The Great Dune of Pilat (or Pyla) is the tallest sand dune in Europe.  It is located in La Test-de-Buch not far from the famous Bay of Arcachon, 60km from Bordeaux.

Not for asthmatics or vertigo sufferers perhaps, but if you want to work off the over-doing of too much wine and fromage that one inevitably indulges in when visiting France, this could possibly be a view worth the climb.  That’s an understatement by the way, it is quite incredible!

The weird thing about the dune is the fact that unlike standing on a mountain where you can get a solid footing, venture away from the top ridge and closer to the edge and you get a bizarre sense of the sand giving way.  One of my favourite and most memorable landmarks because it is not the usual tourist attraction, you get a totally different feeling standing on a sand dune, to standing on a high solid structure with a view.  There are no railings to hold on to, or glass to make you feel safe.

A really unique experience, just not for the fainthearted.