La Teste-de-Buch vacation rentals

Seaside recreation and a doozy of a dune in La Teste-de-Buch

Just south of Arcachon Bay on France's Atlantic coast, La Teste-de-Buch is a lively seaside town that's known for its sandy beachfront, oyster fisheries, and charming, walkable town center, as well as the gargantuan coastal sand dune, the Dune of Pilat. The renowned Bordeaux winemaking region is a little over an hour's drive away, and wine tasting tours are a popular pastime in the area. La Teste-de-Buch vacation rentals offer easy access to local landmarks like the Zoo Bassin d'Arcachon, the Casino d'Arcachon, and the Ecomusee de la Grande Lande.

Wine, gambling, and a castle – La Teste-de-Buch has it all

There's plenty to see in La Teste-de-Buch, and you won't have any trouble finding worthwhile destinations in the area. At the Zoo Bassin d'Arcachon, you can get face-to-face with more than 800 animals amid 54 scenic acres. Or you can try your luck at the Casino d'Arcachon, where you'll find everything from poker and table games to slots and live entertainment in a fairy tale-worthy 19th-century castle. The wineries in nearby Bordeaux are a force to be reckoned with, and you'd be well advised to sample at least a glass or 2 at the nearby Chateau Pape Clement.

Make a splash – outdoor activities in La Teste-de-Buch

Amid a wealth of natural splendor, La Teste-de-Buch vacation rentals are big hit with nature lovers of all sorts. Sandy beaches are Aquitaine's stock in trade, and La Teste-de-Buch has the biggest of them all – the Dune of Pilat, a massive 350-foot-high sand dune along the Atlantic Coast. You'll find all sorts of waterfront sport in the area, too, from swimming and sunbathing to kayak rentals and sailing excursions. Outdoor activities are just as popular inland, and the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park features plenty of birdwatching, plus hiking and cycling trails.

Mild, maritime moods in La Teste-de-Buch

Like most of France's western coast, La Teste-de-Buch has an oceanic or maritime climate, with warm summers, cool winters, and regular precipitation throughout the year. Average temperatures during the summer months top out in the upper 70s in July and August. Winters are on the cool side, with average temps between the upper 30s and the mid 40s in December, January, and February. Summers are the busiest (and driest) time of year in the area, and you'll find that prices on La Teste-de-Buch vacation rentals are at their highest between May and September.

La Teste-de-Buch's scenery really is for the birds

Along the Atlantic coast in France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, La Teste-de-Buch lies just south of the protected Arcachon Bay, and north of the Etang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet lagoon. Parallel to the shoreline on the Atlantic coast, the epic Dune of Pilat is almost 2 miles long, and rises to a height of over 350 feet. A birder's paradise, you can find massive bird populations at both the Ile aux Oiseaux ("Bird Island" in plain English) and the nearby Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park, where you'll also find pine forests, wetlands, and sandy coastal beaches.

Traveling to and around La Teste-de-Buch

The nearest airport is in Merignac Airport (BOD), located 26.4 mi (42.4 km) from the city center.

If you'd rather travel by train, the main station is La Teste Station.