Situated at the entrance to Arcachon Bay and near the commune of La Teste de Buch, the Dune du Pilat (or Pyla as it is also known) is an amazing phenomenon. At 500m wide, almost three kilometres long and 107m high, it is Europe’s largest sand dune; in fact, it is still moving, up to 5m a year as the particles of sand – up to 60 million cubic metres – are blown by the wind.

Technically called a foredune, as it runs parallel to the shoreline, it is France’s second most visited natural monument with one million tourists a year. Despite the numbers, this is a definite must-see for the experience of ascending, and particular, descending the dune, and the quite breaktaking views you get from the top – the Bassin d’Arcachon, Cap Ferret, the Banc d’Arquin nature reserve and the surrounding forest. If you’re lucky, you can see bottlenose dolphins and porpoises playing in the water (early evenings are best). Watching the sunset is also a special experience – take a powerful torch so you can see your way down in the dark.

Dune du Pilat at sunset …

You can climb the dune on the soft sand, but unless you’re extremely fit, take the 154 wooden steps that have been built on the steeper inland side. You can descend via the steps too or do as many people do and either run full pelt down the dune or roll all the way down it (a popular option with children). The fastest way is to surf down on a bodyboard – exhilarating!

Paragliding

The Dune du Pilat is popular with paragliders, and it is considered the perfect place for the beginners (best months are between April – October). Although paragliders can take off from anywhere on the dune, most do so from the southern end. If you would like to give it a go try:
Charlie Piccolo at Waggas School

Practical Information

Climbing the dune is free; however the car park (about 400m from the dune and a short walk through pine forest) is not – expect to pay about €4 for four hours in high-season. Bicycles are free. Dogs are allowed but they have to be on a leash.

There are no set opening hours or times to visit – the dune is open all year around and at all times.

At the bottom of the dune on the inland side, close to the start of the steps, are little shops selling plenty of souvenirs; there are also cafes serving simple meals, plus toilet facilities. It can be very hot so do wear a hat and take a bottle of water up with you. The dune is not suited to wheelchairs, or prams/strollers.

How to get there

By car

The dune is accessed via the D218. From Bordeaux, take the A63, then the A660 signposted to Bassin d’Arcachon. Take the exit that leads you onto the D269 and follow the signposts Biscarosse/Dune du Pyla. At the roundabout, turn left onto the D218.
From Arcachon: take the D218 that follows the coast from Arcachon to the dune.

By train

Take the TER from Bordeaux to Arcachon. From the bus station across the road from the train, catch the bus, Line 1 to Dune du Pilat.

By Bike

There is a cycle path from Arcachon to the dune. The route is 15 kilometres each way, and flat with a slight hill as you near the dune. You can hire bikes at a shop opposite the railway station at Arcachon.

Photo 1 by Nicolas Mirguet / CC BY 2.0 image cropped; Photo 2, Photo 3 by francois pouzet / CC BY 2.0 image cropped; Photo 4 by Graeme Churchard / CC BY 2.0 image cropped