Liven up your holidays!

Pyla-sur-Mer

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Gironde

Pyla-sur-Mer - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Gironde
7.3
6

Pyla-sur-Mer is a seaside resort on the Atlantic coast, in Gironde, in the Aquitaine region, 65 km south-west of Bordeaux.

Located in the territory of La Teste-de-Buch, the station extends from the entrance of the Arcachon basin, the city of which it borders, until the dune of Pilat, famous for being the highest in Europe.

The station was created at the beginning of the First World War by an entrepreneur, Daniel Meller, after an exchange of land with the state, and was named Pyla to evoke the famous dune "Pilat", which means "mount" in Gascon.

Between the two wars, a second promoter makes it possible to enlarge the station which is prolonged then in the south, always on the littoral, in the direction of Biscarrosse.

The new constructions, however, preserve the forest of the Landes and from the 1950s, success allows to develop thousands of houses and develop recreational activities (water sports, play equipment). The resort includes several neighborhoods and its beaches follow one another for more than 10 kilometers.

Pyla-sur-Mer and its dune are certainly worth seeing, and the environment as well as the cultural and leisure activity in the summer attracts tens of thousands of holiday makers.

Pyla-sur-Mer is a seaside resort that is part of the municipality of La Teste-de-Buch

Geographical information

Seaside locationPyla-sur-Mer
Latitude44.6307720 (N 44° 37’ 51”)
Longitude-1.2027130 (W 1° 12’ 10”)
PrefectureBordeaux (75 km, 59 min)
DepartmentGironde
TerritoryAquitaine
RegionNew-Aquitaine

Nearest cities & towns

Arcachon5.3 km (13 min)
La Teste-de-Buch7.6 km (13 min)
Gujan-Mestras17.6 km (22 min)
Le Teich22 km (24 min)
Biganos25 km (24 min)
Mios27 km (26 min)
Sanguinet29 km (30 min)

Things to see and do

The exceptional site of the Pilat Dune (110 m high, about 3 km long, 600 m wide) attracts over a million and a half visitors a year. It is a natural monument of 135 hectares formed by the accumulation of sand from the sea. The experts note, however, that the dune is in perpetual motion and progressing from 1 to 5 m per year... Even if it requires very precise measuring instruments to measure it. Almost devoid of vegetation, the dune offers at its summit an exceptional panoramic view of the coast, the sea and the land.

You can climb the dune all year round (be careful, exercise can be stressful), but a staircase is installed from April to early November. Access is free but parking is not free. Information on +33 5 56 22 12 85.

Facing the dune, offshore, we see the Banc d'Arguin, a sandbank 4 km long and 2 km wide, which seems to mark the entrance to the Arcachon basin. Protected area for its fauna (birds) and its dune flora, it is accessible by boat (shuttles). Although the visit is framed not to disturb the ecosystem, it offers a unique view of the Pilat Dune and the coastline. Information on +33 5 56 54 53 83 or +33 5 56 54 63 14.

Before enjoying the beaches, a detour is required at the Villa Tethys, built in 1924. This gem of Art Deco with white walls and Greek-style is the work of the architect Roger Henri-Expert, who is also the l author of villas inspired by the first, Canope and Lyside. Building now classified, with a rotunda decorated with ceramics depicting the Greek goddess Tethys, the villa is surrounded by a park with terraces. Visits possible. Information on +33 5 56 54 53 83 or +33 5 56 54 63 14.

Pyla-sur-Mer has many beaches, which over the decades have become neighborhoods' seafronts as such.

At the historic heart of the resort and the Figuier roundabout, is the main beach, called Pilat-Plage. To the north, there are the beaches of Pyla and Moulleau, and to the south, there are the Petit Nice, the Lagoon, the North Salie and the Arbousiers.

South of the resort, you can also enjoy Lake Cazaux (freshwater).

Swimming and water sports are easily practiced on each of them.

Many clubs or associations offer to learn or practice sailing: the main circle is based in the heart of the resort. All information on +33 5 56 54 00 29.

The circle based on Lake Cazaux is equipped with specific equipment for people with reduced mobility. Information on +33 5 56 22 91 00.

For the amateurs of stand-up and paddle, to join the +33 6 62 26 04 11 or the +33 6 11 92 05 83. For the kitesurf, to contact the +33 6 75 25 97 89, and for the surf, to inquire at +33 6 80 05 46 95.

On the sea side, the last few years have seen the rise of pesca-tourism, which consists of accompanying fishermen or oyster farmers for a day.

Information on +33 5 56 54 53 83 or +33 5 56 54 63 14.

Pyla-sur-Mer is also endowed with numerous bike paths (on the coast as in its forest areas) and the whole territory is punctuated with hiking trails. For hiking, documentation and information at +33 5 56 54 63 14.

We do not forget the tennis fans who can always reserve a court on +33 5 57 52 19 46.

In another register, many races are scheduled in season at the racecourse. Information on +33 5 56 54 74 26.

Finally, let's mention the mini-golf (information on +33 6 32 23 74 38), the zoo open from mid-February to mid-November (entry 13,90 and 16,90 euros, information on +33 5 56 54 71 44) and on the cultural plan, the numerous art galleries established in the resort.

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Natural sites
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

In mid-April, regional kite surfing.

At the end of April, Pyla lounge in bloom.

In mid-May, nature festival (workshops, fun activities, exhibitions).

Every Sunday afternoon, in July and August, art exhibitions place Meller.

On the first Wednesday of August, Meller Square, The Pyla's Elegantes revive the resort's past with a fashion show and vintage cars.

For the feast of August 15, fireworks.

Photos

Dune du Pyla view path (© JE)
Dune du Pyla view path (© JE)
See photo
Dune of Pyla (© JE)
Dune of Pyla (© JE)
See photo
Immensity Blaster (© JE)
Immensity Blaster (© JE)
See photo
View next Arcachon (© JE)
View next Arcachon (© JE)
See photo
View the Arcachon basin (© JE)
View the Arcachon basin (© JE)
See photo
Versant is overlooking the forest (© JE)
Versant is overlooking the forest (© JE)
See photo
View the Banc d'Arguin (© JE)
View the Banc d'Arguin (© JE)
See photo
View of the Cap Ferret (© JE)
View of the Cap Ferret (© JE)
See photo
View the second summit of the dune (© JE)
View the second summit of the dune (© JE)
See photo

Weather

Thursday 28 march
Min. 9°C - Max. 16°C
Day
Night
Friday 29 march
Min. 10°C - Max. 14°C
Day
Night
Saturday 30 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 16°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Boat ride on the Pinnace Ohana in the Bay of Arcachon
Entertainment300 € to 700 € Arcachon (3.1 km)
Ascending parachute on Plage de l'Herbe beach
Sports sensations45 € Lège-Cap-Ferret (6.7 km)
Maiden flight in a multi-axis or autogyro microlight
Nature and the great outdoors95 € to 200 € Biscarrosse (29 km)
Surfing lessons at Le Porge-Océan
Sports sensations40 € to 150 € Le Porge (30 km)
Surfing lessons with a qualified instructor
Sports sensations32 € Lacanau-Océan (41 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
At Cap Ferret, from Belisaire to the Horizon
All-terrain bike itineraryEasy10 minLège-Cap-Ferret (4.1 km)
Rally bike in the heart of Cap Ferret
All-terrain bike itineraryEasy35 minLège-Cap-Ferret (4.2 km)
Chêneraie Park
HikeEasy2:00Gujan-Mestras (10.4 km)
Hiking Domaine de Graveyron at Audenge on the Bassin d'Arcachon
HikeEasy1:20Audenge (15 km)
The canal of the ponds
HikeEasy1:45Lège-Cap-Ferret (17.5 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
By continuing to browse our site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies to improve your experience and make targeted offers.
Find out more and make settings
Your account