La Teste de Buch : Les Prés salés ouest

Next to the oyster port, you can discover saltmarshes

The western saltmarshes of La Teste de Buch lie in a cove covering 42 hectares on the south side of Arcachon Bay. The marshes were originally open to the ocean, but were confined in the mid-1970s to shield them. The site lost its saltmarsh status for nearly 35 years. It was gradually depleted and overcome with exotic species of invasive flora (for example, Baccharis hamilifolia, or “false cotton plant”).

However, in 2007, after years of legal battles, the municipality of La Teste de Buch was authorised by the French government to develop the area with several goals in mind: environmental protection, maintaining the landscape, water management and tourism. One part of the site was exposed once again to the ebb and flow of the tide, while the other part was given over to fresh water from the Craste Douce (drainage canal) and groundwater.

The site is now a patchwork of landscapes and wet habitats providing unusual sights to the curious visitor.

You will enjoy exploring these saltmarshes, which were developed with nature lovers in mind.

Salt marshes

Landscapes are constently changing depending on seasons and tides

Information panels

In the "mudflat" we can find shellfish and many fish species to the delight of birds which can found plenty of food Saltmarshes's vegetation is composed by salicornes, sarcocornes, or obione.

An unusual site

Western saltmarshes offer a nature trail with numerous information panels which will guide you through this unusual site. Guided tours are also available to help you better understand the uniqueness of the site and learn more about the migratory birds that stop there.