A fair balance between reception and preservation
You are 2 million to tread the sand of the Dune every year, sometimes climbing with difficulty to its crest line at 102 meters above sea level. Emblem of the Aquitaine coast, it accumulates superlatives – the highest dune in Europe – while appearing in the prize lists of the most beautiful French and international landscapes. However, behind these sometimes overused figures, there is a sensitive monument, the pride of the inhabitants of the territory.
Data disseminated on public reports is presented for better management of the Grand Site. This management is part of the national policy of the Great Sites of France and aims to find a right balance between welcoming many visitors and preserving fragile landscapes. Very well known and very attractive, the Great Sites of France are a great vector for discovering the natural and cultural heritage. Their managers also have the role of animating and guiding the visits of a general public, often families, of inviting them to explore the other surrounding riches, of making them aware of respect for places, sustainable tourism and the eco-responsibility.
Thus, the tools set up on the Grand Site of the Dune du Pilat (ecometers, real-time attendance of the car park, variable message signs, etc.) make it possible to identify the profile of visitors, their habits, their movements, etc Knowledge of flows makes it possible to assess the impact of the manager's action and to adapt it to changes in practices and trends. To date, the actions facilitate the distribution of attendance over time, seasons and space in order to offer a pleasant and harmonious experience for visitors, residents and spin-offs that benefit an enlarged territory.
You will find on this page the public reports and key figures of the Grand Site de la Dune du Pilat.
