Lege Cap Ferret
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Lege Cap Ferret

Lege Cap Ferret

Arcachon peninsula of oyster villages, pine lanes, calm bassin water, and Atlantic surf beaches.

The Lège-Cap Ferret peninsula (presqu'île) is a thin strip of land separating the Bassin d'Arcachon from the Atlantic Ocean, and it contains some of the finest ocean beaches in the southwest of France. On one side, the calm waters of the bassin are perfect for oysters and sailing; on the other, the open Atlantic delivers long, powerful surf.

The peninsula is a favourite retreat for well-off Bordelais and Parisians, who come for the pine forests, the quiet lanes, and the unhurried pace. The village of Cap Ferret at the tip has the Phare du Cap Ferret — a lighthouse you can climb for sweeping views over the bassin and out to sea — and the oyster huts along the bassin shore are the best place to eat oysters washed down with cold white Bordeaux. The Atlantic beaches on the western side of the peninsula are long, wild, and excellent for surfing. Lège-Cap Ferret is best visited out of the July-August peak, when the single road becomes severely congested.

Guide

Eating Out

Eating at Lège-Cap Ferret means oysters. The bassin produces some of the finest oysters in France, and the cabanes ostréicoles (oyster huts) along the shoreline at Le Grand Piquey, L'Herbe, and the village of Cap Ferret itself sell them fresh by the dozen, accompanied by slices of rye bread, salted butter, and chilled Graves or Entre-Deux-Mers white wine. This is the essential meal of the peninsula. Prices are low and the setting — waterside, with the Dune du Pilat visible across the water — is hard to beat.

Guide

Getting There

Lège-Cap Ferret is about 65 kilometres west of Bordeaux. By car, take the D106 from Bordeaux through Le Barp and Lège, then follow the peninsula road south to Cap Ferret. The drive takes about an hour outside peak season; in July and August the single road down the peninsula jams badly and the journey can take twice as long. Parking in Cap Ferret is limited and expensive in summer.

A more pleasant approach is the ferry from Arcachon across the bassin, which runs regularly in season and takes about 20 minutes. Arcachon itself is easily reached from Bordeaux by TER train in about 50 minutes. The ferry lands at the Cap Ferret jetty, putting you directly into the village. If you plan to explore the peninsula itself rather than just the tip, the ferry plus bicycle rental is an excellent combination — bikes are available for hire near the jetty.

Guide

Things to Do

The Lège-Cap Ferret peninsula is not primarily a sightseeing destination — it is a place to slow down, swim, eat oysters, and cycle through the pine forest. The main activities are beach-going on the Atlantic side, sailing and oyster-tasting on the bassin side, and climbing the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula for the view. The Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune in Europe, is a short trip away across the bassin.