Discover Arès: hotels, salt marshes and oyster huts

Arès appeals to travellers with a range of interests: the Réserve naturelle nationale des Prés salés d’Arès – Lège Cap-Ferret is known for its tidal landscape and wetland birds, alongside walking and cycling routes and cultural sites at the harbour and in the Micro-Folie.

Salt marshes and wetlands

The Réserve naturelle nationale des Prés salés d’Arès – Lège Cap-Ferret covers 496 hectares and is shaped by the rhythm of the tides. Its habitats range from mudflats to areas that remain permanently above water. The reserve is important for the migration, wintering and breeding of numerous wetland birds. Those interested in wetlands will therefore find both a landscape shaped by the changing tides and an important area for birds.

Another natural heritage highlight is the Domaine de Saint-Brice, located within the communes of Arès and Andernos-les-Bains and owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral. Two ponds add to the biodiversity of this preserved area. Its vegetation includes maritime pines, oaks, willows and trembling poplars; the undergrowth features, among other plants, gorse, broom, ferns, strawberry trees and heather. These plants show the variety of features the area encompasses beyond its ponds.

Walking routes and puzzle trails

The “Les prés salés, entre terre et mer” trail passes through settling basins, woodland, salt marshes and dunes. Those looking for a sequence of changing landscapes can compare this progression with the route’s individual stops. The “Les 3 eaux de Saint-Brice” walking trail runs between several ponds, through the forest and along a coastal path; it also leads to the ruins of a former métairie, a farming estate.

The family trail “Les Pistes de Robin: les secrets d’Arès” takes a different approach: it runs from the Jetée d’Arès to the Port Ostréicole and features a series of puzzles. This sets it apart from the routes described above, which focus on landscape and nature stops. Check the route information locally before setting out.

Cycling routes that include Arès

Arès is also a stop on longer cycling routes. The Tour de Gironde à vélo includes Arès as Stage 14 on the route between Lacanau and Andernos. La Vélodyssée, the French section of EuroVelo 1, runs for 1,250 kilometres from Roscoff to Hendaye, crosses the Bassin d’Arcachon and allows for a stop in Arès.

The two routes offer different scales for planning: on the Tour de Gironde à vélo, Arès is one stage between two named places; La Vélodyssée connects the town to a continuous long-distance route between the coastal towns of Roscoff and Hendaye. Check the route before your trip, especially if you are planning your stages around a particular route.

Oyster huts and digital culture

At the Port Ostréicole d’Arès, a row of blue, yellow and green oyster huts catches the eye. Their colourful design gives the harbour a distinctive visual character. The Micro-Folie d’Arès offers a different cultural experience: it features a digital museum and a virtual reality immersion. The digital museum provides access to some of the works held by several national museums. If you would like to include the Micro-Folie in your stay, check visiting hours in advance.

Find hotels in Arès to suit your interests

Whether you want to focus on natural areas, routes or cultural stops can guide your choice of accommodation. Search for a hotel in Arès and compare the specific location and amenities in each listing with your own requirements.

Discover more destinations: Margaux, Saint-Martin-de-Lerm, Mazion, Sainte-Hélène, Bonzac, Tizac-De-Curton, Cadaujac, Podensac.

For the wider travel overview: Gironde.