La Teste de Buch

A palette of gold, blue and white – clear waters, towering dunes and striking art deco architecture

Not too far from Bordeaux, La Teste de Buch feels like a world away from the city buzz. With its wild, seemingly endless coastline, sand dunes and forests, this is a side to France that you may not often see. Spend days strolling along the sand or taking in views of the coast from the deck of a yacht. Then wander into vibrant beach towns where you can feast on fresh, local oysters while the sun sets.

Things to do

LANDMARKS
La Teste de Buch is famous for the towering Dune du Pilat. The largest sand dune in Europe, with a sweeping pine forest on one side and the glimmering waters of the Atlantic on the other. As well as natural wonders, this stretch of coastline is known for its characteristic Neo-Basque architecture. In towns such as Teste de Buch and Pyla sur Mer, you’ll spot white villas highlighted with bright timber frames, mixing the sleek style of art deco with rural building traditions.

SPORTS
From land to sea…and even air. There’s no shortage of ways to get active in La Teste De Buch. Explore the Dune du Pilat forest by mountain bike or even get a bird’s eye view of the dune with a tandem parasailing experience. Spend a day on the water at Lake Cazaux, with opportunities to rent kayaks or go sailing. To up the adrenaline, travel along the coast to Plage de la Salie-Nord, a surfing hotspot with rolling Atlantic waves.

FOOD
There’s one thing that you can’t leave La Teste de Buch without having tried: oysters. In the middle of Arcachon Bay you’ll find L’Île aux Oiseaux, a natural salt meadow that creates the perfect conditions for oysters to thrive. Along the coastline you’ll find the characteristic stilt huts used by oyster farmers – some of which open up to share the latest catch with visitors. You’ll also find Arcachon Bay oysters on the menus of the area’s finest restaurants, with more than a couple of Michelin stars shining among them.