret for dinner at l’Escale or Chez Hortense
Watch the sunset from the top of the Dune de Pyla
Boat tour around the bay - Ile aux Oiseaux, oyster beds and Maison Tchanquées

The Local Area: Arcachon (500m)

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. Each offers quieter beaches than those found in central Arcachon and, for those with smaller children and a lot of equipment, easier car-parking. Pereire beach (2 kms from the apartments) is regarded by locals as the most attractive 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 worth 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 fascinating 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 Ornotholigique du Teich and Ile aux Oiseaux (Bird Island) in the basin which can be visited by boats that depart from the Arcachon jetties.

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.

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