The Silver Coast in France – Atlantic Beaches and Biscarrosse-Plage

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Silver Coast, Cote d'Argent, stretches along the Atlantic coast in southwestern France and offers miles upon miles of sandy beaches, dunes and pine forests. We arrived here in a camper van in mid-December and had the huge beaches almost to ourselves. Beautiful, desolate and eventually a little more adventurous than we had imagined.

Silver Coast in France

ôte d'Argent means roughly "Silver Coast" and the name is used for the long Atlantic coast in southwestern France, from the Gironde estuary down to Bayonne. Here the Atlantic meets long sandy beaches and a landscape of dunes, pine forests and seaside resorts that fill with holidaymakers in the summer.

When we arrived here, however, it was December. It wasn't hard to understand the name Silver Coast. The sea and the light sand seemed to almost shimmer in silver and the beaches lay completely deserted before us. In a way, it was perhaps even more beautiful that way.

A coast with sand dunes and pine forest

The special landscape along the Silver Coast is not entirely created by nature. Behind the beaches are large areas of planted pine forest that have played a role in stabilizing the sand and protecting the land further inland.

The most extreme example of the coastal sandscape is further north at the Dune du Pilat, Europe's highest sand dune. It is located south of Arcachon and is one of the most famous tourist attractions along this part of the Atlantic coast. We were further south, at Biscarrosse-Plage.

Biscarrosse-Plage on the Atlantic

Biscarrosse is located in the Landes department and consists of several parts. Biscarrosse-Plage is located on the Atlantic coast, while Biscarrosse itself is located further inland. In the summer, Biscarrosse-Plage is a lively bathing and surfing town. There is a wide sandy beach and the waves of the Atlantic just outside.

Our visit was completely different. We walked through the forest down to the beach and were greeted by an almost empty landscape. The sand was fine and soft, the sea roared in front of us and it was hard to stop taking pictures.

At the same time, there was a disadvantage to coming here in the middle of winter. Almost everything was closed. We couldn't even find a small kiosk open.

Experience the beach in Biscarrosse-Plage

It is above all the huge beach that attracts people to Biscarrosse-Plage. During the summer, people come here to swim, surf and enjoy the Atlantic coast.

Instead, we had a long winter walk. It was windy, it was cold and we didn't have to fight for space on the beach. But the feeling of having the entire vast Atlantic coast almost to ourselves was an experience in itself. Sometimes a beach doesn't actually have to be a swimming beach to be amazing.

More to see and do along the Silver Coast

The Silver Coast is much more than Biscarrosse-Plage and is well suited to discovering during a road trip along the Atlantic coast. To the north lies, among other things, Dune du Pilat and Arcachon Bay, known for its oyster farms, beaches and small coastal communities.

To the south, the long Atlantic beaches continue through the Landes. Here are holiday resorts and surfing destinations such as Mimizan-Plage, Hossegor and Capbreton, before the coast continues towards Bayonne and the French Basque Country. For those with plenty of time, the journey along the coast itself is a big part of the experience.

Silver Coast with a campervan

The Silver Coast is an area that is great to explore by motorhome. Along the coast there are both campsites and special places for camping vehicles, but the range, opening hours and rules vary between the resorts and the seasons.

When we arrived at Biscarrosse-Plage, we found a huge campsite among the trees, just a short walk from the beach. In the middle of summer, we could imagine the site being filled with campers. In December, it was almost empty.

As darkness fell and we stood alone among the trees, it actually started to feel a little eerie. But the darkness would turn out to be the least of our problems.

When we didn't get out of the parking lot

When we pulled into the parking lot, we were given a receipt with a code. The system seemed simple: when we were about to leave the lot, the machine would read the receipt, tell us what we had to pay, and then open the barrier.

The next morning it was time to drive on towards Spain. The machine announced that we would pay eight euros. No problem. We thought so.

We tried one debit card. The machine refused. We tried the other. The machine still refused. It was also possible to pay with coins, but of course we didn't have eight euros in the right coins. So we set off in search of someone who could change money. The only problem was that it was December in Biscarrosse-Plage.

Everything was closed. Not a store. Not a cafe. Not a person.

After about half an hour, two French guys showed up in a car. They tried to help us with the vending machine, but they also couldn't convince it to let the Swedish camper out.

In the end, a slightly more tangible solution remained. Peter reached in and tore a pole free. Then we carefully wriggled the camper out through the opening that had formed and were able to continue our journey. No, this is not our tip on how to leave a French parking space if the pay machine is malfunctioning. But we got out.

Traveling along the Silver Coast in winter

Our visit showed quite clearly that the Silver Coast is a destination with big seasonal differences. The advantage of winter was obvious: we had beaches, forests and views almost entirely to ourselves. The disadvantage was equally obvious: much was closed.

For those who want swimming, restaurants, nightlife and a wider range of activities, the warmer part of the year is a much better choice. If you want to experience the Atlantic coast in peace and quiet, the low season can have its own charm.

Is the Silver Coast worth visiting?

Absolutely. We only saw a small part of this long coastline, but the huge beaches and the combination of sea, sand dunes and pine forest made a strong impression.

We still remember the walk through the forest down to the sea, the wonderfully soft sand and the feeling of standing almost alone in front of the Atlantic.

And of course we remember the campsite in Biscarrosse-Plage. Apparently every road trip needs at least one story that gets better with age. This one has aged very well.