Arcachon Bay

Characteristic of the shores of Arcachon Bay, this dwelling from 1900 is surrounded by more than 7,000 m² of densely wooded grounds and lush vegetation. Located on the waterfront, it overlooks the coastline and provides an enchanting panorama of the bay’s calm waters, while its coastal architecture, specific to the Southwest seaside, embodies the understated elegance of holiday homes from the 19th century. With light-colour plaster-coated exteriors, typical of other dwellings in the area, cadenced by red brick window surrounds, quoins, friezes and lintels, its painted wooden balconies, pelmets, shutters and structural elements come together in a harmonious contrast of white, red and wood, one of the architectural signposts from that period. Rectangular in shape, the dwelling, with two upper stories of identical proportions, is topped with a red tile, evenly pitched gable roof, featuring wide overhangs sometimes decorated with delicate pelmets, while its top-floor dormer windows stand out thanks to their triangular pediments. Facing the great outdoors, the dwelling boasts many patios and windows in order to enjoy the mild climate, which remains protected from the wind thanks to the surrounding vegetation.

The Main Dwelling

The dwelling, with three stories of identical proportions, features nearly 500 m² of floor space and includes seventeen rooms, including ten bedrooms. As for the ground floor, bathed in light thanks to a floor-to-ceiling height of 3.7 metres, it is accessible via the front door, which opens onto a foyer with original cement floor tiles, and includes a kitchen with views of the grounds and its multi-century trees, a pantry, an immense study facing the bay, as well as a large living room extended by a patio/dining area looking out towards the sea. In addition, the sleeping quarters on this floor feature a bedroom on the bay side of the house and two large bedrooms facing the grounds. As for the first floor, completely independent, it is laid out around a wide hallway with pitch pine hardwood floors. To the east, a large kitchen is separated from the living room/dining room with an atelier window, the latter of which enjoys plunging views of the beach and the ocean’s horizon, while, further on, two bedrooms, facing the sea, are each extended by a wooden balcony typical of Arcachon villas and two more bedrooms look out over the grounds. Featuring a floor-to-ceiling height of 3.2 metres, the second floor includes a large kitchen facing the grounds, a living room looking out towards the sea, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two lavatories. With a wooden staircase providing access to every floor, each level is equipped with its own gas heating system in order to ensure complete autonomy, while a cellar of approximately 100 m² is accessible from one side of the dwelling.

The Grounds

Located along the beach, the property features two different access points to the shore, safeguarded by a 50-metre stone embankment, while a boat passage also allows watercraft to arrive directly from the beach. Made up of three lots, the seafront and back of the garden are both classified as “Protected Wooded Areas”, whereas the central lot of 2,700 m², where the dwelling is located, features a significant landholding trust, which makes it possible to add an extension or another building. In the back, the grounds, bathed in sunlight and lulled by gentle sea breezes, create a refreshing oasis and, given their partial classification as “Remarkable Landscape”, are not zoned for construction, while large, multi-century palm trees, oaks and maritime pines provide plenty of lovely shade and a verdant backdrop for the property’s many winding paths.

The property enjoys a prime location, on the sought-out waterfront of Arcachon Bay, featuring exceptional natural heritage, focused primarily on the sea, boating and oyster farming. Forty-five minutes away from the Bordeaux-Mérignac airport and one hour from the Bordeaux-Saint-Jean train station, it is located in a small town from where Arcachon, Pyla-sur-Mer and the villages of Cap Ferret are easily accessible. Nestled within the whispering pines and kissed by the salty breeze of the Atlantic, the house is within immediate proximity to essential shops and services as well as a small oyster farming harbour, while, from its windows, it enjoys panoramic views of the bay’s peaceful coastline, bathed in dazzling sunlight and silence.