My French West Coast Paradise
ARCACHON BAY - This is home in France, where my parents and my brother live.
The Bay (we call it Le Bassin) is located 45 Minutes drive South of Bordeaux, on the Atlantic Coast. It’s well-known for its beach towns such as Arcachon and Le Cap-Ferret. This little inland sea is protected by the peninsula of Lege Cap-Ferret on the West and the famous Dune du Pyla on the East. I say famous, because this is the tallest sand dune in Europe at 350 feet high (106 meter) and runs half and a mile long (2.5km). The dune is bordered by the forest on the West and the ocean on the East. The view is simply stunning and sets the tone for a laid back lifestyle that respects the environment. We enjoy life’s simplest pleasures, like bike riding, going surfing and eating plenty of fresh seafood. It’s what we do. It’s a dream for nature and beach lovers.
The Bay is also famous for its oysters. It’s where they are farmed. We even have an oyster Capital: Gujan-Mestras. The Oyster House in Larros Harbour, will tell you all about oyster farming and breeding techniques. The oysters from Arcachon Bay supply all of France. You will find wooden oyster shacks everywhere as well as the traditional fishing boats that we call “Les Pinasses”. Oyster tasting with bread and butter and a glass of white wine is the norm. Welcome to my paradise everyone!
I moved from the French Riviera to Arcachon Bay with my parents when I was 10 years old. It was not easy to say goodbye to the family and friends, but the natural beauty, authenticity and laid-back charm of the area got me excited and very happy. The big bonus was to move from an apartment to a house with a big backyard where my dad set up a swing. It was pure joy for me!
I spent most of my time outside, playing with my new friends making huts and climbing trees in the woods next to our house. If I was not in the forest, I was at the beach! Beach girl at heart, c’est moi! (It’s me!)
All of a sudden I had access to the OCEAN and that’s so much more fun than the Mediterranean Sea. You can play in the waves and you can SURF!
Here are some of my favorite places and addresses:
Le Moulleau Arcachon Le Cap Ferret
Pyla sur Mer L’Herbe
FOR DRINKS:
La Co-Orniche www.lacoorniche-pyla.comClub Plage Perreire www.hotelvilledhiver.com/club-plage-pereireClub Paradiso www.clubparadiso.frLe Bar de L’Oubli, 234 boulevard de la côte d argent, ArcachonLe Balap, 242 Bd de l'Océan, 33115 La Teste-de-Buch
HOTELS/RESTAURANTS:
La Co-Orniche www.lacoorniche-pyla.comHotel Haaitza haaitza.comHotel Ville D’Hiver www.hotelvilledhiver.comLa Maison du Bassin www.lamaisondubassin.comHotel de la Plage - Chez Magne (IG @hoteldelaplage_capferret)
OYSTER SHACKS:
Le Kikouyou (Avenue de l'Herbe, Lege Cap-Ferret)Cabane 171 (85 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Lège-Cap-Ferret)La Cabane d’Hortense www.lacabanedhortense.frChez Mimi www.chezmimi.eu
