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Wow! Can you believe it? A beach in the Arcachon Basin has been classified as one of the 10 most beautiful in the world!

undefined undefined 6 mars 2024 undefined 11h33

The Editor

©Stanislav Simonyan

Yay! It's that time of the year again - the amazing Condé Nast Traveler magazine has revealed its list of the most stunning sandy beaches in the whole wide world. And guess what? Our very own Dune of Pilat beach has made it to number 7! Located right at the entrance of Arcachon Bay, we are bursting with pride!

The beach of the Dune du Pilat enters the top 10 of the most beautiful beaches in the world

Every year, the magazine Condé Nast Traveler surveys the public to establish an influential ranking of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The list, which includes 34 beaches from all corners of the globe, has just been released. And the verdict is clear: the Arcachon Basin is proudly represented with a well-deserved 7th place (totally objectively). The beach of the Dune du Pilat makes its appearance in the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world behind paradise stretches in Australia, Hawaii, or Indonesia. The beach of Palm Cove, in northeastern Australia, claims the top spot on the podium.

The only French mainland beach in the ranking

It seems that in terms of landscapes, we have nothing to envy to the paradisiacal islands of the rest of the world.

To justify our entry into this top 10, Condé Nast Traveler writes: "During the warmer months, Europe's highest sand dune, just an hour's drive from Bordeaux, is shrouded in a constant and shimmering thermal haze, giving the illusion that this vast French beach is scattered with sparkling treasures. The sand here, which forms peaks reaching up to 300 feet, is as finely ground as fresh flour, perfect for rolling sausages to the lush Atlantic coastline and contemplating the pine forests behind the beach. The surrounding Arcachon Basin is full of kilometers of beaches suitable for exploration, and you will find a jumble of nearby cabins where fishermen set up tables to sell oysters., from pastries to shrimp. Book a night at the Sources de Caudalie, an elegant countryside retreat.

The only other French beach comes in thirteenth place. This is the atoll of Fakarava, in French Polynesia, celebrated for its white and pink sandy beaches and naturally warm waters. As for us, to access our 7th most beautiful beach in the world, we will still have to give a little bit of ourselves and climb the 160 steps of the Dune du Pilat staircase or sweat it out climbing the 104 meters of the highest dune in Europe. A piece of cake!