Andernos-les-Bains (; oc, Endarnòs) is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Gironde Gironde ( US usually, , ; oc, Gironda, ) is the largest department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. Named after the Gironde estuary, a major waterway, its prefecture is Bordeaux. In 2019, it had a population of 1,6 ...

department, southwestern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. Andernos-les-Bains is a located on the northeast shore of

Arcachon Bay Arcachon Basin or alternatively Arcachon Bay (French: ''Bassin d'Arcachon'') is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest coast of France, situated in Pays de Buch between the Côte d'Argent and the Côte des Landes, in the region of Aquitai ...

. To its northwest is the town of

Arès Arès (; oc, Arés) is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Gironde department The following is a list of the 535 communes of the Gironde department of France. The communes co ...

. Andernos-les-Bains consists of four other small communities: Taussat, Cassy, Lanton and Audenge. All these villages have

oyster Oyster is the common name for a number of different families of salt-water bivalve molluscs that live in marine or brackish habitats. In some species, the valves are highly calcified, and many are somewhat irregular in shape. Many, but not ...

farms and small fisheries. For many years, the oyster and fishing industry provided the main income to the area. More recently, tourism has become a strong economic factor in the area. The bay's Portuguese oysters died out during 1970-1972 because of gill disease. In 1974 another oyster, the Pacific oyster, developed a disease caused by the paint used on fishing boats. An oil tanker spill in 1978 further damaged the oyster industry, which continued to suffer around the bay until 1981. Since 2000 the oyster industry has been recovering and now nearly 15,000 metric tons are produced per year. Andernos-les-Bains has a long sand beach.

Population

Transport

The closest airport is Bordeaux-Mérignac, away.

Sights

The Great Dune of Pyla The Dune of Pilat (French: ''Dune du Pilat'', official name), also called ''Grande Dune du Pilat'', is the tallest sand dune in Europe. It is located in La Teste-de-Buch in the Arcachon Bay area, France, 60 km (37.2 mi) southwest of Bor ...

– the longest in Europe * Island of Birds * Cape Ferret light house at the tip of the

* The prehistoric remains of the Betey

Twin towns – sister cities

Andernos-les-Bains is twinned with: *

Largs Largs ( gd, An Leargaidh Ghallda) is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" (''An Leargaidh'') in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town mark ...

, Scotland, United Kingdom * Nußloch, Germany * Segorbe, Spain