Villa Parc Mauresque

The arboretum has been here since 1992 and covers 4 hectares, with all sorts of small plant treasures, rare and exotic plants and trees, plus a pretty rose garden with nearly 600 bushes. It’s a calm, cool place to sit on one of the famous red Arcachon benches and take in the moment. The park used to be the setting for the Mauresque casino, which burned down in 1977. Architect Paul Régnauld and Jules Salesses designed it, using a mix of materials including iron columns and beams, brick, terracotta tiles, and pine floors. By the elevator exit, there’s a model of the Alhambra.

The ruins are really photogenic, and the trails are easy to access. The network isn’t very long, and you can comfortably walk all the routes in about 1.5 to 2.0 hours. Add a half-hour transit ride each way and it makes for a good free half-day activity. Our visit was by public transit from downtown Bordeaux, which is quite a distance, and we had our luggage with us, so that shaped the experience.

It’s an easy walk from town to this lovely park. You can carry on up to the tower for panoramic views.

A beautiful, picturesque little park. Parc Mauresque is a historic public park in Arcachon, France, dating back to the late 19th century, when Arcachon was growing into a fashionable seaside resort. It was part of the larger plan for the “Ville d’Hiver” (Winter Town), a district meant to draw wealthy visitors looking for health benefits from the mild winter climate.