Gujan-Mestras

Gujan-Mestras (French pronunciation: [ɡyʒɑ̃ mɛstʁas]; Occitan: Gujan e Mestràs) is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France. It is twinned with Santa María de Cayón, Spain

Population

Geography

Gujan-Mestras is located in the southern part of the Arcachon bay. It is considered a major regional center for oyster farming, and is home to seven ports, which are from west to east:

• The Port of La Hume which focuses both on oyster farming and yachting,
• The Port of Meyran,
• The Port of Gujan,
• The Port of Larros which offers a promenade pier and is an active center for shipbuilding,
• The Port of the Canal,
• The Port of La Barbotière, a major oyster farming center close to the Technical High School for Maritime Science and Technologies
• The Port of La Mole which has neither been dredged nor used due to its difficult topography. From the former windmill bordering the port, only a millstone has withstood time. It gave its name to the Port of La Mole, “mole” meaning millstone in Gascon.

Neighbouring communes

Gujan-Mestras is surrounded by three communes. It is west of Le Teich, east of La Teste-de-Buch and north of Sanguinet.

Transports

The TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine from Arcachon to Bordeaux has two stops in Gujan-Mestras (respectively named La Hume and Gujan-Mestras). The city is otherwise served by lines 4 to 7 of the Baïa bus network, the local public transport system of the Arcachon Bay which links the Dune of Pilat to Facture-Biganos. Nearest airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, around 50 km away.

Twin towns – sister cities

• Santa María de Cayón, Spain, autonomous community Cantabria

See also

• Communes of the Gironde department

References