AN EXCLUSIVE CITY GUIDE FOR YOU, the FERMOBPEOPLE

Summer is coming… And this is the year to seize the opportunity to visit our beautiful country! Our catalogue shoot in Cap Ferret piqued our curiosity for the Atlantic coast. So we interviewed some fans from over there. Quentin, Karine and Hélène are all very active on Instagram, and they tell you about their favourites on the Basque coast, around the Bay of Arcachon and in Brittany. Get on board!

Arcachon City Guide by Karine de Bodie & Fou

Karine, a stylist, decorator and portraitist, who is behind the Instagram Bodie & Fou account (named after her former decorating shop), has gone to live in Arcachon Bay after spending over 15 years in London. She thought she could never leave the city, but would never go back for anything in the world (she feels so good in the region)! She has shared with us her favourites in the “Bassin” (as the locals call the Bay).

Her ideas on how to spend your days
Arcachon Bay is: mile after mile of white sand, a magnificent forest of thousand-year-old pines, and a highly preserved environment, because the laws on the coast are very strict. Surfing, swimming and cycling on the menu!

What’s the best spot to gaze at the sunset over the Bay and the Dune du Pilat?
Definitely the terrace of La Co(o)rniche, a 5-star hotel redecorated by Starck. Get there early for a before-dinner drink with tapas, as it’s a very popular spot!

THE beach for surfing?
La Salie Nord, on the road to Biscarrosse, which is really worth the effort: you have to walk about ten minutes over duckboards to get there. You’re sure to get fine waves! To end the day on a high note, enjoy a dinner in the woods, at La Salie Sud (see the section “for your taste buds”).

What about beaches for families?
Le Petit Nice and La Lagune

Addresses for treating yourself (and others!)

For surfing equipment?
The SEN NO SEN shop in Le Moulleau: this small independent surfing brand manufactures wetsuits made of Yulex natural rubber, a high-performance and environmentally friendly material. Book a surfing session just next door with a teacher in the best surf club in the Bay OCEAN ROOTS

For furniture and pretty objects?
The Zig & Puces shop (which sells Fermob), also in Le Moulleau.

And for a perfect Sunday?
Browse through the markets of the region, including the Le Moulleau organic market and the Teste-de-Buch market, where you’ll find both fresh local produce from sustainable agriculture and fashion stands. Also check out the open-air jumble sales.

For your taste buds

Traditional food?
The oyster farmer’s huts where you can eat oysters, whelks and shrimps, washed down with white wine.

To get in the mood?
At Pyla, the Club Paradiso: a fun tapas bar

To eat out?
Restaurant Le jardin: delicious cuisine, served on the terrace.

In summer only…
The pop-up restaurant Club Pereire, designed by Bartherotte, who built the house in the film “Little White Lies”. An ideal spot to admire the sunset!

And after a day on the beach?
La Salie Sud: hidden away in the woods, a prettily decorated restaurant.

For a family outing?
Head for Chez Juliette, on the Laouga beach on the Lac de Cazaux. The waters are really clear, and you can chill out while the children play in the sand. Very nice, warm welcome, with tapas and poke bowls on the menu.

Places to stay?

Decorative atmosphere at home
La Casa Pyla, a creative residence that Karine makes available to brands for shooting sessions and where she gives workshops on her favourite subjects: styling, decoration, photography and well-being.

Interior design
The HOME hotel in Arcachon which is not far from the beach.

In the centre of Arcachon
Hôtel de la Ville d’Hiver located in one of the most beautiful districts and a 10 minute walk from the town centre. A charming hotel that reflects the spirit of the Bay and has a superb swimming pool.

Whatever you do, don’t miss…
The Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune in Europe. Early in the morning or at the end of the day, to see it at its best. Magic!

Take the boat early in the morning for a day at Cap-Ferret. When you get there, hire a bike and ride around the Bay via the many cycle paths that link Arcachon, Cazaux and La Teste.

Stroll through the winter district of Arcachon: architecture to feast your eyes on.

The typical huts on stilts erected by the oyster farmers in the Bay.

The charming ports of Teste-de-Buch and Biganos

And the superb city of Bordeaux, only 45 minutes away by car!

A tip: Enjoy the Bay without the crowds during the delicious Indian summer…