Bordeaux: Arcachon bay

The Arcachon Bay has long been the preferred holiday escape for Bordeaux residents, evolving from marshland into a refined retreat after the drainage works commissioned by Napoleon III. From 1862 onward, Arcachon flourished as an elegant haven for the local bourgeoisie, who were drawn to its serene atmosphere and picturesque villas nestled along tree-lined paths. Across the water, the Cap-Ferret peninsula developed in a more understated manner from the 1950s, ultimately becoming a notable laboratory of modern architecture with striking holiday homes. The tour begins with Le Corbusier’s 1924 housing estate in Lège, a visionary prototype for the Cité Frugès in Pessac, featuring six individual dwellings and the only known example of dormitory housing in his work. A subsequent walk through the salt meadows reveals the peninsula’s exceptional natural landscape—an environment that profoundly shaped the area’s architecture, where oyster-farming villages, fishing cabins, holiday residences, the sea, the Basin, and vast forests coexist in a uniquely harmonious setting.

This architectural influence is especially evident in the work of the Bordeaux school, whose architects designed some of the region’s most remarkable modernist villas between the 1960s and 1980s. Drawing inspiration from both the Bauhaus movement and Californian architecture, they reinterpreted these styles to suit the distinctive character of Cap-Ferret. During the tour, several of their exemplary projects are explored, including innovative holiday homes—some open for interior visits upon request—an industrialized prototype house, a chapel, and other iconic structures. Along the way, guests can also appreciate the architectural diversity that defines the Basin’s identity. To complete the experience, the visit offers the option of enjoying lunch or dinner in one of the charming oyster villages, where travelers can admire the breathtaking scenery while savoring fresh oysters paired with a glass of local wine.