The town of Biganos, nestled on the Arcachon Basin in Gironde, has for several years been informally dubbed as the most stinky city in France by some visitors and locals.
Although this reputation isn't backed by an official study, it resonates in numerous online testimonials mentioning a lingering "sewage" smell and a recurring olfactory nuisance stemming from the local factory. Even the people of Bordeaux confess that they almost always encounter it on their way to the basin.
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A factory behind the odors
The scent in Biganos often traces back to the area's long industrial history: the paper mill utilizing the Landes forest for kraft paper production from pine cellulose has frequently been pointed out for its odor emissions. Some residents lament that this phenomenon lasts for “ 300 days a year ” and extends “ up to 15 km around the town .” However, not everyone agrees: some neighborhoods spared by the direction of prevailing winds - like Vigneau and Tagon - enjoy an air quality deemed perfectly acceptable.
Between urban legend and olfactory reality
While this negative olfactory reputation raises concerns, ...It also reveals a paradox: Biganos remains a municipality with a privileged geographical setting on the Basin, featuring a train station between Bordeaux and Arcachon, a lively shopping and neighborhood life, and a recognized quality of life. So, the "most smelly city in France" is more of a controversial label than an official certification. That said, the image does affect daily life: some families cite the smell as a barrier to settling down. For its part, the municipality emphasizes its efforts in modernization and reducing nuisances, although it hasn't published a recent smell assessment highlighted in the press.