Conquering the Dune du Pilat!
in the vicinity
Ideally located on the Landes coast between Arcachon and Biarritz, in the south-west of France, the Eurosol campsite is an ideal destination to visit the Dune du Pilat. This emblematic natural monument of the Arcachon Basin attracts nearly two million visitors every year. Discover it!
Climb the highest dune in Europe
One of the must-sees during your camping holiday on the Côte d’Argent, the Dune du Pilat is worth a visit. Located at the entrance to the Arcachon basin and bordered by the Landes de Gascogne forest, the Dune du Pilat is the highest dune in Europe and the most visited natural site in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Labelled a Grand Site de France since 1994, the star of the Arcachon Basin is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in France, with nearly two million visitors from all over the world.
Height, length, width… the Dune du Pilat can’t hold still!
Located 100 km as the crow flies from our campsite in the Landes, the Dune du Pilat is the highest dune in Europe. In front of you, a gigantic pile of sand of 60 million cubic meters, witness of 4 000 years of history. The mountain of sand is about 3 km long and 600 m wide, and is 102 metres high, according to the latest data from the Observatoire de la Côte Aquitaine. The height of the Dune du Pilat varies every year by several metres (between 100 and 115 m), under the combined action of the wind and the tides.
How to climb to the top of the dune?
The dune is accessible all year round. You have to park in the car park on the forest side. From April to November, a staircase allows you to reach the top of the dune without getting too tired (150 steps). The rest of the year, the staircase is dismantled. So you have to climb the big blonde lady right on the sand. Needless to say, the rolling down the stairs is much more fun than the climbing. In both cases, the reward is as good as the effort: a unique panorama of the Atlantic Ocean and the Landes de Gascogne forest, the Arcachon basin, the tip of Cap-Ferret and the Arguin bank.
What to do at the Dune du Pilat?
In season, many activities and events punctuate your visit to the Dune du Pilat: fun and educational workshops, treasure hunts, observation through a telescope, sunset walks… In addition to excursions and guided hikes, an interpretation trail and an exhibition allow you to discover the hidden face of the Dune du Pilat, its history, the fauna and flora that live there.
Looking for a thrill to spice up your camping holiday on the Aquitaine coast? Try paragliding! Seen from the sky, the Dune du Pilat is even more beautiful! And if you are more comfortable with your feet in the sand, head for the Corniche beach, to swim at the foot of the dune, on the north side. Supervised in summer, this pretty beach faces the Banc d’Arguin. As a little anecdote, you should know that some scenes from the film “Camping” with Franck Dubosc were filmed here!