Feeling lucky? To spice up your Arcachon vacation, head for the casino! But once you’ve hit the jackpot, before you fly off to the Bahamas, take the time to explore the Bay of Arcachon, which is also full of hidden treasures.
The casino, a place dedicated to pleasure and relaxation
The Casino d’Arcachon, which has stood on the beachfront between the walls of the majestic Château Deganne since 1903, is a veritable hub of leisure and entertainment, open 7 days a week. The casino is no longer a place of perdition where you can easily lose your shirt. Today, you can come simply to enjoy a show, dine in a restaurant or, of course, try your luck at the games.
In the games room, it’s up to you to break the bank!
You don’t have to be as rich as Croesus to have fun at the casino. Customers can play for as little as one euro cent on a slot machine, and as little as one euro at the gaming tables. With no fewer than 70 slot machines, 25 electronic gaming stations and classic game tables such as blackjack, English roulette and poker, there’s something for everyone. “Place your bets, nothing goes wrong!
How to win at the casino
- Choose your games wisely: table games like blackjack offer better odds than slot machines.
- Set yourself a budget: as a rule of thumb, only bet what you’re prepared to lose.
- Know when to leave: leave the table when you’re on a winning streak, without giving in to the temptation to keep going.
O’Deganne restaurant
For gourmets, chef Laurent Vogel runs the O’Deganne restaurant on the second floor of the château. The cuisine focuses on local produce, and the menu evolves with the seasons. From homemade burgers to salmon carpaccio and rosemary-roasted filet mignon, there’s something for every taste and appetite.
In addition to gaming and excellent cuisine, the Casino d’Arcachon organizes numerous cultural and artistic events, such as shows, art exhibitions, dinner concerts and theme evenings. For tourists on vacation in Arcachon, it’s a place of complete relaxation and entertainment.
Focus on Château Deganne
Located on the seafront in the heart of Arcachon town center , the Château Deganne has been the setting for the Partouche casino for over a hundred years. It also houses the town’s Palais des Congrès. Built in 1853 by Adalbert Deganne, future mayor of Arcachon, the château is inspired by the neo-Renaissance style. It is modelled on the Château de Boursault, nicknamed “the pearl of the Marne Valley”, near Épernay in Champagne.
In its heyday, the château welcomed illustrious guests such as Adolphe Thiers and Marshal de Mac Mahon. Its salons housed an important collection of paintings, mainly acquired at the Paris and Bordeaux Salons . In 1859, Deganne made a bold gesture by offering his château to Napoleon III, but the Emperor politely declined, deeming the property too costly to maintain.
After the death of Adalbert Deganne, who had no descendants, the château was transformed into a casino in 1903. Requisitioned by the Germans during the Second World War, the “Casino de la Plage” was turned into barracks and suffered heavy destruction. Restored after the war, it once again became a popular venue for games and social events, attracting numerous celebrities to Arcachon.
The story of the (late) Mauresque casino
In the mid-19th century, Arcachon already boasted a casino on the heights of the Ville d’Hiver: the Casino Mauresque. Inaugurated in 1863 under Napoleon III, this architectural jewel of the Belle Époque was sadly destroyed by a (mysterious) fire on the night of January 17-18, 1977.
Designed by Paul Régnauld, it’s a veritable palace of a thousand and one nights, spread over five levels. Its architecture and decoration were inspired by the Arab-Muslim style in vogue at the time, a blend of Granada’s Alhambra and Cordoba’s mosque. The only surviving reminder of the old casino is a scale model on display next to the elevator that provides access to the Moorish Park and the Winter City.
The first floor housed cafés and gaming circles. The second floor housed a sumptuous auditorium, a music salon, reading rooms and a library. The Moorish park surrounding the casino housed a bandstand and an open-air theater, the San Carlino, where classical music concerts and shows were held.
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