On Sunday, most of the shops and restaurants in Bordeaux, and other French cities, are closed. It’s a down day, a day for family, for recreation and relaxation.
Bassin d’Arcachon (Arcachon Bay) is one of the eight natural marine parks in France. It is shaped like an equilateral triangle pointing north, with the southwest corner open to the sea. On the north shore is the town of Arès, then Andernos-les-Bains on the northeast. Just south of the entrance is Dune du Pilat, a 1.75 mile natural sand dune. Nearly in the middle of the bay is a L'île aux Oiseaux (Isle of the Birds) a natural reserve. This seaside town of Arcachon is the anchor, a popular resort known for oyster harvesting, great seafood, beach time, and gambling. There are four distinct districts each named after a season: Ville d'Été (summer) quarter is home to shopping streets, the town’s sandy main beach and a casino in the 19th-century Château Deganne. Ville d’Hiver (winter quarter) has extravagant 19th-century villas and Sainte-Cécile observatory. Ville de Printemps (spring quarter) in the west is closer to the most beautiful and less crowded beaches and the vibrant district of Le Moulleau. Ville d’Automne (autumn quarter) is the beautiful port area packed with great seafood restaurants.
Cap Ferret is a little town located on the western part of Bassin d’Arcachon and has been traditionally known as a summer getaway for the French upper class. With wide sandy beaches dotted with oyster shacks and restaurants and just a 20-minute ferry ride from Arcachon, it’s become a desirable tourist attraction. That’s a trip I didn’t get to take but will definitely do next time. And there will definitely be a next time!
Just an overnighter in Arcachon and back to Bordeaux.
All for now.
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