Stable attendance in Lacanau, drop in bookings in Soulac... So how are these All Saints' Day holidays in the Médoc?
At All Saints' Day, the Médoc coast returns to a calmer pace, but still attracts a family clientele. While Lacanau fares a little better than Soulac, the entire coast remains subject to unpredictable weather.
After the summer, the postcard sent to the grandparents has two fates. It can end up tucked away in a desk drawer—or, by chance, on the mantelpiece—or, more rarely, come to life. "We're back! We were already here this summer, at camp," smile Elsa and Jules, caps screwed on and memories full of their heads. A few months later and a few centimeters gained, the two children have become almost regulars of Lacanau and its beaches. After surfing lessons, bike rides, ice creams, and sunsets in the summer, they return as a family for the All Saints' Day holidays, with their grandparents.
"We wanted to extend the summer a little, to share with them what they told us. And we're not very far away," confide their grandparents, retirees living in Le Bouscat. Despite the frankly unpredictable weather, the couple rented an apartment near the lake. "We're not spoiled, it's part of All Saints' Day. We're chasing the clear spells," the grandparents smile.
Like them, many families are taking advantage of this "off-season" to relax on the Médoc coast. Behind the beaches, at the Airotel campsite in Lacanau, for example, the occupancy rate reached 60% over these two weeks of vacation. A "very good score" for an off-season period. "Our asset is the indoor pool, which allows us to welcome people whatever the weather. And we are one of the few establishments still open," observes Claire Dibon, marketing manager. The campsite is focusing on family activities: "It's a different clientele than in the summer, calmer, more family-oriented, with lots of children and teenagers."
In the resort's quieter streets, the atmosphere is clearly nothing like it was in August. There are no mosaics of multicolored towels on the beach, nor queues in front of ice cream parlors. "It's really the weather that dictates everything," sighs a shopkeeper. "At this time of year, it's mainly people from Bordeaux who come for the day. And for them to come, you need a minimum of sunshine." A little further on, a restaurant owner confirms: "We're back with our regular customers, the ones we've been around for the year."
20 to 23% occupancyAccording to the Médoc Atlantique Tourist Office, occupancy rates are generally stable compared to All Saints' Day 2024. But this year, a difference is widening between the north and south of the Médoc. "Last year, Soulac and Lacanau posted similar figures, around 20 to 23%. This time, Soulac is a little behind," observes Emmeline Azra, head of the tourist attraction division. In Lacanau, the rate climbs to 26%, compared to 15 to 18% occupancy in Soulac over these two weeks of vacation.
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"We have far fewer last-minute bookings than in the summer, but we remain extremely weather-dependent," the manager acknowledges. Visitors, mostly French, with a few Belgians and Germans, are primarily looking for simple, free, and hassle-free activities. "Walks in city centers, nature trails, and castle visits are all very popular," notes Emmeline Azra.
