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The Dune du Pilat
The higher dune in Europe.
Protected site _ classed in "the national high site"
The dune du Pilat is situated at the entrance of the bassin d’Arcachon, for a size of 2700 meters of long, 500 meters of large, and 18 meters of high. It is located near la Teste-de-Buch and Arcachon, in the middle of the "Landes de Gascogne".
Useful: The ascent of the dune can be done by the principal entrance with a stair. However, in winter, there is no stair. For 1€ you can have access to the car-park. Others access are possible by the ledge or by the D112.
Website : www.tourisme-latestedebuch.fr
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A pile of sand
Before having its actual name, the Dune du Pilat was called The Sabloney, les Grands Tucs, and La Grave. Since the 18th century the dune took its name from "Lous Pillars", which designated a sandbank near the dune. The name is from the Gascon "Pilot", in other word "pile". Consequently, Pilat when it is designated a dune; it is spelled with a T. Be careful! Initiates will avoid the confusion with the sea side of Pyla-sur-Mer, which is written with a Y, according to the wish of its founder, Daniel MELLER. During the creation in 1920, the founder spelled it like it to give an exotic sounding word.
A mobile dune
Circled by the forest of the Landes and the sandbank of Arguin, the dune is sculpted by the marine winds. The dune is not hindered by the vegetation which leads to free moves forward the forest on which it is leaning. Moreover, it is feed in sand with the sandbank of Arguin, and encroached on West by the Ocean. The higher of the dune is constantly changing, oscillating between 100 meters or 117 meters over the sea level. |
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This wonderful higher dune of Europe has got exceptional geological characteristic. Furthermore, it is the more appreciated touristic site of the bassin d’Arcachon. Like the first ground of the Eiffel tower, the dune du Pilat is of the same high and has got the same number of visitors.
In 1847, the dune du Pilat was only of 76 meters of high. Its formation is due to a wind-driven transport of sand. This sand was from a sandbank of Arguin, which is still feeding the dune with sand, but the phenomenon becomes less pronounced.
To the pic of the dune, you can see by East sight the immensity of the forest of the Landes. By the North sight, you can admire the Cap-Ferret and the Bassin d’Arcachon. To the West side, there are the Ocean and the sandbank of Arguin. At the sunset, the sight is unforgettable.
At first sight, the sandbank of Arguin is a set of sandbank with changing outline by the tide, storms. It is classed natural reserved, and place of nesting for migratory birds. There are 3 000 couples of terns caujecks and it is dotted with stakes “pignots” which delimited oyster farming. In the deepness, it is drawing a peninsula of the Cap-Ferret, an old place of La Teste-du-Buch, which the lighthouse towers above the city of its 53 meters of high. Behind you, there is a sea of pines, a truly setting of greenery.
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Keywords : La Dune du Pilat, dune, dune du Pilat, la Teste de Buch, pyla-sur-Mer, le banc d'arguin.
Sources biblio : Office de tourisme de La Teste de Buch, "Découvrir La Gironde" - Editions MSM.
Crédits Photos : Office de tourisme de La Teste de Buch, Caruso33 (Nardo Benedicto).
Tourisme en Gironde : www.caruso33.net
