Cap Ferret — The Art of Living by the Sea
Our first stop was Cap Ferret, where we spent three days at the lovely Hôtel de la Plage in L’Herbe, a traditional village of fishermen and oyster farmers. We had come with one thing in mind: to discover the oysters of the Bassin d’Arcachon. They did not disappoint. Fresh, delicate and full of character, they were every bit as delicious as we had hoped. To accompany our tasting, we discovered a white wine aged for six months on the seabed. The ocean lends it a more pronounced mineral character, but what fascinated us most was the bottle itself, encrusted with the algae and shells that had made it their home. A little work of art, shaped by the sea. We brought it home as our very own travel trophy, already destined to become a prop in one of our next oyster photo shoots.
One of the most unforgettable moments was our excursion to the Dune du Pilat. The sheer scale of the sand dune, meeting an endless blue sky, created an extraordinary play of colours and textures. A landscape reduced to its purest elements, yet almost overwhelming in its beauty.
Our days in L’Herbe had their own rhythm: watching the sun rise from the hotel and, in the evening, crossing to the other side of the peninsula to admire the sun setting over the wild Atlantic. Two different horizons, each with its own magic.
Bourcefranc-le-Chapus — A World of Gillardeau
From Cap Ferret, we continued towards Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, a small, little-known place with a very particular attraction for oyster lovers: the world of Gillardeau. We wanted to taste these celebrated oysters where they are prepared and dispatched to destinations around the world. Sometimes, the most interesting places are not the ones that appear on every travel itinerary. The little Gillardeau boutique was a wonderful discovery. Here, you can taste oysters in six different sizes, each offering its own experience. And the oysters themselves? Simply extraordinary.
But the real surprise was waiting just outside: La Mer à Emporter, an oyster vending machine where baskets of oysters can be purchased 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Imagine being able to pick up a basket of fresh oysters whenever the mood strikes — no opening hours to worry about, just the pleasures of the sea, ready to take home. We thought it was a brilliant idea, and one that any oyster lover could appreciate.
We left delighted, with yet another reminder that the best discoveries are often found by following a very personal curiosity.
The Dordogne — An Unexpected Detour
After our oyster adventures, it was time to head home. Rather than taking the familiar route via Toulouse, we decided to try something different and follow the Dordogne instead. We had no elaborate plans for this part of the journey. We simply wanted to discover somewhere new along the way.
That little change of route turned out to be one of the loveliest surprises of our trip. We found ourselves travelling through some of France’s most beautiful villages, from Bergerac to Beynac-et-Cazenac, La Roque-Gageac, Domme and Sarlat. What had started as a detour soon became a destination in its own right — so much so that we ended up staying for three days. Here, the landscape changed completely. Rivers, limestone cliffs, ancient stone houses and winding village streets replaced the open horizons of the Atlantic coast.
La Roque-Gageac particularly surprised us with its almost exotic vegetation, flourishing in the unusually mild microclimate of this sheltered riverside setting. For anyone who loves nature, the region is a delight. And for those who love French food, it is equally irresistible. Delicatessens, local markets and inviting restaurants seemed to appear at every turn. Foie gras, truffles, duck in every imaginable form — the pleasures of the Périgord are difficult to resist. After a week filled with culinary discoveries, it was finally time to return home, with a few delicious souvenirs tucked away in our luggage.
