Arcachon Hotels

Founded only one hundred and fifty years ago by Napoleon III, Arcachon is a small south western town on the Atlantic coast within easy reach of the Landes Forest and with its own architecture, known as 'Arcachonnaise.' Its popularity as a holiday resort grew in the late 1800s as the richer residents of Bordeaux headed there in the summer. It is still a popular resort area and there is a wide range of Arcachon hotels to suit every budget.

The town is not just a holiday resort but is also home to a number of popular festivals. In April, there is the 'Festival Jeunes Solistes' which is a classical music festival. There are 2 festivals in July a street festival and a sailing competition. August is when perhaps the biggest festival occurs, this is the Festival of the Sea. People from all over the area participate in the festival which incorporates religious and musical elements. Everyone is encouraged to wear yellow, the color of the festival. The town is extremely busy during this period so the majority of Arcachon hotels are full and need to be booked early.

There are lots of things to see and do in the local area. The beach is, of course, the reason for many people to visit Arcachon. There are 3 beaches which are easy to reach from the town. Plage Pereire is considered to be the best. The other two beaches face the lagoon. There are promenades around the beaches too and there are lovely views of the town from the end of the Jetee Thiers. The beach front is a popular area for Arcachon hotels.

For those who enjoy wildlife, the nearby Le Teich delta is a haven for migratory birds that stop in these marshlands as they travel between Northern Europe and Africa. This area has been designated as an Ornithological Park. The largest collection of butterflies and moths in France can be found in the nearby Butterfly Garden. This is a popular family attraction complete with a playground and picnic area. Other attractions for children include a water park with slides and waves. There is also a Medieval Village with demonstrations of traditional crafts. Finally, the Park Mauresque has children's horse drawn carriages for hire. Arcachon's most famous natural site is the biggest sand dune in Europe, known as the Dune du Pilat. It is 1.86 miles long and the view from the top is spectacular.

Arcachon is also home to a wide variety of activities for those who enjoy a more action packed holiday. Water sports are of course popular at any beach resort and there is the choice of diving, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing or pedalos. Away from the beach visitors can enjoy cycling. There is a good network of cycle paths around the whole bay and bikes are easy to hire from a number of locations in the town. Horse riding is also popular with both wooded and coastal trails. Tennis and golf are also popular options in the area.

Boat and fishing trips are also available. One of the most interesting trips is a tour of Bird Island which is in the middle of the lagoon. A trip here seeing the oyster beds or even doing your own fishing can be easily arranged. The Bassin d'Arcachon is a huge area of mudflats which can be seen during low tide. People enjoy collecting the cockles, clams, winkles and shrimps that can be found here.

The town of Arcachon itself is also lovely to walk around. The Ville D'Hiver or the Winter Town is where you can find the typical architecture of the area. The Park Mauresque is in this area and an observatory designed by Eiffel is one the main attractions Arcachon is clearly a popular place for holidaymakers but there are also facilities for the business traveler. Many of the top hotels are able to hold conferences and seminars and there are some custom built convention centers in the area. Some of the smaller hotels may not be large enough to hold large business events but they also have business centers catering to all the needs of the business visitor. The town also offers a good nightlife with a wide range of restaurants offering local fare. There is also an eclectic range of bars which are open late during the summer, the most well-known is the Cafe de Plage which has been a popular beachside bar for around one hundred years. The Casino is also a top night spot with its tables staying open until 4 in the morning.

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