Or maybe it was the clatter of the dozens of wind chimes hanging outside her storefront. Do you need to book in advance to visit La Grande Dune du Pilat? We visited in August and none of the thousand of other tourists took any social distancing precautions. And did you get the diapers for Marie? Adult life had just started for us. I am still totally open to ideas of where to go and what to do, but I’m definitely the kind of traveler who wouldn’t want to spend more than a few days in Paris and have been looking for off-the-beaten-path places. It sounds like this was an experience that you and your wife will hold dear forever. Looking back we s... A huge desert is not something you expect to see in France but here it is, a 3 km long, 107-meter high dune! I remember us laughing, screaming, maybe trying to sing…. My partner is more spontaneous, living in the moment. The Atlantic Ocean not blue enough and the deep green forest I didn’t even know there was a sand dune in France. I told you to bring that stupid cooling box! On vend aussi des boissons si vous voulez. N’hésitez pas à parcourir les pistes cyclables ! Sky and earth were upside down. The westerly Atlantic winds have shaped Pilat, eroding sand from the seaward side and depositing it … I am amazed by how tall the dune is. A lady, dressed like a gypsy, came out of nowhere and invited us to take a look at her store. In fact, I didn’t even wait until she uttered the desire to hand the lady 1€ for the bottle of water. La dune du Pilat, ou dune du Pyla [a], est une dune située en bordure du massif forestier des Landes de Gascogne, sur la côte d'Argent à l'entrée du bassin d'Arcachon (région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France). To the east of the dune is a vast forest, and to the west is the vast Atlantic Ocean. Parking is around 6 euro and there is plenty of parking space, sign said full but we soon found someone leaving and parked. Parking is around 6 euro and there is plenty of parking space, sign said full but we soon found someone leaving and parked. I remember … It is only €1 per person single journey. 2020-06-01 | Reply. Otherwise, clamber exhaustedly up the steep sand mountain – and exercise your inner child by flying down at an exhilarating sprint if you dare. We hope you’ll get to visit the Dune du Pilat someday! Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and an enormous pine forest, this dune on a peninsula is one of the most unique landscapes in all of France. Follow the huge path and very soon you'll get to the bottom of the dune (not the same side you climbed), then walk along the dune on the left for short and descend to get the path in the forest to a small parking. Officially called the Dune of Pilat, this unique land mass located in Arcachon Bay is the tallest sand dune in Europe and a favorite site for hikers and windsurfers. Browse our largest collection of experiences, From snorkel to surfing—no expertise necessary, All ashore for easy trips straight from port, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Gift & Speciality Shops, Historic Sites. Dune du Pilat. We visited in August and none of the thousand of other tourists took any social distancing precautions. Now that she knew there was no water “up there” (wherever that was? Officially called the Dune of Pilat, this unique land mass located in Arcachon Bay is the tallest sand dune in … Nobody checks. Bear in mind, your legs will sink in the sand, making you very slow. The Dune Du Pilat looks like a fascinating spot from the aerial view. Kerstin is a 30-something French teacher, born and raised in a tiny Luxembourgish village, but who used to live in Bordeaux, Paris, Athens and San Francisco with her wife Mei. Oops! I think you have found your perfect travel partner. Not to be missed. more. You know any story that starts with the words, “Let’s just check it out!” is going to be good! What an incredible find, and such a reassuring moment reminding us to sometimes veer off the path and be in the moment. We finally advanced to a wooden staircase embedded in the dune. You know what? As a couple or with the kids, you can count on your Sandaya campsite to … One of the most breathtaking landscapes ever seen: La Dune du Pilat (Pyla), also called Grande Dune du Pilat, is the tallest sand dune in Europe, reaching 106.6 m at the top. Les équipes du Syndicat mixte de la dune du Pilat en ont dans un premier temps interdit l’accès, avant de démonter purement et simplement l’escalier cette semaine. So, I always carry a bottle of water wherever we go. For me, this is the essence of travel, where the sidetracks become the main event. This truth set us free. The dune is considered a foredune, meaning a dune that runs parallel to a shoreline, behind the high tide line of a beach. Coordinates: 44°35′24″N 1°12′42″W / 44.59000°N 1.21167°W / 44.59000; -1.21167, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dune_of_Pilat&oldid=975963452, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 31 August 2020, at 11:51. WOW! When it rains, it’d be better not to go there. Mei was getting impatient… and so was I, as I kept checking in the rear-view mirror whether a car was approaching or not. La dune du Pilat et le Point Information Idune sont labellisés "Accueil vélo", marque nationale qui garantit un accueil et des services de qualité pour tous les cyclistes. Bienvenue sur le Grand Site de la dune du Pilat, plus haute dune d'Europe et monument naturel exceptionnel, situé sur le bassin d'Arcachon. Dense dark-green forests of maritime pines, oaks, ferns and strawberry trees (whose wood is traditionally used to build oyster-farmer shacks) stretch from the base of the dune eastwards almost as far as the eye can see. And we definitely recommend you to explore the west and southwest of France when you spend a month in France. What restaurants are near La Grande Dune du Pilat? But our discovery of the Dune du Pilat was one of the truthful moments that defined us. Good question, Rudy! Her index finger moved feverishly across the map. I love it when that happens so unexpectedly. This is a bucket list spot. Still I ran, throwing myself into the water, into the new blue freedom of being a woman. I had just turned 19 and Mei 20. I am not really a let’s check it out person but it is amazing that some of the best trips start with that quote. Sky and earth were upside down. Thank you! We suddenly felt transported to an eerie parallel world. A lovely story of the two of you on your travels, going with your gut. The dune is 100 meters high, and runs 2.7 km from north to south. All rights reserved. If you are in Bordeaux it's a nice day trip excursion. Set at the brink of the pine forest, the wooden cabins were actually souvenir shops lining up like solitary sentinels. I knew that Mei usually gets thirsty out of the blue, at the most unexpected place and time. Sand was embracing every inch of our skin. To back this evidence of coastal movement, maps from 1708 and 1786 both place areas with the name Pilat to the south and off-shore of the current dune's location. The sands here have been building up for thousands of years as sand gets pushed by the wind toward the east. Going to the dune, you have several options. The Dune du Pilat is an unexpected and amazing physical feature on the Atlantic coast of France. Then you need to walk along a standard street, keeping right. Between Easter and early to mid-November, a wooden staircase – between 150 and 160 steps depending on the year – is erected on one side of the dune to help tourists scramble to its sandy top. But it avoids you a steep climb back. The Dune Du Pilat looks like a fascinating spot from the aerial view. I like the ladder idea haha, No, we haven’t been to Michigan yet. Attractions near La Grande Dune du Pilat: Visited while cycling through France and Spain. This was the highlight of our holiday. Wow! © 2020 Lonely Planet. I can not describe my feelings when I first climbed up and saw this huge space, it was like in the movie! Learn how to create your own. 17 years and still together!? And yes, we had so much fun rolling down the dune! sand about 50% of the way up. Truly a great find. It is just phenomenal! Next thing we knew, we arrived at the top of the dune and… stopped dead in our tracks. We thought allowing an hour and a half would be plenty, however, it is hard work getting up and down the dune! This site uses cookies to improve your experience, to enhance site security and to show you personalised advertising. Largest dune in Europe, Turn off your ad blocker to see a map of this trail, Dune de Pilat - Plage de La lagune : Piste cyclable La Teste de Buch, Tour of the Bassin d'Arcachon, segment 1: Thiers - La Hume beach, Arcachon Bay Tour, segment 2: La Hume - Biganos, Arcachon Bay Tour, segment 3: Biganos - Lanton, Tour of the Arcachon Bay, segment 4: Lanton - Arès, Tour of the Arcachon Basin, segment 5: Arès - Le Canon, Arcachon Bay Tour, segment 6: Le Canon - Le Cap-Ferret, Prés Salés d'Arès et de Lège-Cap-Ferret Nature Reserve, Saint-Jean-d'Illac, New Aquitaine, France. We were in love with each other. I am sure it was a blast rolling down the sand slope. Thank you! All of my great adventures have started with my curiousity leading me off the path to discover something amazing. Wow. Something for us to find when we are next in France. I... Trip.com is part of Trip.com Group Limited, one of the world's leading providers of travel services. When we reached the beach, I ripped off my shirt and raced to the ocean. My own ball and chain filled with guilt, shame and regret. Good to know more about your early days. If you like to try something special, you can paraglide on plage Robinson or rent a jet ski. The first archaeological discoveries began in 1922. Love that continuing story of the thirst for water. I had never heard of it before either, which is pretty surprising considering how unique it is! By clicking on or navigating the site, you agree to our use of cookies. We thought allowing an hour and a half would be plenty, however, it is hard work getting up and down the dune! . Mask wearing is required, half of the visitors do not comply. I’ll definitely make a note of this and would love to be able to make it there this year! I could not decide if it is better to take off your shoes or leave them on, in certain situations both works well. All of a sudden, we both came to a standstill. Avec ses 2,7 kilomètres de sable fin, la dune du Pilat est une originalité environnementale aussi belle que surprenante. Only one step and three steps and climbing over 100 meters high dunes can you appreciate the masterpieces of nature. Mei and I exchanged meaningful glances but kept our mouths shut. This map was created by a user. Copyright © 2020 Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. A dune? That aerial shot of the dunes look ginormous ! It is located in La Teste-de-Buch in the Arcachon Bay area, France, 60 km from Bordeaux. It’s amazing that you guys are still able to travel together after so long! haha…. You’re welcome. The Dune du Pilat is actually moving eastward at a rate of a few meters per year, covering up whatever happens to be in its way as the coast drives it inland. The walk to the top is taken through a forrest walk and becomes 100%. Be warned that it can be desperately windy atop the dune: swirling, whip-lashing sand can be particularly unpleasant for younger children. With more than one million visitors per year, the Dune of Pilat is a famous tourist destination. It opens out near the top and you can get to the waters edge. As the paths are much stepped, you can easily spot the trails and maybe in summer they are frequently used and you can see people walk this other route. Dogs are … [4], On 24 January 2009, a peak windspeed of 175 km/h (109 mph) was recorded during a storm at the Dune of Pilat, damaging the dune.[5]. And that’s a good question you asked! This is a beautiful tribute to the early days of your relationship, to finding yourselves and each other. the camping below and have access to the stairs on it, or try to go from the North or South sides where it is not that high. Assez difficile dans le sable. The Dune Of Pilat is located at the southern entrance to the Arcachon basin, in the locality of Pyla-sur-Mer, which is administratively dependent on the municipality of La Teste-de-Buch, near Arcachon, in the heart of the Landes de Gascogne. Save. The Dune de Pilat is definitely a hidden gem! Share on Twitter Share on Facebook. Fluent in 5 languages, she's above all a huge book enthusiast, a fervent writer and storyteller, and could never refuse a good old single malt whiskey. . An excavation site mobilized about ten amateur archaeologists for two weeks in October 2014 to clarify the stratigraphic and environmental context of the reported discoveries. Take water and some snack with you, windbreaker works good for evening hours, because the sunset is spectacular! Très belle rando avec de belle vue. The dune is amazing but you. You walk along the beach towards the kiosk (closed in winter, I can't remember it was a food stall or for lifeguards.) All Rights Reserved © 2020 Travel with Mei and Kerstin, From Malta with Love… Our Unforgettable Memories, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00xmzvf, The Salar de Uyuni: Where Heaven Meets Earth. Let’s just check it out! We hope you’ll get to see the Dune du Pilat someday. , This dune is huge! Dune du Pilat, the magical dune of Pilat, the highest dune in Europe, with Atlantic Ocean on one side and pine forest on the other. Do you think they serve beer up there? The movie "Keep Love Through to the End" was shot here. After few minutes you see a path closed by a gate, but steps on, there's a very large passage in the fence. Looking back we should not have hiked up the dune.... A huge desert is not something you expect to see in France but here it is, a 3 km long, 107-meter high dune! Standing at its feet, you get a real feel for its height! From afar, a tetchy metallic sound filled the air. It’s so funny how some of the best possible memories start with a simple “lets check it out”. Dune du Pilat is a 4.7 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. Thanks for sharing. Oh my goodness, what is that? Share. Ce sentier tourne autour de la base de la plus haute dune de sable d'Europe. I know that Mei usually plans much more in detail than she says. We needed a few minutes to grasp the reality and size of what we were marveling at. p.s. Bonjour! Travelling with others makes me realise that I’m definitely a solo traveller! Who would have imagined that nature could create such a huge mountain of sand? At the top, well what a view xx Amazing Great fun coming down as you jump through the sand. Back then we didn’t have a smartphone, let alone Google Maps. Bare foot is preferable, although the sand can be perishingly cold in winter and as hot as burning coals in the height of summer. Half ocean and half forest Top choice natural feature. How wonderful! Sand Dunes, forest, sea view all at one place. And just like that, we both burst out laughing. Dec we climbed up the dune. Wow so interesting that there is a dune in France, new info for me. . Suddenly, she looked at me. A little bit of a challenge but great fun. Not to be missed. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. His wife didn’t seem happy about the question: How would I know! Parked up our bikes and walked up the dune and along the crest for magnificent panoramic views over the Gulf of Acheron, absolutely breathtaking,like so, One of the most breathtaking landscapes ever seen: La Dune du Pilat (Pyla), also called Grande Dune du Pilat, is the tallest sand dune in Europe, reaching 106.6 m at the top. The Atlantic Ocean, the sea air, the Bassin d’Arcachon or even the majestic Dune du Pilat are just some of the array of attractions available at the Panorama du Pyla campsite! Then we went down to the water to "touch" the Atlantic. Hotels near (CDG) Charles De Gaulle Airport, Things to do near La Grande Dune du Pilat, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Pyla-sur-Mer, Parasailing & Paragliding in Pyla-sur-Mer, Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Pyla-sur-Mer, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Pyla-sur-Mer, La Grande Dune du Pilat Tours and Tickets, Explore on your feet—and never miss anything, Take to the skies for one-of-a-kind views, Flexible itineraries and personal experiences, Sample the local scene with in-the-know guides, See all 11 La Grande Dune du Pilat tours on Tripadvisor, Arcachon Half-Day Trip from Bordeaux with Pyla Sand Dune Climb & Oyster Tasting, Private morning trip to the Dune of Pyla & oysters tasting at the local market, Private Arcachon Bay and Dune du Pilat Tour, All Terrain Electric Scooters Rides In Arcachon, See all La Grande Dune du Pilat experiences on Tripadvisor, View all hotels near La Grande Dune du Pilat on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near La Grande Dune du Pilat on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near La Grande Dune du Pilat on Tripadvisor. I was the serpent that bursts out of its old skin…, I took Mei’s hand. Thank you for sharing! We’ll be celebrating our 18 years of love and relationship this coming July. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Dune hike to 300’. A couple of kilometers further, another road sign led us to an outdoor parking hidden in the pine forest. Really enjoyed. Bien que le sentier tracé ici ne monte pas au sommet, vous pouvez choisir de monter par le sable ou les escaliers. We went rolling down the sandy slope of the Dune du Pilat towards the ocean. If you are in Bordeaux it's a nice day trip excursion. Comme en mars, le public ne pourra plus accéder à la dune du Pilat à partir de ce vendredi 30 octobre On s’y attendait, et le Syndicat mixte de la dune du Pilat qui gère le site le plus visité We’ve looked it up and found this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00xmzvf, Wow! We were both so caught off balance that we dropped on the sand. Sand was embracing every inch of our skin. Well, we hope we will still be together – and travel together – for many, many more years! ), I was sure she was going to say that she suddenly got very thirsty! Love to check this out some day ! I am the OCD one, and always plan my trip to the last detail. In. Your Sandaya campsite near the Dune du Pilat is exactly the spot you’ve been dreaming of to take a break under the pines of the Landes forest, your feet in the sand and your head in the clouds. I am glad we both got to learn more. This colossal sand dune (sometimes referred to as the Dune de Pyla because of its location 4km from the small seaside resort town of Pyla-sur-Mer), 8km south of Arcachon, stretches from the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon southwards for 2.7km. Yes, this was definitely a unique experience, and it took me many years to write about it. C’est très certainement ses dimensions hors du commun qui ont fait la renommée de la dune du Pilat.Près de 3 kilomètres de long, plus de 600 mètres de large et 106 mètres de haut à la dernière mesure font de la dune du Pilat la plus haute dune de sable d’Europe.Pas étonnant que près de 2 millions de visiteurs entament son ascension chaque année. What's the best way to see La Grande Dune du Pilat? Like a soap opera from the 1990s. All round must do event. She turned up the volume, I hit the gas, and off we drove towards the mysterious dune. Sink into the sand make your walk very challenging. The Pila Dune is a rare seaside desert on the European continent. Mei quickly unfolded the paper map on her lap. If you get a chance, we definitely recommend you to spend a day there! Bus timetable can be tricky in winter, check it attentively or rent a bike. Parce que là-haut vous ne trouverez pas grand-chose à boire. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience La Grande Dune du Pilat: What hotels are near La Grande Dune du Pilat? I am sure it was a blast rolling down the sand slope. And still exploring together, 17 years later! Click here to learn more or control your settings. To the west you see the sandy shoals at the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon, including Cap Ferret and the Banc d'Arguin bird reserve, where up to 6000 couples of Sandwich terns nest each spring. =). It runs parallel to the s, The Dune du Pilat is an unexpected and amazing physical feature on the Atlantic coast of France. . Take care swimming in this area: powerful currents swirl out to sea from deceptively tranquil little bays. The fact that it’s surrounded on three sides by dense forests is just so striking. But if we ever go there, we’ll make sure to check out the Sleeping Bear Dunes! There's an alternative route to go back to main parking. These unexpected discoveries which turned out to be fun are usually the most memorable parts of an already good trip planned ! So, we’ve looked it up and found this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00xmzvf, Oooh that is really interesting! The husband soon started to breathe heavily and cursed about how steep and strenuous the climb was. It would be great if there was an aerial camera, and it would be able to take pictures of such rare and amazing scenery! My jaw dropped as we stood in front of a giant dune. . It requires a certain amount of skill and power to climb up and down to the beach and back. The dune has a volume of about 60,000,000 m³, measuring around 500m wide from east to west and 2.7km in length from north to south. This dune is just gorgeous and perfect for an ideal weekend. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Hehe… we are both the “let’s check it out” kind of persons. Seafood lunch is a must. The dissonant jingle reminded me of my childhood and yet I couldn’t quite put my finger on it… The further we trekked, the louder the clapper. If you come to Bordeaux, you must go to the nearby Pyla dunes. Le sentier vous offrira la possibilité d'observer la faune et sa difficulté est évaluée comme modérée. So, it was actually nice to “get lost” with a paper map during road trips. Pilat originates from the Gascon word Pilhar, which refers to a heap or mound. This was the highlight of our holiday. We probably won’t stay long… Our tiny purses slung across the shoulders, we walked down a narrow cobblestone path through the forest. It took me a moment to realize that it came from me. I wonder how it came do be as it appears to come out of the water? Loved reading this post, so poignant and touching, Dune du Pilat was indeed an appropriate setting. The top of the dune isn’t too hard to access provided you’re in reasonable shape. However, if you plan to go in late autumn or winter, make sure to check the weather forecast before heading to the Dune du Pilat. When you visit La Grande Dune du Pilat, you'll immediately realize why this immense, tall dune is one of the most visited natural sites in the entire country. That is so cool! A couple with a toddler also reached the stairs.
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