Phare du Cap Ferret

The Phare du Cap Ferret stands at the very tip of the peninsula, rising 53 metres above the pine trees to offer a panoramic view that encompasses the whole Bassin d'Arcachon, the Dune du Pilat across the water, and the open Atlantic to the west. You can climb the lighthouse, which has 258 steps to the gallery. The view from the top is the best available on this stretch of the coast, and on a clear day you can see for many kilometres in every direction.

The area around the lighthouse is pleasant for a walk — there are paths through the pine forest to the Atlantic beach, and the village of Cap Ferret itself, with its oyster bars and simple restaurants, is a ten-minute walk from the lighthouse. The lighthouse is open for visits in season (April to October generally), and a small museum at the base covers the history of the bassin and its maritime trade. This is the natural endpoint for any visit to the peninsula.

things to do sight
A story
The lighthouse was built in 1840 to guide ships navigating the treacherous entrance to the Bassin d'Arcachon, one of the most hazardous stretches of the Aquitaine coast. Sandbanks at the inlet's mouth shift constantly, and dozens of vessels have been wrecked there over the centuries. The lighthouse keeper's job required intimate knowledge of the changing channels — updated charts were issued regularly but often lagged behind the actual movement of the sand.