The Basque Coast
The Basque Coast, 35 kilometres of beautiful scenery…
The Basque Coast stretches from the south of the Adour to the Pyrenees and is a succession of magnificent cliffs (up to 50m high) and prestigious seaside resorts : Anglet, Biarritz, Bidart, Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye…
On the coast, 10km south-west of Bayonne is Biarritz, a well-known, chic resort and jewel of Pays Basque. Enjoy the beauty of this seaside town as you walk along its beaches and pier to the famous Rocher de la Vierge, the emblem of the town, with Biarritz lighthouse in the distance.
Further south, not far from Biarritz the family seaside resort of Bidart has one of the longest stretches of coastline (5km) with 6 fine sandy beaches : Uhabia, Plage du Centre, Plage Parlementia, Plage d’Erretegia, Plage du Pavillon Royal and the very ‘discreet’ Plage des Cent Marches…
Continuing along the coast towards Spain, you come to Guéthary, famous for whale fishing in days gone by. Today the village has become a meeting place for surfers from around the world, for its beaches and their ‘avalanche’ waves. This surf spot is very popular with longboard fans.
The main beach in Saint-Jean-de-Luz is ideal for families as it is protected from the waves by 3 breakwaters and lifeguards are present from mid-May to the end of September. In summer, Plage de Socoa beach can be reached by passenger ferry from the Digue aux Chevaux.
In the far south on the Spanish border, Hendaye has wide beaches bordered with rock pools where youngsters can fish for crabs and little waves which are ideal for surfing beginners.
There are so many things to do along this wonderful coastline : walks along sea fronts and coastal footpaths, water sports, surfing, fishing, golf, not forgetting the traditional sports which are found throughout Pays Basque : rugby and pelota.
