Our friends were up for an adventure during our time in Saint-Emilion, so we headed out to La Dune du Pilat (otherwise known as the highest sand dunes in Europe). Traffic was heavy, since it was the Friday before Bastille Day weekend, but we made it! One of the benefits of working in an international office is that you learn about things like this from colleagues. I always love it when you get the insider tips!
Thankfully, they built stairs into the dune a few years ago. It was SO much easier to reach the top than it would’ve been trudging through the sand!
My mama was still smiling when she reached the top!
The dunes are pretty remarkable. They’re not as high as some of the ones you can find in the US, but they are amazing, because they come out of a thick green forest and then you find the bright blue bay on the other side of the dune. I thought the juxtaposition was beautiful!
Our hosts for a few nights! It was so fun to spend time with them and with Lil’ Dude!
We walked down the dunes after taking in the views from the top. I wasn’t quite brave enough to run down them, but plenty of people were doing just that.
We went to lunch at a beautiful seafood restaurant called La Co(o)rniche. It overlooked the sea and had a lookout to the dune, too. All of the staff wore white, and all of the tables had white umbrellas. It was nice to linger over a good meal.
[Lil’ Dude looking for shade wherever he can find it! Shows you how hot it was!]
In the evening, my mama and I ventured into the city center of Saint-Émilion. The town is small, but it is adorable.
We had an amazing meal at Logis de la Cadene, which also boasts 1* Michelin. It was founded in 1848 and is one of the oldest restaurants in Saint-Emilion. We tried the chef’s tasting menu, which was an opportunity for my mama to try pigeon for the first time! Our table was outside on the terrace covered with trees and vines and overlooking a courtyard.
What a delightful day!
4 thoughts on “The Highest Sand Dunes in Europe”
Al Michaud
Are you sure you weren’t in Michigan? Here some pic’s from the West side of the State.
Megan
Al, it made me think of Michigan!
Ruth Loar
Sand Dune Survivor!!!!!
Megan
Hahaha!