Arcachon and the Landes
On the Atlantic coast not far from Bordeaux lies the beautiful seaside town of Arcachon, well-known for its oyster culture, its fishing harbor, and its bathing resort where sea winds mix with the fresh scent of pine trees from the nearby forest of the Landes.
Situated at the base of the Arcachon basin, and originally a vast desert, the city of Arcachon was the brainchild of the barons of power in the 19th century who saw a unique opportunity to create an elite spa-town in this wild and beautiful area. François Legallais decided to create the first hotel in 1823, extolling the virtues of the sea air and the forest pines. His gamble paid off: the city quickly built its reputation as a place to cure tuberculosis and lymphatic disease, becoming a four-star destination for the wealthy Bordeaux residents who created enormous mansions as their second homes in what became known as the “Ville d’hiver”, the winter town. Other areas soon built up, giving the names of the four seasons to the different areas, hence one can also find the summer town, the spring town and the autumn town.
Known for its wild dunes, the nearly 15,000 square kilometers of the area are covered with a thick sand, which, carried by winds, create dunes of varying heights. The inland dunes do not usually exceed 15 meters high and are fixed from moving too much by vegetation.
The coastal dunes, however, are still “active,” and can reach much greater heights due to their constant movement. The Dune du Pyla (or Pilat), near Arcachon, is Europe’s largest sand dune at over 100 meters high. It’s quite a feat to climb it, but the view from the top of the Atlantic Ocean and the city itself is breathtaking.
French teachers, join us this summer as we travel to Arcachon from Bordeaux for a lively day’s outing during our workshop for French teachers to be held July 15-26, 2012. Click here for further details.
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