Dune of Pilat. France. What to see. How to get there. Hotels.

Dune of Pilat.

Approximately 60 kilometers from the famous French city of Bordeaux, nature has created a sandy hill. Such natural structures are called dunes.

But just a dune, in a country with large tourist traditions, sounded too ordinary. Therefore, the sand hill was called the Great Dune Pila.

What to see.

The natural object stretches along the coastline for three kilometers. Dune is best viewed from the height of a flying airplane. Its height is about 107 meters, but it is constantly changing. After all, sand material is unstable. Due to this factor and the presence of winds in the given French province of Arcachon, the dune is constantly moving.

You can climb the dune with the help of equipped stairs. From its top offers a breathtaking view of the dune itself and the surrounding surroundings and the Bay of Biscay. At this point, one of the greatest tides and tides in the world occurs.

This circumstance causes the water to move a great distance from the shore and back. Watching this phenomenon from the height of the dune is very interesting.

The reasons for the formation of the dune.

Scientists suggested that the three-kilometer dune began to form about 8000 years ago. Sea currents cause large masses of sea sand in this place, as evidenced by numerous shallows.

At sea tides, sand is exposed and blown to the shore by a tailwind. And so, year after year, and grew up such a dune. Perhaps this is how deserts are formed. The dune grows in size every year, absorbing the surrounding forest.

While the Great Dune Pila did not become a Great French desert, this circumstance is enjoyed by tourists in full. They especially appreciate her for the view of the surrounding area, which opens from its top.

It is also appreciated by paragliders, which are more in the sky than birds. As they say here is a very even wind, which has a favorable effect on their aeronautics.

How to get there.

You can get to the dune by car, leaving Bordeaux on the A63. Approximately thirty kilometers you need to turn to the A660, which is laid to the aqua park Aqualand Bassin d'Arcachon. Further on N250 before turning left on D259. On the latter, go to a circular traffic, followed by a parking lot for tourists. We leave the car, close it, we follow in a western direction.

If you take the roundabout to the north, you can get to the city of Arcachon.

If you go to the south, you can see the signs of several campsites. One of them Camping La Forêt is quite large and provides small houses for living as a paid service. And all this is literally a hundred steps from the dune.

There are restaurants in the northern and southern parts of the dune. South of the dune is also located Camping Panorama du Pyla. In addition to the excellent accommodation conditions, it offers a magnificent view of the Bay of Biscay.

Arcachon. Hotels and rates.

We live once, and you need to see so much!