Arcachon Bay, Natural bay in Aquitaine, France

Arcachon Bay is a triangular sea inlet in the Aquitaine region of southwestern France, enclosed between the Cap Ferret peninsula to the north and the town of Arcachon to the south. At high tide the bay fills with Atlantic water, while at low tide wide sand flats and shallow channels become visible.

The area was a small fishing harbor for centuries until the mid-19th century when the railway from Bordeaux arrived and attracted wealthy visitors. The imperial administration then reorganized the coast and founded seaside resorts for people seeking rest.

The names of coastal settlements around the water come from the Gascon language and recall old fishing families and pine forests. Today you still see wooden huts along the shore where fishermen store nets and oyster farmers sort their harvest.

The water level changes sharply twice a day, so check the tides before heading to the shore or planning boat trips. Most beaches and docks are easily reached on foot or by bicycle from the surrounding villages.

The two wooden huts on stilts on Île aux Oiseaux are called cabanes tchanquées, from the Gascon word tchanquat for "stilted". They were built as oyster-farming cabins, not bird-watching shelters, and are now a well-known photo subject in the middle of the bay.