If you're staying at La Maison de Lüe, the Bassin d'Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat are about 45 minutes away by car — an ideal outing for a full day, best planned for early morning in high season to avoid the crowds.
The Dune du Pilat, Europe's tallest sand dune
Standing 110 metres high, the Dune du Pilat offers a spectacular panorama over the Bassin d'Arcachon, the ocean and the Landes forest. The climb can be tiring, especially with children — bring water, closed shoes and, if possible, go early or late in the day to avoid the heat.
Photo by MathieuMD, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Bassin d'Arcachon
At the foot of the dune, the bay offers plenty of activities: a boat trip to see the cabanes tchanquées (stilt huts), oyster tasting in the oyster-farming ports, or simply a stroll along Arcachon's seafront with its Belle Époque villas.
Photo by Karine Deydier, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Planning your day
- Early start from La Maison de Lüe (about 45 minutes by car)
- Morning: climb the Dune du Pilat
- Lunch: oyster tasting at one of the bay's oyster-farming ports
- Afternoon: boat trip or relaxing on one of the bay's beaches
- Head back to the house to enjoy the pool in the evening
A lovely way to combine relaxing at the house with discovering the Atlantic coast, without spending your whole holiday on the road.