The Dune du Pilat, at La Teste-de-Buch in the Gironde, is the tallest sand dune in Europe, over a hundred metres high depending on the year. Nearly three kilometres long, it overlooks the Arcachon Bay on one side and the Landes forest on the other, offering one of the Atlantic coast’s finest panoramas.
You climb the dune on foot, by a seasonal staircase or by walking in the sand, to reach an exceptional viewpoint over the Banc d’Arguin, Cap Ferret and the ocean. Sunsets are especially sought after. Young children love running down the slope, while paragliders use the wind to take off.
A Grand Site de France, the Dune du Pilat combines with a boat trip on the Arcachon Bay, oyster tasting at Gujan-Mestras or a visit to Cap Ferret. Bring good shoes and water, and arrive early to avoid the heat and the crowds.