The staircase is installed!

The staircase to the Dune du Pilat is now in place: 130 steps to the crest

As with every early spring, the staircase facilitating the ascent of the Dune du Pilat has just been installed on the eastern slope (forest side). You will need to climb approximately 130 steps to reach the summit of this natural monument. You can of course continue to climb the Dune via the sand.

Did you know? 4 things you should know about stairs!

1. He is celebrating his 30th birthday this year. !
   • The current staircase is a resin (polyester) structure installed in the mid-1990s, more precisely in 1996.
   • Before him, a wooden staircase installed by the restaurant at the foot of the dune "La Palombière" provided access to the crest, complemented by a footbridge that crossed the Dune laterally.
2. It makes the climb easier, but is never mandatory
   • The purpose of the staircase is to facilitate access to the summit and to channel visitor flow onto a designated route.
   • It allows people who would not normally be able to reach the ridge, particularly due to physical limitations, to more easily climb this wonder of nature.
   • Climbing via the sand remains possible for those who wish to do so, in compliance with the site regulations.
3. It is dismantled every winter to follow the movement of the Dune
   • The Dune du Pilat is a natural space in motion, which progresses eastward by several meters on average per year, under the action of wind and storms.
   • To prevent the staircase from being completely buried by sand during the winter, it is dismantled every year after the All Saints' Day holidays, then reinstalled before the spring holidays.
   • At the end of the season, the modules are removed, carefully cleaned and stored outside the reception area, in order to preserve both the site and the equipment.
4. New equipment is being prepared for tomorrow.
   • After nearly 30 years of service, the resin staircase will need to be replaced and the gradual retreat of the Dune will make access on the east side increasingly difficult for the equipment needed to assemble and disassemble it.
   • In 2025, a landscape assessment and a diagnosis of dune advance were launched to study the possibilities of renewing the staircase, taking into account the natural and technical constraints of the site.
   • The year 2026 is dedicated to feasibility studies and administrative procedures, with a view to future equipment, still demountable, adapted to the movements of the Dune, the implementation of which is planned from 2028.