The history of the Pasteur campsite in Arès
Camping Pasteur in Arès, nestled in the heart of the Arcachon Basin, is the fruit of a fine family history that began in the late 1950s. It was then that the first summer visitors arrived in 2CVs, 4CVs or scooters to enjoy the freedom, sunshine and fresh air of Arès. In search of simplicity, they gathered around campfires on the beach, at a time when wild camping was still allowed. The reception of campers then evolved with the creation of this campsite in Arès, offering comfort and conviviality. If you’d like to discover our campsite on the Arcachon basin, you can explore the history and spirit of our campsite through the generations that have shaped it.
Camping Pasteur: a long and proud family history
It began in the late 1950s, with summer visitors arriving from all over France in 2CVs, 4CVs and scooters, with rolled-up Canadian tents and small camping-gases. They came in search of freedom, sunshine and the pure air of Arès, already famous for its aerial baths.
It was a time when wild camping was authorized, and it was not uncommon to see large campfires on the beach in the evening.
But some of them already wanted a minimum of comfort, and liked to get together with other campers, to share the happy vacations at the start of the paid vacations.
They would then go to the town hall, to the small office of the Syndicat d’Initiatives with the same question: “Where can we camp?” They would then be sent to the homes of individuals willing to take them in, and grant them a pitch: demand would create supply!
A plot perfectly located on the Arcachon basin
Lucie and Armand Ducamin-Coq, the grandparents of Jean-Marie, the current owner, owned this wooded plot of land, conveniently located not far from the Arcachon basin, and just a stone’s throw from the town center and shops. Le Pasteur was the first campsite created by oyster farmers.
Far from the big machines, it was conviviality and sharing that prevailed here: Lucie played cards with the campers, and large tables shared the Sunday poulet-frites with all the tourists, before the pétanque games…
Later, Jean-Marie’s mother, Colette, came to help out, and in turn, ran the business.
Jean, her husband, an oyster farmer, never hesitated to take whole families on board to let them discover his trade and the Bassin for the duration of a tide…
A long-standing family tradition
It is in this spirit that Jean-Marie continues the story, maintaining the values of authenticity in the purest family tradition and adding his commitment to sustainable tourism in the Arcachon basin.
Of course, the range of services and activities on offer at Arès has changed dramatically: swimming pools, playgrounds, snack bars, bike and mobile home rentals, and so on. But there’s still a whiff of the good old days in the trees.
And the next generation is assured: Jean-Baptiste, Jean-Marie’s son, now a member of the French sailing team, will take over the helm of the campsite once his career as a top-level sportsman is over, to keep the family saga going…
find out more
