Casino

You are now standing before the majestic Château Deganne, which today houses the Arcachon casino. This remarkable neo-Renaissance building was erected in 1853 by Adalbert Deganne, future mayor of the town and a key figure in Arcachon’s development. Deganne, a wealthy businessman from the Marne region, modelled the château on the Château de Boursault in Champagne as a tribute to a youthful love he could not marry due to their social differences. Having later amassed a fortune, he even wished to offer it to Emperor Napoleon III during the latter’s 1859 visit to Arcachon, but the emperor declined due to the upkeep costs. The château became the setting for lavish receptions, where Deganne welcomed some of the era’s most prestigious guests, including Adolphe Thiers in 1875 and Marshal de Mac Mahon, President of the Republic, in 1877. Its grand salons also housed an impressive art collection acquired at the Salons of Paris and Bordeaux. When Deganne died in 1902 without heirs, the château was sold in 1903 and converted into a casino, marking the beginning of its enduring vocation as a venue for entertainment. Requisitioned and damaged during the Second World War, it was restored afterward to resume its role as a place for gaming and shows. The history of Arcachon’s casinos is also linked to the old Casino Mauresque, a magnificent Moorish-style building inaugurated in 1863 in the Ville d’Hiver by the Pereire brothers. With its oriental domes and décor inspired by the Alhambra, it was a symbol of Arcachon’s Belle Époque splendour. Sadly, this jewel of entertainment was destroyed in a mysterious fire during the night of 17–18 January 1977, leaving the Château Deganne as the town’s sole casino. Managed by the Partouche Group since 2002, the casino now offers seventy-five slot machines, classic games such as roulette and blackjack, and the fine-dining restaurant O’Deganne. Open seven days a week, it carries on the tradition of aristocratic entertainment while embracing modern leisure, hosting concerts, shows, and sports screenings in this exceptional historic setting by the seafront.