Plage de la Pointe aux Chevaux

Plage de la Pointe aux Chevaux is a sandy beach fronting the Bassin d'Arcachon with views toward the Ile aux Oiseaux and rimmed by residential villas and working oyster cabins. The water here runs clear, and the shoreline displays a distinctive blend of private homes and functional wooden structures that extend into the basin.

In the 19th century, farmers drove their horses to this location at low tide to cross the basin and graze on salt marsh grass. This practice faded as oyster farming took root in the region and gradually claimed the water space for its own purposes.

The beach is woven into the oyster-farming tradition of the region, where wooden cabins along the shore remain active centers of daily work and local livelihood. The way these structures blend into the landscape shows how families here have built their lives around the sea for generations.

The beach is most easily reached via Impasse de la Source from Petit Piquey, with clear access paths leading toward Avenue de la Pointe aux Chevaux. The walkways are straightforward, and the sandy area is directly accessible from the residential neighborhood.

The location serves as a natural vantage point where visitors can watch how tides reshape the Bassin d'Arcachon twice daily, with water levels rising and falling dramatically. The same patch of ground shifts from submerged to exposed, creating a constantly changing shoreline that tells a different story each time you visit.