Arcachon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arcachon
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subprefecture and commune
|
|||
Arcachon, the Landes forest and the Dune of Pilat
|
|||
|
|||
 Arcachon
Location in France
Arcachon
Location in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
|
|||
| Country | France | ||
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | ||
| Department | Gironde | ||
| Arrondissement | Arcachon | ||
| Canton | La Teste-de-Buch | ||
| Intercommunality | CA Bassin d'Arcachon Sud | ||
| Area
1
|
7.56 km2 (2.92 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2021)
|
11,259 | ||
| • Density | 1,489.3/km2 (3,857.2/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | ||
| INSEE/Postal code |
33009 /33120
|
||
| Elevation | 0–45 m (0–148 ft) (avg. 8 m or 26 ft) |
||
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |||
.svg)
Arcachon is a lovely town in southwestern France, located in the Gironde area. It's a popular seaside resort right on the Atlantic Ocean coast. The town is about 55 kilometers (34 miles) southwest of Bordeaux. It sits within the large Landes forest. Arcachon is known for its sandy beach and pleasant weather.
Contents
History of Arcachon
On May 2, 1857, Napoleon III, who was the Emperor of France, signed an important paper. This paper made Arcachon an independent town, meaning it could govern itself. This happened in the same year that a railway line was finished, connecting Arcachon to Bordeaux.
Back then, Arcachon was mostly a forest with pine, oak, and strawberry trees. There were no proper roads and only a few houses. Less than 400 people lived there, mostly fishermen and farmers.
How Arcachon Became a Resort
Some doctors started suggesting that sea bathing was good for health. Because of this, some investors built three places for sea bathing. They wanted to attract rich people from Bordeaux and other wealthy families. This was the start of a new way of life for the area.
Local people saw a chance to become independent from La Teste-de-Buch, which owned their land. They wanted to create their own "free" town, which became Arcachon. For many years, until about 1950, people with lung problems also came to Arcachon for the fresh air.
Arcachon's Unique Homes
Arcachon is famous for its special houses, called "Arcachonnaise" villas. These are older homes built in the 1800s with a unique architectural style.
During World War I, the United States Navy set up a base here on June 8, 1918. They used seaplanes from this base. The base closed soon after the war ended.
Population of Arcachon
The number of people living in Arcachon has changed over the years. The table below shows how the population has grown and changed from 1861 to 2017.
| Historical population | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968–2017) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Geography of Arcachon
At the southern entrance of the Arcachon Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, you'll find Europe's biggest sand dune. It's called the Dune du Pilat. This huge dune is almost 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) long and 500 meters (1,640 feet) wide. It reaches a height of 110 meters (360 feet). The dune is always moving inland by about 5 meters (16 feet) each year.
Arcachon is one of the largest towns inside the Landes forest. Other big towns in this forest include Dax and Mont-de-Marsan. The Arcachon Bay is perfect for growing oysters. About 175 hectares (432 acres) of the bay are used for oyster farming.
The city has a mild climate thanks to the Gulf Stream. This is a warm and fast ocean current that starts in the Gulf of Mexico. It brings warmer water to the coast, making the weather pleasant.
Getting Around Arcachon
The closest airport to Arcachon is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport. Arcachon station has daily train services from Bordeaux. On weekends, you can also take the TGV Atlantique high-speed train from Paris.
Public transportation within the city is provided by buses. You can also take boat trips around Arcachon Bay for fun. Boat shuttles offer rides to places like Cap Ferret, the Dune of Pilat, Le Canon, Le Moulleau, Andernos, and Banc D'Arguin.
-
Arcachon railway station
-
City buses
Famous People from Arcachon
Many interesting people have connections to Arcachon:
- Humbert Balsan - A film producer, born in Arcachon in 1954.
- Carmen Bernos de Gasztold - A poet, born in Arcachon in 1919.
- Sylvie Caster - A writer and journalist, born in Arcachon in 1952.
- Alexandre Dumas - A famous writer, once lived in Arcachon's Ville d'Hiver area.
- Ramón Emeterio Betances - A politician from Puerto Rico, spent time in Arcachon before he passed away in 1898.
- Jean Périsson - A composer, born here in 1924.
- Louise Talma - A composer, born here in 1906.
- Charles Tournemire - A composer and organist, died here in 1939.
On the other side of the Arcachon Bay is Cap Ferret. This is a popular holiday spot for celebrities, including famous soccer player Zinedine Zidane.
Twin Towns – Sister Cities
.jpg)
Arcachon has special partnerships with other cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They often share culture and ideas. Arcachon is twinned with:
Aveiro, Portugal
Gardone Riviera, Italy
Goslar, Germany- Pescara, Italy
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
See also
In Spanish: Arcachón para niños
