Majestic, awesome, spectacular, unusual ... The famous Dune of Pilat definitely leaves no-one indifferent! This sand formation, situated in Arcachon Bay, in the municipality of La Teste-de-Buch, is the tallest dune in Europe. Its incredible measurements are the stuff of dreams: between 100 and 115 metres tall depending on the year, 2.7 kilometres long and 500 metres wide! But those are not its only assets. Indeed, while it is particularly known for its record height, it is also famed for the exceptional scenery it offers from its peak. Once at the top, after climbing the stairs open to the public from April to All Saints, you can see on one side the huge pine forest, a real ocean of green, and on the other the Atlantic, the headland of Le Cap-Ferret and the Banc d'Arguin nature reserve at the entrance of Arcachon Bay... A magical moment!
Located on the edge of the Landes de Gascogne massif, on the Côte d'Argent, the Dune du Pilat is the largest dune in Europe at 110.9 meters high. It takes place at the entrance to the Arcachon basin, in the town of La Teste-de-Buch, in the Gironde department.
The only ever-moving dune of the Aquitaine coastal dunes, the Dune du Pilat moves from one to five meters a year, particularly under the influence of the tides and the prevailing winds. Gradually covering the neighboring forest massifs, it is made up of about sixty million cubic meters of sand and extends over nearly three kilometers in length.
Located on the sites of former protohistoric camps, as evidenced by various remains found on site during archaeological digs in the second half of the 20th century, the Dune du Pilat began to form more than 4,000 years ago. Today, nearly two million visitors travel each year to climb this record dune, making it one of the most visited natural sites in the country.
The ensemble has been classified as a natural monument to guarantee its preservation over time.
The Dune du Pilat offers commented walks during the day or at sunset throughout the year. The program of nature activities can be found on the Dune du Pilat website.
