Gujan-Mestras Oyster Ports

What it is

Gujan-Mestras presents itself as the oyster-farming capital of the Arcachon bay: it has seven oyster ports along its waterfront, many farms, a marine institute and traditional cabins where oysters are eaten. Larros, the one with the museum, is a good gateway: canals with colourful wooden cabins, boatyards, flat-bottomed oyster-farmer boats (the plates), oyster shells everywhere and several producers' terraces. You come to stroll among the cabins and eat a dozen beside the water, and the Maison de l'Huître, the oyster museum, is here too.

The stroll is free; the oysters and the museum are paid. Allow an hour and a half.

What to do

• Stroll around the port: among the cabins you will see sacks of oysters drying, the oyster farmers' equipment and the comings and goings of boats returning laden.
• Eat oysters in a cabin: several producers have tasting terraces in the port. L'Huître Papillon, run by an oyster-farming family since 1879, is open all year with its terrace over the Larros canal and has step-free access. Confirm the hours before going, especially in winter.
• Visit the Maison de l'Huître: the port's museum explains the oyster farmer's trade, rearing techniques and the history of the oyster, with a film, a guided tour of the rooms and a self-guided outdoor route. It has a children's area and a treasure hunt for children.

The Maison de l'Huître: hours and prices

• January to March and November to December: Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 18:00.
• April to June and September to October: Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 18:00.
• July and August: every day, Sundays included, 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:30.

The ticket office closes an hour earlier. 2026 prices: adults €6.50; children aged 5 to 14, €4.40; students, unemployed people and people with disabilities, €5.50. Eating is not allowed inside the museum.

Guided tour of the port

The Maison de l'Huître runs a commentated walk of about 1 hour 15 minutes around the port of Larros, to the quay: cabins, boatyards, traditional boats. For individuals it takes place on Wednesdays at 10:30 during the French winter, Easter and All Saints school holidays, and in July, August and September, booked at the museum or the Gujan-Mestras tourist office. In 2026 the last one of the year was on 21 October. It costs €5.50 for adults and €4 for children aged 5 to 14.

Getting there

By train, the TER Bordeaux – Arcachon stops at Gujan-Mestras and La Hume. By bike, the bay's cycle paths link Arcachon with the Gujan ports: it is one of the stretches of the bike loop around the bay, and at La Hume you have the Bee's bike hire from February to November. By car, park in the signposted areas of the port: it is a working port and the quays are for the oyster farmers.

When to go

All year: unlike the Cap Ferret cabins, in Larros there is somewhere open in winter too. The tide changes the canal through the day: check the tides. At sunset the light falls over the canal.

With children

The museum has a children's area and a treasure hunt with its booklets; children like the boats and the piles of shells.