Among the many curiosities of the Arcachon Bay, the famous tchanquée cabins of Île aux Oiseaux stand out. These little houses, nestled in the middle of the oyster beds, are essential for any trip to the Gironde region. Alone, with family or friends, cast off and set off to discover these gems.
The tchanquée cabins: unusual buildings
Bird Island, located in the commune of La Teste-de-Buch, is easily recognized by its tilted cabins, which are true symbols of the Arcachon Basin. These are wooden cabins perched on stilts. They were built to monitor the oyster beds. Of course, they are not open to the public, but you can admire them from your boat. At low tide, you will easily discover the stilts of these buildings. You can also get closer on foot and reach their stairs. Low tide is recommended to see these curiosities. At high tide, however, these can only be discovered by boat. Otherwise, you also have the possibility of observing them from the peninsula of the tip of Cap Ferret.
Several options to tour the island by boat
Several shuttles, available all year round, are at your disposal to discover Île aux Oiseaux. You are free to opt for a walk of two, three hours or even half a day, i.e. 4 to 5 hours. It is advisable to visit the island in September and October. This is all the more recommended if you want to enjoy a peaceful visit and appreciate the magnificent tchanquée cabins at your ease. Unless the crowds don’t bother you too much, you can travel around the island very well during the summer season. For this discovery, reserve your access ticket at the tourist office before departure. You can also do this on the websites of the service providers.
The most daring will have no trouble reaching the island by sea kayak. In addition to waking up all your muscles, this alternative will allow you to easily approach the cabins. To enrich your experiences, do not hesitate to reach the tip of Cap Ferret following the dunes and cycle paths. In addition to discovering these little houses, you will also have the opportunity to admire the Pilat dune as well as the pine forests of Aquitaine during this excursion to Bird Island.