Press file of ARCACHON

Dossier de presse de la ville d’Arcachon
Press Book Of Arcachon
Mairie d’Arcachon / City Hall
Place Lucien de Gracia - 33120 ARCACHON - France
+33 (0)5 57 52 98 66
[email protected]
www.arcachon.com
Office de Tourisme / Tourist Office
Esplanade Georges Pompidou - BP 151
33311 ARCACHON Cedex - France
+33 (0)5 57 52 97 97
[email protected]
www.arcachon.com
à
vivre
et
à
aimer...
to live and to love...
01
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 z
Arcachon, the city of 4 seasons
z
A heritage worth the detour
z
Arcachon, a haven of well-being
z Naturally
cultural
Carte blanche for hustle and bustle
z A
thousand and one reasons to visit Arcachon
z
Arcachon, definitely an appealing town
z
Arcachon and its Bassin, what could be better ?
z
A strategic geographical location
Le Moulleau
Arcachon, the city of
seasons
01
Marked by the imperial
touch of Napoleon III,
Arcachon has grown
up unceasingly without
breaking with its rich
heritage or the quality
of its environment.
It lives on, ever
transforming to
the rhythm of
the seasons.
Spring town
This district covers the Pereire and Abatilles
areas.
The Pereire family had a 41-hectare estate, of which only the
stables in Parc Pereire Avenue remain. The estate was divided
into lots in 1957. But in 1977, the area was improved and planted
with several thousand pine trees to stabilise the coastal dune
ridge. The Abatilles area takes its name from the Gascon word
meaning “wooded dune”. It was formerly just a place name,
then it became a forest preserve, and now it is a residential
neighbourhood. It is also the site of the famous Sainte Anne des
Abatilles spring. Rich in calcium and free of nitrates, its water was
used in thermal treatments from 1925 to 1970. The Gironde’s
only mineral spring is still being exploited and exported today.
Summer town
Until the turn of the 19th Century, Arcachon
consisted of just a few cabins for fishermen
and workers who collected resin from the
pine trees on the shores of “La petite mer
de Buch”.
In 1823, a Breton seaman named François Legallais opened
the first baths for wealthy customers. With thalassotherapy
and climatotherapy, Archachon was then set to become a town
of well-being and health. The fashion for bathing in the sea
attracted royalty and celebrities, prominent families, artists and
businessmen. Chalets and villas were built along the seafront
foreshadowing the town’s summer area. That development
marked the start of Arcachon’s increasing popularity. On the 2nd
May 1857, Napoleon III signed an imperial decree recognising
Arcachon as a commune in its own right.
Autumn town
Winter town
Up to the end of the First World War, Arcachon was the
second largest trawler port in France. There was intense
economic activity in the area with the fishing companies and
shipyards that prospered there until the early 1950s. Today,
the area caters to leisure port activities, apart from fishing.
Arcachon has been classified as a sailing centre since 1986.
They took over the operation of the Bordeaux-La Teste line,
which they extended to Arcachon in 1857. To make it profitable,
they purchased 60 hectares of forest to create the winter town.
It was a genuine “open air sanatorium”, where wealthy sick
people went to benefit from the “balsamic, iodized ocean air”
and the sweet smell of the pines. In the spring of 1862, streets
and avenues were laid out and the casino and villas were
built. Napoleon III stayed there on two occasions, in 1859 and
1863, placing Arcachon among the country’s top health resorts.
In the late 19th Century, rich families and businessmen from
Bordeaux built sumptuous villas in the winter town, putting it on
the regional list of picturesque sights.
It is made up of the Saint Ferdinand and
Aiguillon areas and has a fishing port
and a marina.
In 1852, Emile and Isaac Pereire set up
the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer du
Midi (Southern Rail Company).
It was created by two men from
Bordeaux, Messrs Grangeneuve and
Papin, who wanted to build a new
health resort.
After purchasing 32 hectares of land, they called on
the architect Louis Garros to build a chapel that they
entrusted to the care of the Dominicans. The area
around Notre Dame des Passes was embellished with
a square in 1933. A statue of the Virgin sculpted by
Henri Carlier was erected in 1958. Now, Le Moulleau
boasts a mixture of shops and cafes. Its pedestrian
walkway, with a bronze canon from the battery installed
by Napoleon I during the Continental Blockade along
with its pier, make it an obligatory landmark.
Let yourself be guided
for a proper visit
Taking time out for a visit with a Tourist Office guide is strolling
between villas and forest, meeting oyster-farmers and, of
course, indulging in the pure pleasure of discovery.
Architecture
02
Arcachon is synonymous
with beach. But why not
make the most of your
stay to discover
its rich architecture
and monuments,
protected by
a comprehensive heritage
conservation policy?
Three routes to discover a multifaceted place: the Winter town
• Anecdotes of the Winter town architecture,
• Audio tours,
• The winter town from east to west.
Nature (with a naturalist guide)
• Trip to the dunes,
• The secret life of the Pereire sand bank…
A heritage worth the detour
At the heart of the
Aiguillon
Let your steps stray to the Pointe de l’Aiguillon
to discover the houses with red-tiled roofs and
small verandas and to try some oysters. The
Port of Arcachon awaits you nearby, with its food
market and heritage quay where you can see
the treasures of the Bassin’s nautical heritage:
pinasses (long narrow flat-bottomed boats),
sailing barges, dragon boats… Your gaze will
certainly linger on the 42-metre-high bell tower
of Saint Ferdinand Church. The inscription
engraved on the bell of its main chapel inspired
the first Mayor of Arcachon, Alphonse Lamarque
de Plaisance, to make it the town motto “Heri
solitudo, hodie vicus, cras civitas” (yesterday a
desert, today a village, tomorrow a city).
From the Autumn
town to the town
centre
There are two routes back to the town centre. Take the
pedestrian and cycle path along the beach, or discover
the architectural heritage in the autumn district : the private
mansions in Deganne Avenue, the “arcachonnaises”
(Arcachon villas) of Dune Pontac… You can visit the
Olympia Theatre or marvel at the Chateau Deganne before
reaching the seafront and its famous Thiers pier. Then stop
by Notre Dame, elevated to the status of basilica by Pope
Pius XII. Backing on to the seamen’s chapel and founded
in 1722, it houses a statue of The Virgin and Child found by
the monk Thomas Illyricus. Close by is the Croix des Marins
(seafarer’s cross) that fishermen saluted to invoke divine
protection.
In the
Winter town
Take a break in Mauresque Park. With four
hectares of unusual plant species overlooking the
town, it is a haven of peace. Then get your strength
up to climb the Sainte Cecile belvedere also
named observatory designed by the architect Paul
Regnauld. It offers one of the most beautiful vistas
over the Arcachon Bassin.
architecture
A CLOSE UP ON the
of Ville d’Hiver
Sea
• Trip by pinasse on the Arcachon Bassin.
Exclusive tours
• Abatilles spring,
• Behind the scenes of the auction.
Tourist bus
Towards
Le Moulleau
Visit the griffon at the Sainte Anne des Abatilles
spring, discovered in 1923, to taste its water with
acknowledged medicinal properties. Then, detour by
the Notre Dame des Passes church in the Moulleau
heights. Its mixture of Byzantine and Tuscan styles
and the quality of its frescos make it unique. It houses
one of the rare statues of The Virgin of Advent in
France.
Original architecture is the order of the day here. Neo-gothic villas sit alongside Swiss chalets, English cottages and
colonial-inspired residences. Depending on style, they are called “innovations”, “follies” or “modest”. Despite this stylistic
excess, the 215 villas scattered among the pine trees form an harmonious architectural heritage, unique in France, giving
pride of place to gingerbread, bow-windows, polychromatic façades…
• Arcachon City tour,
• Oyster tour.
Arcachon,
respect for
the environment
Arcachon, a haven of well-being
03
Under the decisive influence of
the ocean, with over 2000 hours of
sunshine a year, moderate winds
and rainfall and slight variations
in temperature from one season
to the next, the region basks in a
microclimate all its own.
That is why the founders of the town chose
the site to turn into a city of health and
well-being. It is also why thalassotherapy
originated in Arcachon. Today, a stone’s
throw from one of the resort’s most
beautiful beaches, the town houses the
only thalassotherapy centre in Gironde:
a modern complex that provides quality
innovative treatments.
Likewise at the heart of Arcachon is the
Abatilles mineral water spring, tapped
at a depth of 472 metres and medically
acknowledged as beneficial.
Arcachon, the ple asure of sport
To make the town attractive, developers
have taken every interest in offering a
wide variety of sports facilities since the
late 19th century. Therefore, today, all
sports are represented and promoted
by particularly active associations.
Each sport may be practised on unique
natural sites: a veritable asset in favour
of Arcachon.
To be underscored alongside
traditional sports facilities are:
• A prestigious international golf
course,
• A renowned tennis club with 22 clay,
hard surface, and indoor courts,
• An equestrian centre, awith soughtafter competitions at the foot of the
winter district,
• An open air Basque pelota court.
But the prime sports area is of course
the beach! The Bassin itself is an
extraordinary water sports stadium,
a major yachting venue in France.
Great skippers have made Arcachon
their home base: Titouan Lamazou,
Yves Parlier, Arnaud Boissières…
All sailing enthusiasts can take
advantage of the first class sailing
centre. Renowned boat races such
as the “18 hours of Arcachon”,
the “Vasco de Gama Cup” and the
“Prince of Asturias Cup” are the
highlights of summer.
The traditional sail regattas with
flat-bottomed boats and barges and
other one-design boats bring the
Arcachon Bassin to life during the
season alongside sailing regattas,
rowing and even kite surfing
competitions.
Arcachon has several fitness trails and
a vast network of cycle paths around
the town. “Arcachon en Forme” is an
original initiative aimed at offering every
inhabitant the opportunity to keep fit
throughout the year with free courses
in pilates, taï-chi, jogging and weight
training on Pereire beach in summer
and indoors in winter.
Arcachon is determined to conserve its territory
through a firm policy of sustainable development:
• Protecting its forest, under the guidance of the
French Forestry Commission, with a plan for
managing wooded areas,
• Setting up one of the first shared electric transport
networks, ého!, that won the French, Eco
Actions award in 2003,
• A plan to rehabilitate all public lighting to
reduce energy consumption by 43% over 20
years while also improving lighting quality…
Carte blanche
for hustle and bustle
Naturally cultural
04
Biolay, Véronique Sanson, Etienne Daho,
Zazie, Jacques Higelin, Pierre Arditi, Michel
Bouquet, Romane Bohringer, Claude
Brasseur, Sylvie Testud, the Perm Ballet,
Carolyn Carlson, Philippe Decouflé, the
Cirque Eloize, the Cirque Romanes...,
have appeared on this stage. As a publicly
subsidised dance theatre, the Olympia is a
regional benchmark for this discipline.
Arcachon is distinguished by the
vitality of its cultural and artistic
scene which, over the years, has
shaped the features of a dynamic
town always ready to surprise.
An ambitious
cultural season
All year round, in every corner and for all
audiences, Arcachon offers a range of
eclectic cultural events. At the heart of it
all is the Olympia Theatre, which hosts a
demanding cultural programme including
theatre, humour, song, circus, and opera,
among others. Many leading artists such as
Philippe Torreton, Julien Clerc, Benjamin
The Cadences
Festival: live a
passionate dance
experience
This cultural event marking the start of the
season, Cadences presents some thirty
shows, bringing together already established
or budding international companies, world
choreographies and premieres in Aquitaine.
To combine the aesthetics of dance with the
beauty of Bassin landscapes, the companies
perform by day on the beach or in unusual
places accessible by boat, as “choreographic
ports of call”. In parallel, the Festival offers
a rich programme of events, balls… The
event takes place on the 4th weekend of
September.
Monumental
sculpture Arcachon
In spring the seafront becomes an openair museum for large-format sculptures by
contemporary artists such as Toutain, Sahnes
and Coutelle. Since 2011, the experience has
been continued in the water, and from the
seafront you can now admire the whale tail
created by the sculptor Emmanuel Janssens
Casteels.
May
La Plage aux Ecrivains (see opposite page)
La Plage aux
Ecrivains
This is one of the most appreciated literary
events of the pre-season. Its programme
includes around thirty famous or budding
writers, the beach, the Arcachon Bassin,
encounters, readings on the sand, a giant
oyster-tasting... Each edition sees the
awarding of the Arcachon literary prize.
Previous prize-winners include: Katherine
Pancol, Anne Wiazemsky and Simonetta
Greggio.
June
Since life in Arcachon does not
end with the summer season, the
town organises open-air events
for everyone throughout the year.
Traditional or new events, the
key words are originality, sharing
and fun.
Jumping des Sables
Meet the best horse riders in France over
three days of competitions and watch the
spectacular derby that takes place at low
tide on Pereire Beach.
Les Tchanquetas
This festivity brings thousands of visitors
to breakfast, dine or sample tapas in the
enchanting setting of Pereire Beach. On
Saturday evening you can admire the
sailing boats dancing on the sea in the
“18 hours of Arcachon” race.
July / August
Arcachon en scène
National and international stars come
to the Velodrome to give breathtaking
open-air shows and concerts: Jamiroquai,
Mika, Jacques Dutronc, Nicolas Canteloup,
Sting…
September
European Heritage Days
This is the opportunity to discover or
rediscover all of Arcachon’s rich heritage.
On the agenda you can visit: villas, the
Olympia Theatre, the synagogue, churches,
and enjoy exhibitions and concerts…
Cadences (see opposite page)
14th and 15th August
Fêtes de la Mer
A two-day celebration of the sea and its
traditions. It all starts with an enormous
picnic on the beachfront. The following
day, you can attend mass followed by
a nautical parade, a traditional sailing
regatta, concerts, fireworks…
December
Arcachon celebrates Christmas
With an ice rink and gourmet-catered
chalets, there is hustle and bustle
throughout the month of December. But
the high point, of course, is when Father
Christmas arrives on the beach by boat.
A thousand and one reasons to visit Arcachon
05
You can just lounge on the beach,
but there are also activities to be
shared with families, partners
or groups, accompanied by a
unique sensation of dolce vita.
Arcachon, a beautiful breakaway
Arcachon, the pleasure of taste
To each his own beach
Cycling as a way of life
Leisure for all
Accommodation
Gastronomy
Arcachon spells out seven kilometres of fine sand
beaches right in the centre of town or edging into
maritime parks. Each beach has its own character.
Scene of the first sunbaths, the town-centre
beach near shops and restaurants joins up with
the Plage d’Eyrac, which extends up to the small
sailing port. Bordered by a pedestrian walkway,
sports facilities, a cycle path and lawns, the
Pereire beach offers a unique vista over the Cap
Ferret. The Arbousiers beach is the rallying point
for hang-gliders and kitesurfers. The Moulleau
beach in turn is the ideal place for swimming in
the sea and enjoying ice-cream.
With 15 kilometres of dedicated cycle
paths, you can explore Arcachon in
complete safety; along the seafront,
to the edge of the forest… If you want,
you can go on to the 150 kilometres
of tracks circumscribing the Bassin, or
take a boat to Cap Ferret to discover
the peaceful charm of the peninsula.
Water sports are the flagship leisure
activity on the Bassin. Sailing, kitesurfing,
stand-up paddle, dinghy sailing,
kayaking and more are available at the
Nautic Centre. But Arcachon also has
international golf, a thalasso centre, a
swimming pool, an equestrian centre,
tennis courts, Basque pelota courts,
beach clubs, open air entertainment for
the young, a skate-park… enough to
delight everyone.
There are 27 hotels from which to choose
a room with a sea view, or the serenity of
the winter town, the relaxing atmosphere of
a thalasso centre, the hustle and bustle of
the town centre, or the authenticity of the
port. B&B, holiday homes, rental properties,
hotels, campsite, you will be spoilt for choice.
To make things easier, you can consult hotel
room availability at www.arcachon.com.
An essential part of Arcachon’s art of
living, the gastronomy is the fruit of a
subtle combination of food from the sea
and the land. Here seafood, foie gras, fish
and magret are given an Iberian touch
and sublimated by the array of Bordeaux
wine aromas. The culinary specialties
(cuttlefish, tuna, red mullet…) follow
the fishing seasons. But the chefs of
Arcachon focus their attention on Bassin
oysters, preparing them in endlessly
creative ways: marinated raw, cooked
in vegetable fondue, on brochettes, au
gratin or stuffed, to delight all palates.
Oysters are also eaten simply at the
Let yourself be tempted by the idea of short breaks
presented by the Tourist Office: thalasso, golf,
water sports weekends.
market, in oyster farmers’ cabins, plain
or with crépinettes (flat sausages).
Another place for gourmets: In
summer, the Moulleau organic market
attracts the principal local organic
producers.
Market
The new market, conveniently located in
the Halle Baltard in the town centre, holds
the promise of a flavourful experience,
full of colourful fresh produce. Wholesale
fish merchants proudly display bass,
sole and turbot fresh from the auction.
The oyster farmers’ stalls brim over. Fruit
and vegetables are displayed alongside
Gascon produce and cheeses from the
Pyrénées. It is a great place to linger and
soak up the convivial atmosphere.
Catering, a taste for novelty
Food-wise, it’s all happening in the
kitchens of Arcachon!
There are plenty of good eating
places to suit all tastes: bistros,
brasseries, tapas bars… Some chefs are
also getting regular mentions in the
Michelin and Gault & Millau guides.
Arcachon, definitely an appealing town
06
Arcachon is at the centre of an agglomeration community of 65 000 inhabitants with
significant demographic and economic development. Less than one hour away from the
Bordeaux metropolitan area, the town is easily accessible by road, rail and air.
Arcachon is one
of the French’s three
favourite towns
(Les Echos – July 2010)
mainly because of its
exceptional surroundings,
but also because of
its attractive facilities and
services. Its economy is
based on three pillars:
•
- Tourism,
•
- The port, maritime
trades and nautical
industries,
•
- Trade and industry.
Tourism
Leisure tourism
Like its economy, Arcachon’s history is closely
linked to tourism. In 2011, tourism brought
in over 110 million euro, and the area is
particularly popular with English, Spanish and
Belgian tourists. There has also been a marked
increase in tourism from Asia and Scandinavia.
Tourist accommodation in Arcachon comprises
954 establishments (26 hotels, 3 holiday homes,
907 furnished accommodations, 15 B&B,
1 campsite and 2 group accommodations)
adding up to a potential of 8 500 beds per day.
Every year around 150 000 people visit the
Tourist Office*** of Arcachon, which is the main
office for the Arcachon Bassin and the second
in importance for the Gironde, after Bordeaux. It
will very soon be in the top category of Offices.
The seaside resort oscillates between 12,000
inhabitants in winter (in addition to 4 000 school children
and pensioners by day) to over 70 000 in summer,
when the town has around 100 000 visitors per day.
Business tourism
The Conference Hall on the seafront has over 2 065 m2 of
dedicated spaces for conferences, seminars... It has a
500-seat auditorium, a 500 m2 reception hall overlooking
the sea, and 10 meeting rooms. The Olympia Theatre
is also available for business tourism, with its felted
surroundings, its 950-seat theatre and reception areas.
All in all, Coca Cola, Aerospace Valley and the French
Rugby Federation are among the many companies and
organisations that have chosen Arcachon as the venue
for their conferences. Its refurbishment in 2012 and the
extension projects for the current casino are further
arguments in favour of this type of development.
Trade and Industry
Arcachon has no less than 972 companies of which
616 are retail establishments and 101 are service
companies. The comprehensive variety of business
establishments is strengthened by renovation of the
Aiguillon district, the restructuring of the town centre
around a new market and 5 000 m2 of shops in an
attractive and harmoniously designed space.
Arcachon, strengthened by the presence of 26 public
authorities, among them the Bassin subprefecture, also
has numerous banks and service companies that are
active participants in its economic dynamics. With the
recent introduction of cutting-edge companies in the
domotics, aeronautical and video animation industries,
the town is clearly developing in the new technologies
field. The nearby Megajoule Laser is a considerable
asset in this area.
The Port and the world
of the sea
The Port of Arcachon is the 14th largest fishing port in
France, but the second in the value of its fisheries and
is an undisputed element of the economy and the local
heritage. It is the second largest sailing port on the
Atlantic coast, with a surface area of 21 hectares, 2 600
berths and over 750 moorings ; it is the Bassin’s leading
deep water port, and the first European port to obtain
Q.S.E. certification (Quality-Safety-Environment).
Fishing, oyster-farming, and the nautical industries
punctuate the life of the port. With its 350 metres of
quays and ultramodern facilities, 2 000 tons of fish are
landed at the port each year.
The sailing port, in turn, has created many jobs in the
nautical industry, where development is linked, among
others, to the construction of next-generation boats.
The South Bassin Agglomeration Community has
undertaken to reflect on the creation of an Initiatives
Hub for Maritime Design Industries Its first act is the
forthcoming launch of a “Clean Boat” with environmentfriendly propulsion, motor drive and hull.
Moreover, the emergence of a maritime hub
reorganising the commercial installations and portrelated and nautical activities will enable the Port of
Arcachon to reinforce its role in the local economy.
The Oceanographic Hub
Project
A European oceanographic hub will, in a few months’
time, reaffirm Arcachon’s university calling. It will be a
scientific world benchmark in the different disciplines of
oceanography.
07
Since nature does things well,
it has put together a unique
natural heritage around the
restricted perimeter of the
Bassin d’Arcachon.
Arcachon and
its Bassin, what
could be better ?
Two sensational
places less than
an hour away
Around the Bassin
Île aux Oiseaux and the Cabanes
Tchanquées
The Île aux Oiseaux fronting Arcachon may be
discerned on the horizon. Surrounded by oyster
beds, its surface area changes from 300 to 1 000
hectares depending on the tides. It is home to terns,
curlews, and redshanks… People hardly ever go
there. The famous Cabanes Tchanquées (cabins on
stilts) stand proudly in front of the island like look-out
posts. They get their name from the Gascon word
“tchanques”, meaning the shoes used by farmers in
the Landes region to walk across marshland.
Dune du Pilat
Between the maritime pine forest and the Atlantic
Ocean, the Dune du Pilat is Europe’s tallest sand
dune measuring 105 metres high, 2.7 km long and
500 metres across. It provides a stunning vista of the
entrance to the Arcachon Bassin, the ocean and the
Landes forest.
Bordeaux
Banc d’Arguin
Gujan-Mestras: oyster ports
Leyre delta
The Banc d’Arguin marks the entrance to the
Arcachon Bassin, facing the Dune du Pilat and
the Cap Ferret headland. It is an enormous sand
bank off the Girondin coast and a privileged
meeting-place for amateur sailors and oyster
farmers who have installed oyster beds there.
It is a stopover site for many migratory birds.
In the spring, it is shelter to Europe’s largest
colony of Sandwich Terns.
Regarded as the capital of oyster farming,
Gujan-Mestras has seven picturesque
ports: La Hume, Meyran, Gujan, le Canal, la
Barbotière, la Mole and Larros, which is home
to one of the great local shipyards and the
Maison de l’Huître (oyster museum).
Linking the Gascony forest to the sea, the
River Leyre flows into the Bassin through a
delta criss-crossed by channels. The place
is studded with dragonflies and birds and
the trees form green vaults. This natural
heritage is among the richest in Southwestern France.
Cap Ferret
This 25-kilometre spit is a place of contrasts.
On one side it has beaches that are battered
by the ocean and the wind and on the other is
the peaceful atmosphere of the Bassin, with its
villages of oyster farmers, the Mimbeau canal,
oyster beds and family beaches. Between the
two are maritime pines. Rising out of the pines
is a 53-metre lighthouse, offering a unique vista
over the Bassin, the sand dune and the ocean.
Le Teich: Bird Reserve
It is a protected area of international
importance for some species covering 120
hectares. Every year, 260 bird species
- that is, 50% of European biodiversity choose to stop there between migrations
to reproduce and feed.
Domaine de Certes
It is owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral
(French agency for the conservation of
coastal and riverbank areas) and covers
almost 400 hectares. This unique place
where land and water mingle is a vast
mosaic of dikes, canals, wetlands, reed
beds, fish reserves… It is also a place of
privilege for migratory birds and waders.
Wine capital of the world, Bordeaux
has been a UNESCO world heritage
site since 2007. With its 363 classified
monuments, 18th-Century quays,
parks, illuminated squares and cycle
paths, there are a thousand and one
ways to explore the town.
Saint Emilion
A World heritage site, Saint Emilion
and its medieval village reveal
numerous treasures - a monolithic
church, Catacombs - along cobbled
streets. It’s also the ideal spot for
finding craftspeople, savouring
macaroons and tasting Saint
Emilion wines.
BERLIN
PARIS
A strategic
geographical location
GENEVE
ARCACHON
BORDEAUX
LONDON
08
Easy access
• 15 flights a day Paris / Bordeaux,
• Daily direct high speed connections
to Paris,
• By road on the N250 and the A63
motorway,
• Regional Express Train link between
Bordeaux / Arcachon (20 return journeys
a day).
PARIS
NANTES
LILLE
PARIS
STRASBOURG
OCEAN
•L
ess than one hour from the metropolitan
area of Bordeaux,
• 50 minutes from Bordeaux-Mérignac
international airport,
• Two and a half hours from the Spanish
border and first class ski resorts,
• Three hours and forty minutes from Paris
(high-speed train – 2 direct trains a day).
When the high speed line opens in 2016,
Arcachon will be only 3 hours away from
Paris.
BERLIN
ATLANTIC
Arcachon is ideally situated at:
BRUSSELS
MERIGNAC
AIRPORT
ARCACHON
BORDEAUX
BORDEAUX
BILBAO
LYON
BARCELONA
ARCACHON
SPAIN
TOULOUSE
SEVILLE
Further information
Tourist Office*** travel advisors will receive
you all year round.
Depending on the season, your interests
and what you want to do, the Tourist Office
staff will help you design a stay to your taste.
Tél. +33 (0)5 57 52 97 97
At www.arcachon.com the Tourist Office offers:
• An extensive range of accommodation,
• Themed holidays: cultural, gastronomic, well-being…,
• Guided tours,
• A variety of leisure activities,
• Downloadable brochures and maps.
GENEVA
ROME
Crédits photos : A. Vacheron, B. Bertin, K. Médina, J.-C. Lauchas, B. Ruiz-Siba, Mairie d’Arcachon, Thalazur. Conception réalisation : compos-it.fr.
BILBAO