Day 12, Dune of Pilat, Bayonne

When we woke up in Arcachon this morning, a real storm was raging. Nevertheless, we wanted to stick to our planned program for today and climb the Dune of Pilat. So we got into the car and headed to the largest sand dune in Europe. All hiking trails and parking lots were closed, so we had to park illegally in front of the barrier. Full of energy, we hiked through the pine forest until the monster of a dune appeared before us, something between absolutely fascinating and beautiful, but also mighty and intimidating. Did we really want to climb up there? Giving up is not an option, so we put on our wind jackets and sunglasses and went into the sandstorm. The ascent is incredibly exhausting. The wind almost knocks you over, the sand crawls everywhere, and on top of that, it's a 110-meter climb with a 40-degree slope. Normally, there is a staircase, but today it has been swallowed up by the dune. The way up is worth it. The view over the forest, the sea, and the islands is breathtaking, and standing on this dune makes you feel like the king/queen of Aquitaine. Absolutely indescribable. Fortunately, the way down was considerably easier and more relaxed, just slide if in doubt. It took us almost half an hour to get rid of the sand. We continued through a few villages and towns along the Atlantic coast. Mimizan plage with really high sand on the road, in front of garages and entrance doors, the town of Capbreton with meter-high waves and flying sea spray. Our final destination for today is Bayonne. We ended the day with an extensive walk through the old town and some delicious tapas.