Arcachon, a bathing-place which has grown up since 1854, on the south side of the Bassin d'Arcachon, 34 miles SW. of Bordeaux by rail.
The fine broad sands are admirably adapted for bathing; and the place is sheltered by sand-hills, covered with extensive pine-woods, in which game abounds. Its main street stretches 2½ miles along the shore, with the pine-forest immediately behind. The climate is always temperate, and the rainfall is but 32 inches. Its numerous villas amongst the firs are much frequented in winter by invalids afflicted with lung disease. Scientific oyster-culture is practised here on a large scale. There are 3300 oyster 'parks' in the lagoon, lined with 6000 ova tiles for the collection of oyster spat, and calculated to yield two hundred millions of infant oysters in a single season (see OYSTER). Pop. (1876) 4934; (1881) 7087; (1891) 7840.