Arcachon Bay (Bassin d'Arcachon), Bordeaux: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Arcachon Bay is a large tidal lagoon on France's Atlantic coast, roughly 60 kilometers southwest of Bordeaux, covering about 155 square kilometers at high tide and draining to one-third that area at low tide. The Dune of Pilat on the bay's southern edge is the tallest sand dune in Europe, rising roughly 100 meters above sea level and stretching 2.9 kilometers along the coast. The bay's shallow waters support extensive oyster farming, producing roughly 10,000 tonnes of Arcachon oysters annually. Bird Island, a small sandbank in the center of the bay, is a protected nesting site. is just one of many options in Bordeaux. Major attractions worth considering include Bordeaux Public Garden (Jardin Public), Basilica of St. Michael (Basilique St. Michel), and Bordeaux Cathedral (Cathédrale St. André).