With summer comes the desire to get away from the city for a bit. Whether you’re looking for a cool escape, an authentic experience, or a chance to immerse yourself in nature, a small town in the Arcachon Basin has everything you need for the perfect getaway. With its colorful fishermen’s huts, mysterious river, and lush natural surroundings, Biganos reveals a wilder side of the region. Less than an hour from Bordeaux, set off on a truly picturesque getaway.
The Port of Biganos: A Charming Stopover
It’s impossible to visit Biganos without stopping by its iconic harbor. This peaceful haven is famous for its colorful huts, which have become one of the most photogenic sights in the Arcachon Basin. The best time to enjoy them? At daybreak, when the mist still hovers over the water and the first rays of sunlight gradually reveal the huts’ vibrant colors.
A little further on, the Port des Tuiles offers a different atmosphere. More low-key, it nestles among the reed beds and provides a lovely view of the Leyre Delta. It’s also from this area that you can seeMalprat Island, a protected natural area once shaped for salt production and later used for fish farming.
Another highlight of Biganos: the Moulin de Cassadotte. This former flour mill, now converted into a sturgeon farm and caviar production facility, can be explored through a fascinating tour in the heart of a unique and unspoiled natural site.
A Stroll Along the “Little Amazon”: An Immersion in the Leyre Delta
What’s surprising about Biganos is that nature is everywhere. Bordered by the vast Landes Forest, the town blends into a lush green landscape. But its true treasure flows through the heart of the vegetation: the Leyre River, nicknamed “the Little Amazon.” And for good reason: the river winds beneath a veritable canopy of vegetation, where the branches seem to close in over the water. A setting that sometimes evokes tropical landscapes, just a few kilometers from Bordeaux.
The best way to explore this setting is to paddle along the water. Whether by canoe, kayak, or aboard a galupe ( the traditional flat-bottomed boat), you’ll glide along at the current’s pace. The silence is broken only by birdsong and the rustling of the leaves.
The Leyre Delta is also a refuge for numerous animal and plant species. Amphibians, otters, European pond turtles, waterfowl, and insects find a particularly rich habitat there . These natural environments make Biganos one of the most beautiful gateways to the wild heritage of the Arcachon Basin.
