Looking at the tons of sand on the French coast, it seems that this is a joke of some magician: take a piece of the Sahara and transfer it here, to the waters of the Bay of Biscay near the Arcachon Bay, neatly laid on the border of coniferous forests sixty kilometers from Bordeaux.
In fact, the largest dune in Europe owes its appearance to natural processes. Namely, the river Leer, which diligently from century to century carried grains of sand into the ocean and left them on a sandbank located directly opposite the present dune. And the wind, in turn, also diligently carried the sand to the shore, to the place where the dune grew from year to year.
Even 150 years ago, its height was low - only about 35 meters. However, it was not possible to stop the onset of sand - today the dune adds on average 4 meters per year, and at the same time moves somewhat from side to side, and its height, depending on the wind, changes from 80 to 107 meters.
In general, the Big Dune stretches almost 3 kilometers along the coast and another 500 meters deep into the coniferous forest, which, by the way, appeared here by the will of man - was planted in the middle of the 19th century as a measure of drainage of local marshy lands.
Let's take a closer look at it …
The snow-white Pila dune, or Pilat (la Dune du Pyla, Pilat), located in the throat of the Arcachon Gulf (Bassin-Arcachon) in southwestern France, is considered the largest in Europe. It is 108 meters high, stretching along the coast for more than three kilometers. The width of the sand dune is about half a kilometer. Surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and centuries-old pine forests, the Pyla Dune has eight thousand years of history: sandy hills were formed on the coast as a result of the interaction of strong winds, ebb and flow. With each passing decade, the dune moves further inland, gradually displacing forest thickets, roads and private houses; on average moving five meters per year.
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The Pyla Dune is one of the most popular natural attractions in French Aquitaine: for the convenience of many travelers, a staircase has been installed here, along which you can climb to the top of the hill. In windy weather, the steps, however, bring sand so much that you still have to climb the dune on your own.
In terms of its volume, these sandy deposits occupy one of the first places in the world. Dune has a volume of about 60 million cubic meters. Its height is 107m, width - 500m, and length - almost 3000m.
5-7 meters every year is overcome by a dune, which moves inland. At the same time, water erosion corrodes the sand from the side of the bay. Some scientists believe that over time, this unique phenomenon may disappear from the face of the Earth.
How did this dune come about?
More than eight thousand years ago, the formation of sandy deposits began. The sand came to land for three reasons:
First, sea waters receded from the shores;
Secondly, strong winds contributed to the advance of the desert;
Thirdly, the constant ebbs and flows were exposing the coast more and more.
The sand has a dazzling white color. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are lapping on one side. From the land side, centuries-old pine forests come directly to it. The contrast is striking. It seems incredible that there is sand next to the thicket. This border of sand and vegetation is especially clearly visible from a bird's eye view.
The miniature desert in southwestern France attracts those wishing to see the incredible neighborhood of sand and coniferous forest. More than a million people come to these parts to make sure that there is really a real desert in France. For the convenience of travelers, a special staircase was laid from the foot of the dune to its upper part, which will help to overcome a rather difficult climb. But at times when strong winds blow, the stairs are completely swept over. Tourists can only rely on the strength and endurance of their legs.
A fantastic landscape opens up for those who decide to explore the amazing place from a paraglider or hang glider. During the flight, the scale and grandeur of the sandy formations are visible. Athletes who live in a neighboring town are organizing competitions to find out who can make the longest flight over the dune.
The best time to see the beauty of this amazing dune is in the morning. Towards noon, guests from various countries arrive. The surface is covered with human silhouettes, and the untouched beauty of the small desert fades a little.
Among the sights of France, the sand dune in Pyla is of particular value. A piece of the desert in Europe reminds guests that everything in this world is very closely intertwined. And the destruction or destruction of one section of the territory will certainly lead to its capture by another natural community.
Tips
The best time to visit the Pyla Dune is before ten in the morning, when you can still find free parking spaces and relatively uninhabited landscapes of sandy hills and the picturesque Arcachon Bay. Towards noon, dozens of cars and buses with tourists come here - and walks on the sands at this time are unlikely to be secluded. More than one million visitors visit the natural landmark every year.
The throat of the Arcashon Bay is occupied by dozens of oyster farms, whose products go straight to local restaurants. Therefore, when setting out to observe the landscapes of the Pyla Dune, reserve time to visit the coastal cafes and taste French seafood.
How to get there
Dune Pyla is located 60 kilometers southwest of Bordeaux. If you are traveling by car, you can get to the Arcachon Bay via the A63 and A660 motorways. From Bordeaux, take the A63. After about 24 kilometers, at the junction, turn right onto the A660 motorway. Continue on the motorway for about 20 kilometers until you reach the N250 exit. After four kilometers, take the D259 following signs for Biscarrosse / Dune du Pyla.
You can also get to the Pyla dune from the resort town of Arcachon, located 8 kilometers to the north. When leaving Arcachon towards the dune, follow the signs for Bd de la Côte d'Argent. Continue along the scenic D218 road along the bay. You can leave your car at a special free parking located at the northeastern end of the dune.
A bus service connects Arcachon with the Pyla dune. Buses leave from morning until late evening from the city railway station. Travel time is less than half an hour. In addition, there are many rental offices in Arcachon where you can rent bicycles for several hours, a day or several days. When you go for a pleasant bike ride along the bay, do not forget about the strong winds typical of the Atlantic coast.