A63 autoroute
Encyclopedia
The A63 autoroute is a motorway in southwest France
. It is made up of two sections; the northern one is toll-free, connecting Bordeaux
(from Junction 15 of the Rocade
) with Belin-Béliet
. The southern section is operated by ASF and links Bordeaux
to the border with Spain
. The two sections are separated by the RN10
which crosses Les Landes (moorland) as a dual-carriageway.
The road is an important axis of communication between the French and Spanish Basque Country
.
at Biriatou
(close to Hendaye
) at the southern edge of the Landes (department). A section remains the RN10, towards Bordeaux
which it reaches at junction 15 of rocade
).
It is part of the Autoroute des Estuaires and is used by lorries from all over Europe
heading to the Iberian peninsula
. In addition, the road is connected at Bayonne
with the A64
to Pau, Tarbes
and Toulouse
.
The northern section has junctions with the A660.
Roundabout Point Gujan-Mestras Junction with RD650
Roundabout Point La Hume Junction with RN250
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is made up of two sections; the northern one is toll-free, connecting Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
(from Junction 15 of the Rocade
A630 autoroute
The A630 autoroute is a motorway in south west France. It is the périphérique for Bordeaux and forms part of the European routes E5 E70.It is 2x2 lanes but has been widened to 2x3 lanes. The road was started in 1972 and completed in 1983...
) with Belin-Béliet
Belin-Béliet
Belin-Béliet is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France.-Population:-See also:*Communes of the Gironde department*Parc naturel régional des Landes de Gascogne-References:*...
. The southern section is operated by ASF and links Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
to the border with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The two sections are separated by the RN10
Route nationale 10
Route nationale 10, or RN 10, is a trunk road in France between Paris and frontier with Spain.-Reclassification:Unlike many other Route nationales the road retains its status along the majority of its route...
which crosses Les Landes (moorland) as a dual-carriageway.
The road is an important axis of communication between the French and Spanish Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
.
Route
The A63 connects the border with SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
at Biriatou
Biriatou
Biriatou is a small village in the traditional Basque province of Labourd, now a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France....
(close to Hendaye
Hendaye
Hendaye is the most south-westerly town and commune in France, lying in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and located in the traditional province Lapurdi of the French Basque Country...
) at the southern edge of the Landes (department). A section remains the RN10, towards Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
which it reaches at junction 15 of rocade
A630 autoroute
The A630 autoroute is a motorway in south west France. It is the périphérique for Bordeaux and forms part of the European routes E5 E70.It is 2x2 lanes but has been widened to 2x3 lanes. The road was started in 1972 and completed in 1983...
).
It is part of the Autoroute des Estuaires and is used by lorries from all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
heading to the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. In addition, the road is connected at Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
with the A64
A64 autoroute
The A64 autoroute is a motorway in south western France. It is also called the La Pyrénéenne and numbered the European route E80. It is a toll road for part of its length....
to Pau, Tarbes
Tarbes
Tarbes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.It is part of the historical region of Gascony. It is the second largest metropolitan area of Midi-Pyrénées, with 110,000 inhabitants....
and Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
.
The northern section has junctions with the A660.
History
- The A63 was operated by the Autoroute Company de la Cote Basque (ACOBA) in 1984.
- The first section to open was the by-pass of Saint-Jean-de-LuzSaint-Jean-de-LuzSaint-Jean-de-Luz is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.Saint-Jean-de-Luz is part of the province Basque of Labourd and the Basque Eurocity Bayonne - San Sebastian .-Geography:...
in 1972. - ACOBA was integrated into the ASF.
Junctions
Exchange A630-A63 Junction with the A630A630 autorouteThe A630 autoroute is a motorway in south west France. It is the périphérique for Bordeaux and forms part of the European routes E5 E70.It is 2x2 lanes but has been widened to 2x3 lanes. The road was started in 1972 and completed in 1983...
Rocade de Bordeaux to BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, ToulouseToulouseToulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
and ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
26 (Gradignan) km 205 Towns served: GradignanGradignanGradignan is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France.It is a suburb of the city of Bordeaux and is located on its southwest side...- 26b (Canéjan) km 205 Towns served: CanéjanCanéjanCanéjan is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.- Geography :Canéjan is located 11.4 km southwest of Bordeaux...
- 25 (Cestas) km 201 Towns served: CestasCestasCestas is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
Service Area: km 197 Bordeaux-Cestas
- 24 (Pierroton) km 195 Towns served: Pierroton
Rest Area: Les Gargails
- 23 (Marcheprime) km 186 Towns served: Marcheprime
- Exchange A63-A660 km 182 Junction with the A660 spur to Bassin d'Arcachon
- 21 (Salles) km 121 Towns served: Salles
- Rest Area: km 168 Lugos
- 20 (Belin-Béliet) km 161 Towns served: Belin
- Exchange A63-RN10 Autoroute becomes the RN10
- Exchange A63-RN10 (St-Geours-de-Maremne) Autoroute recommences.
- Rest Area: km 59 Saubion
Péage de Bénesse-Maremne km 50- 08 (Bénesse-Maremne) km 50 Towns served: Bénesse
- Service Area km 45 Labenne
- 07 (Ondres) km 40 Towns served: Ondres
- 06 (Bayonne-nord) km 34 Towns served: BayonneBayonneBayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
- 05a (Bayonne-Mousserolles) km 31 Towns served: BayonneBayonneBayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
- 05 (Bayonne-sud) km 27 Towns served: BayonneBayonneBayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, BiarritzBiarritzBiarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers.... - Péage de Biarritz-La Négresse
- 04 (Biarritz-La Négresse) km 22 Towns served: BiarritzBiarritzBiarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
- Service Area: Bidart
- 03 (St-Jean-de-Luz-nord) km 12.5 Towns served: Saint-Jean-de-LuzSaint-Jean-de-LuzSaint-Jean-de-Luz is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.Saint-Jean-de-Luz is part of the province Basque of Labourd and the Basque Eurocity Bayonne - San Sebastian .-Geography:...
- Rest Area: Urrugne
- Péage de Biriatou
- 01 (Biriatou) km 1 Towns served: BiriatouBiriatouBiriatou is a small village in the traditional Basque province of Labourd, now a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France....
- Frontier with
Spain where road becomes the AP-8Autopista AP-8The Autopista AP-8 is a highway in the north of Spain and crosses the Basque Country from east to west. It is known as the Autopista del Cantábrico and connects the French Border with Bilbao...
- Frontier with
A660
- Exchange A63-A660 Junction with the A63
- 01 (Lacanau de Mios) km 2 Towns served:
- 02 (Facture-Biganos) km 4 Towns served:
- 03 (Le Teich) km 10 Towns served:
Roundabout Point Gujan-Mestras Junction with RD650
Roundabout Point La Hume Junction with RN250
Future
- The southern section will be widened to three lanes over the next few years.
- It is planned to upgrade the RN10 across the Landes.
- The northern section would become part of a new ring road for Bordeaux. This however is a controversial road project.