Visit the Parc Mauresque in Arcachon
History of Mauresque Park
Located in the winter resort of Arcachon, Gironde, the Parc Mauresque was created in the 19th century. It was built by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi on what was then a natural area of sand and pine trees. It was also here that the Mauresque casino was built in 1863, a superb building with Andalusian influences designed by architect Paul Régnauld. The park became the property of the town in 1879. In 1913, a funicular was built to provide easy access to the casino from the Ville d’Été. It was replaced by an elevator in 1948. In 1977, a terrible fire ravaged the Mauresque casino. The remains of the building were razed to the ground, and it was only a few years later, in 1992, that the arboretum was created. Since then, it has been a source of pride for the people of Arcachon. The Parc Mauresque is the ideal place to relax after a long day’s sightseeing, or in the early hours of the morning, to enjoy the coolness of the park.
The botanical heritage of Parc Mauresque, Arcachon’s haven of freshness
Overlooking the Ville d’Été, the Parc Mauresque is the perfect place to relax, away from the hustle and bustle of the seaside tourist industry. Come and admire the plants, stroll in the shade of the trees, read or picnic. The park also features a pond, kiosk and fountain. To the north of the park, a viewpoint offers a lovely panorama of the Ville d’Été and the Arcachon Basin.
The Parc Mauresque is home to a 4-hectare arboretum. Here you’ll find a multitude of exotic plants, century-old and rare trees, as well as a rose garden whose scents will fill you with wonder.
Around the Mauresque Park
Parc Mauresque is located in Ville d’Hiver, a district of Arcachon that was created in the 19th century as a result of a real-estate operation. The district is home to a number of superb 19th-century villas, including the Villa Toledo, Villa Alexandre Dumas, Villa Iris and Villa Trocadéro.
In addition to the villas to be discovered on foot, the Ville d’Hiver boasts a number of sites of interest well worth a visit. To the west of the park are the Saint-Paul footbridge and the Sainte-Cécile observatory, co-created by Gustave Eiffel. The metal footbridge links 2 dunes. From the 32m-high observatory, you can admire the entire Arcachon basin and the Landes forest. Further south is the old pine-needle ski slope, on which many a champion has trained. Along the way, you’ll pass by the Place des Palmiers and the Anglican church, a sign of the strong English immigration to Arcachon in the past.
Visiting Parc Mauresque: practical information
Entrance to Parc Mauresque is free of charge, and is possible every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. To reach the Parc Mauresque from the Ville d’Été, don’t hesitate to take the elevator! The elevator replaced the old funicular railway in 1948. The elevator is located on rue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny and leads directly to the park, free of charge. It’s also possible to get to the park on foot.
From here, you can stroll through the park and the entire Ville d’Hiver. Picnic areas, a children’s play area and toilets are available in the park. On your camping vacation in the Arcachon basin, take time to stroll through this emblematic park of Arcachon and its famous Ville d’Hiver.
