Short loop around the Domaine de Graveyron in Audenge

The Certes and Graveyron estates in Audenge (33) are a group of former salt marshes, once used as fish ponds, nestled in the Arcachon basin. Now a nature reserve, it is a unique place to observe nature and especially birds. The short loop trail allows you to explore these places at your leisure.

Details

1577093
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.95 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 20 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 20 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 26 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Audenge (33980)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.678799° / W 1.019693°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1337ET, 1437SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the entrance to Audenge harbour, where it is easy to park and find something to eat.

(S/E) Set off along the swimming pool and then the start of the harbour.

(1) At this point, you leave the tarmac road leading to the harbour and take a sandy but easy-to-walk path. The trail runs along a dyke separating the basin from the old fish ponds.
After a short bend and passing a blocked path on your right, you reach an old fork in the path.

(2) Contrary to what the IGN map suggests, it is no longer possible to turn left here onto the embankment. So carry on straight ahead along this path, which now runs between the reservoirs on either side. After 500 to 600 metres, you’ll reach a canal (draining coastal streams) and turn sharply right, following the canal for nearly a kilometre.

(3) At the next set of junctions, keep turning left, crossing a small bridge over a narrow canal. You are now heading straight north-west through a landscape of meadows.

(4) After another bridge, you come out onto a fairly wide path: this time, turn right (due north). Shortly afterwards, you come to a barrier preventing you from continuing straight on. Fortunately, another bridge (on the right) allows you to cross the canal, then head towards the buildings of the Château de Certes.

(5) You’ll pass the recently renovated château (Gironde Departmental Council and Conservatoire du Littoral). Walk along the left side of this beautiful building, then head straight towards the main building.

(6) The reception area for the Domaine de Certes is located here. Turn around and head back towards the château to admire the other side.
(5) After passing the annexe building where the picnic area is located, take a path heading due south, then cross a vast meadow and rejoin the path you have already walked along.

(3) This time, turn left, then take a good path (heading south) running alongside the meadows. After a few right-angled bends, this path takes you back to the car park at Audenge harbour (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 7 ft - Audenge harbour car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 3 ft - Sandy path - Bassin d'Arcachon
  3. 2 : mi 1.16 - alt. 3 ft - Straight ahead
  4. 3 : mi 2.24 - alt. 13 ft - Bridge which you cross twice
  5. 4 : mi 2.38 - alt. 7 ft - On the right after the bridge
  6. 5 : mi 2.56 - alt. 26 ft - Château de Certes
  7. 6 : mi 2.74 - alt. 16 ft - Reception area at the Domaine de Certes
  8. S/E : mi 3.95 - alt. 7 ft - Audenge harbour car park

Notes

The terrain is perfectly flat: a pair of light shoes (trainers) is usually enough....
Be careful, however, in wet weather: the paths can become very muddy!

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 41 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Brigitte69*
Brigitte69*

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very peaceful route through lovely, shaded countryside

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User 21830326

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk through the salt marshes. There’s plenty of shade and picnic tables along the way. Very pleasant and peaceful. I highly recommend it!

+ restaurants at the start and finish points.

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deforge
deforge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in peaceful surroundings, amidst lush countryside (which provided shelter from the wind that day) and a multitude of birds

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jean-marc-monique
jean-marc-monique

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, both visually and for birdwatching. Definitely not to be done in summer as there’s hardly any shade. We were there at the end of May in perfect weather with a gentle breeze. In summer it must get very busy as there’s a huge car park at the start of the walk.
Even though the path is easy, whatever the weather, a good pair of walking shoes is better than sandals or flip-flops. Take it from us, the walkers.
On the way back, you can enjoy a large pool for free.

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caty.ha
caty.ha

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk through the marshes, starting at a small, typical harbour in the Bassin region, and ending at the small château restored by the Conservatoire du littoral

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schnogeloch
schnogeloch

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Pleasant and easy.

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User 771119

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very muddy sections (clay) even though it hadn't rained much. But nice, lots of birds.

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User 8085361
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route was very good, but following the directions, i.e. following the swimming pools, we ended up doing the route backwards. Fortunately, this route can be done in both directions. A detailed map was missing from the printed material.
very pleasant route

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Danièle Quillet
Danièle Quillet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy and pleasant route.

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nicodaime
nicodaime

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Discover the basin up close, the beautiful renovated castle of Certes, and the largest swimming pool in Europe after lunch at La Gravette.

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Eve80
Eve80

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk... magnificent landscapes with lovely colours... very peaceful
We do this walk at least once every year during our holidays... followed by a good meal at a restaurant in the port of Audenge... this year we found that the vegetation was much more abundant

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lupi001
lupi001

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route that makes you feel far away from everything.
And once you've passed the few metres of sand at the start, the rest is very easy in dry weather
It was only at the end of the walk that we encountered other people.

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Manu 79400
Manu 79400

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A peaceful stroll through former fish reserves and along the edge of the Arcachon basin.

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User 13817580

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike

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Fassoa
Fassoa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk to explore this estate, very interesting and easy route...
We finished with a delicious oyster tasting and a glass of white wine (for me) and the famous pancakes and milk chocolate (for my wife) in the "Chez Geneniève" hut, a local landmark that is well worth a visit...

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