Access to the Dune du Pilat reopens after Gironde forest fire closure

The Dune du Pilat, which is Europe’s biggest sand dune and a popular tourist destination, is set to reopen today (July 27), the prefecture has announced.

The Dune is near to La Teste-de-Buch, where a forest fire which began on Tuesday, July 12, has burnt 7,000 hectares of land.

Visitors to the Dune will be able to access it under secure conditions and with guided pathways, Gironde prefect Fabienne Buccio has stated.

“They will have to arrive by bus, as the flames have damaged the site car park,” La Teste-de-Buch’s mayor, Patrick Davet, added.

The La Teste-de-Buch blaze is one of two wildfires which have collectively destroyed around 21,000 hectares of land in Gironde. Both fires were declared “under control” on Monday (July 25), but neither has been extinguished completely.

Access to the forests affected by the flames remains forbidden, and the RD 218, which connects La Teste-de-Buch to Biscarrosse (Landes) will not be opened until the roadside has been cleared and made safe.

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