The Silver Coast
From the Gironde estuary to the gateway to the Basque coast, the Côte d'Argent or Aquitaine coast stretches for 90 kilometers in Gironde. Facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is also a migration route for birds. Interrupted at the entrance to the Arcachon Basin, the Gironde coastline is characterized by an infinite succession of wide sandy beaches, dunes of varying thickness, forest-fixed dunes and, often, a lake isolated from the ocean. Soulac-sur-Mer, Vendays-Montalivet, Hourtin, Carcans, Lacanau, Le Porge, Lège-Cap-Ferret, Arcachon, Pyla-sur-Mer... In Gironde, the seaside resorts of the Côte d'Argent have everything to please surfing and lounging enthusiasts.
The Dune of Pilat
A unique feature of the Aquitaine coastline, the littoral dune is part of the largest dune system on Europe's Atlantic coast. Rising to heights of 100 to 115 meters, the Pilat Dune stands out for its exceptional size and breathtaking beauty. Made up of some 60 millionm3 of sand, Europe's highest dune shifts by 1 to 5 metres a year under the influence of winds and tides. For the Gironde Tourisme Tourist Development Agency, the Pilat Dune is to the Arcachon Basin what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. In fact, the Dune du Pilat is the most visited site in the department.
The Garonne estuary
Lighthouses, colorful carrelets, military architecture (Blaye citadel, Fort-Médoc and Fort Pâté), châteaux and wine estates, archaeological sites (Port du Fâ and the Gallo-Roman villa at Plassac), small fishing ports... The Gironde estuary is the largest in Europe, formed when the Garonne meets the Dordogne at the bec d'Ambès. It is also the best preserved. 75 kilometers long and 12 kilometers wide at its mouth, covering an area of 635 km², this reservoir of biodiversity, open to the Atlantic Ocean, is home to numerous islands, three of which can be visited on cruises departing from Bordeaux, Blaye, Bourg and Pauillac: Ile de Patiras, Ile Margaux and Ile Nouvelle. With its Vauban fortress, also known as the "lock of the estuary", Blaye is its sentinel. In the 14th century, the estuary was the main route for transporting wine. Two links connect the banks of the estuary, from Blaye to Lamarque and from Royan to Verdon-sur-Mer.
The great lakes
The jewels of the Atlantic coast, the Grands Lacs add to the fine collection of destinations the Gironde has to offer. Among them are France's two largest freshwater lakes: Lac d'Hourtin-Carcans and Lac de Cazaux. Located in the Médoc, Lac d'Hourtin abounds in little corners of paradise: wild marshes, dunes, forest, white sand... Part of the site is protected by the Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Dunes et Marais d'Hourtin. Linked by the Canal des Étangs, Lac de Lacanau is 6 kilometers from the seaside resort of Lacanau-Océan. Surrounded by maritime pines, it boasts beautiful, secluded beaches. The Arcachon basin can be reached via the Le Porge channel. With its fine sandy beaches and wild creeks, Lac de Cazaux, France's second largest freshwater lake, is located in La Teste-de-Buch, 10 kilometers south of the Bassin d'Arcachon. Sailing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving, water-skiing, stand-up paddling, canoeing and kayaking... There's plenty to do on the Grands Lacs de Gironde.
The forest massif
Gironde is a leading forestry department. 90% privately-owned and mainly made up of coniferous trees, the forests occupy almost half of the department, or even three quarters of the territory. The Landes de Gascogne forest massif (1.5 million hectares) is the most emblematic at the mouth of the Aquitaine basin on the Atlantic Ocean, spanning the Landes and Gironde departments and the western tip of Lot-et-Garonne. It is also the largest man-made forest in Western Europe. Its history is closely linked to that of man, who as early as the 18th century sought to halt the advance of wind-driven dunes and purify the soil. Nearly 90,000 hectares of dunes were planted with maritime pines. Today, they cover some 950,000 hectares. Dune forests are highly attractive to tourists. From upstream to downstream, the forestry and timber industry plays an important role in the economy and employment of the Aquitaine, Limousin and Poitou-Charentes regions.
The Bordeaux vineyard
In Gironde, the temperate oceanic climate and wide variety of soils are ideal for growing vines. The world-renowned terroirs of the Bordeaux wine region, France's leading AOC vineyard with 65 appellations, belong to the Aquitaine sedimentary basin. Sand, gravel, limestone, clay, silt... The main geological formations making up the subsoil of the Bordeaux vineyards date back to the Cenozoic and Quaternary periods. There are six wine-growing regions: Médoc, Libourne, Blayais-Bourgeais, Graves, Entre-deux-Mers and Sauternais. Representing 90% of the land on the left bank of the Garonne, the Graves region, made up of clay, loam and pebbles, is home to some of the world's greatest names in wine: Margaux, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Pessac-Léognan... Discover them on our wine trails.
Climate, temperatures and weather
Gironde enjoys a temperate climate all year round. Regulated by the oceanic influence, the average annual temperature is 13°C, with 5 to 7°C in winter and 19 to 21°C in summer. The coldest months are January and February. Ranked 26th among France's sunniest departments, Gironde records over 2,080 hours of sunshine, particularly in the Arcachon basin and along the coast. Indian summer is particularly pleasant. As a result, it's not uncommon to swim and spend evenings outdoors right through to the end of October. With less rainfall in summer, Gironde is a fairly dry department, with 924 mm of rainfall per year. In winter, a stubborn blanket of fog often covers the Garonne valley, while the sun shines brightly at Cap Ferret. Conversely, in anticyclonic winter conditions, the fog settles over the Atlantic coast. It's magical!
