Cape Ferret
Cap Ferret is a wonderful sandy peninsula facing Arcachon city, it forms the west part of the Arcachon bay ou Bassin d’Arcachon
Cap Ferret is a cape with sandy beaches offering both the Mediterranean sea-like waters of the Arcachon bay and the waves of the Atlantic ocean. See the Cap Ferret map
Most of all, Cap Ferret offers many typical landscapes such as oysters-farming villages, pine forests…
Cap Ferret is like an undiscovered jewel on the Aquitaine coast. Don’t miss it!
History
Until the 19th century Cap Ferret was uninhabited bar for a few fishermen who came here for winter from villages from the other side of the bay, becaus it was less windy. Then, oyster farming took off thnaks to Napoleon III and many oyster farmers set up on the peninsula, founding picturesque villages suche as Le Canon or L’Herbe.
However, the Cap Ferret remained largely undeveloped until 1905 when the last two kilometres of the peninsula, the ’44 hectares’, were sold by the French State for building plots.
The place long remained underdeveloped and devoted to oysters farming. Slowly, many people from Bordeaux took place for holidays on the peninsula, on which many houses were built in the 50’s and 60’s. Therefore the Cap Ferret kept most of its charming fishermen wood villages and unspoiled sandy beaches. France is a country with more affinity for protectionism than speculation, and the oyster farms were prtoected, as well as the Ocean side : urban law and regulations preserve the landscape from massive constructions.
Nowadays, the place is very trendy becaus ir represents an authentic place, were French stars in search of quietness are melting with the earlier inhabitants (oyster farmers or fichermen).
How to get there
You can reach the Cap Ferret by plane, train, car, and even boat!
>>> Know more about how to go to Cap Ferret
Places to see
If you plan to stay a few days in the peninsula, go to the best places to see in Cape Ferret : the end of the peninsula, the Mimbeau, the L’Herbe village, surf sandy beaches, Horses Point (la Pointe aux chevaux), Claouey oyster’s farm village…
View more about the best places to see in Cap Ferret
Other places of interest in the Arcachon bay :
You can take a boat and go to wonderful places in the bay :
Arcachon city
Arcachon is a twenty minutes boat trip from Cap Ferret. You go there by ferry or the typical Arcachon bay boat, the pinasse!
Pilat (or Pyla) dune
Pyla dune is the biggest dune of Europe! you can go there by boat from Cap Ferret
Banc d’Arguin
It is a beautiful sand bank inside the ocean and a preserved marine fauna and flora natural reserve
Bird’s island : « l’ile aux oiseaux »
It is an island situated in the middle of the Arcachon bay sea, very raw and with only two shacks
What to do
Enjoy the variety of beaches
If you come to Cap Ferret betwen april and october, the weather will probably be mild, allowing sea bath.
On its West side, the peninsula offers you kilometers of unspoiled Ocean beaches, with absolutely non buildings! The main ones being from North to South the Grand Crohot, the Truc Vert and l’Horizon all of which are supervised by lifeguards during the high season betwen mid june to the first days of september. Be careful at all times though, as not only are the waves powerful, but the current is strong too.
On the east side of the peninsula, you will enjoy quiet water beaches but you have to wait for high tide betwen Claouey and Petit Piquey. From Grand Piquey, you can have a bath at low tide.
Go Fishing
You can catch your own seafood (check before if it is authorised and wait for low tide to catch clams, cockles and winkles) or go fishing both in the Arachon bay sea or the Ocean.
Go for a walk
The Cap Ferret is great for walking : you will find coastal walks, Pine forest walk, and don’t miss the Resevoirs de Piraillan, near the oyster farming village of Piraillan. Once reservoirs for fish, it is now home to many thousands of birds.
Bicycle
All the peninsula offers forest bike lanes! Download the Bassin d’Arcachon map of bike lanes
Go to the Market
During summer, you will find markets with delicious food in 3 villages : from South to North, Cap Ferret, Piraillan and Claouey