Cap Ferret
A slender sandy peninsula on the north side of Arcachon Bay, with a lighthouse for views of the bay and the Dune of Pilat, and oyster huts serving freshly opened oysters.
Cap Ferret is a sandy peninsula separating the Atlantic Ocean from Arcachon Bay. Among the pine forests are villages of oyster farmers' wooden huts, such as L'Herbe and Le Canon, and it is a favorite holiday spot for French celebrities. The Cap Ferret Lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula is about 53 meters tall. Climb its 258 steps for views over the bay, Île aux Oiseaux (Bird Island), and the Dune of Pilat across the water. The classic experience here is eating freshly opened Arcachon oysters with white wine in an oyster farmer's hut (cabanes ostréicoles). The Atlantic side has surf beaches, while the bay side is calm. The drive from Bordeaux takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. In summer, you can also take a ferry from Arcachon for about 30 minutes to the Bélisaire landing, then ride a small train to the Atlantic beaches. On summer weekends, the single-lane road in and out of the peninsula often jams.
Opening hours
Lighthouse approx. 10:00–18:00 (extended in summer; closed some winter days)
Nearby sights
- Dune du Pilat
- Arcachon Bay
- Cité Frugès – Le Corbusier
- Château Haut-Brion
- Basilica of Saint-Seurin
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux
- Palais Rohan
- Bordeaux Cathedral & Pey-Berland Tower