Biarritz Surf School La Cote des Basques : Ocean Adventure

An exceptional living environment, a wide variety of restaurants and specialities, numerous shops and surfing make Biarritz an atypical and trendy town. Over the centuries, Biarritz has been known as a whaling port (the Basques are crazy!), a holiday resort for world leaders from Napoleon to the Russian Tsars, and finally as the surfing capital of Europe. With its fine sandy beaches, small fishing port and superb islets that face the fury of stormy oceans, the town offers a wide range of activities and great cultural outings.

Biarritz, for surfers A holiday resort for Europe's crowned leaders in the 19th century, Biarritz now welcomes surfing enthusiasts with its many surf spots. From the cliffs overlooking the Rocher de la Vierge, the view of the Bay of Biscay is breathtaking. When visiting the Basque Country, the towns and sites to visit are of course Biarritz, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the top of La Rhune and the Musée de la Mer, now known as the Biarritz Aquarium... Inland, several typical Basque villages are listed among the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’, including Sare, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, La Bastide-Clairence and Ainhoa. The furthest south and furthest from the coast is Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Whether it's for surfing, a holiday in the sun or just for fun, you can quickly do the rounds of the region in a few days, but the gentle way of life and the expressions of this lively nature lead us to a certain languorous poetry made up of strolls and detours. Here we like to waste our time alone, with family or friends 😉

There are plenty of events not to be missed on the Biarritz Tourism website, but generally speaking there's a great atmosphere: - On the côte des Basques beach: at the Carlos, on the low wall or at the top of the cliff at Etxola Bibi. - The main beach in general and the beach bar in particular. - Ilbarritz beach and the Blue Cargo. - The Halles district and Bar Jean in particular. - At the Atabal concert hall, near the station.

If you want to enjoy Basque beaches and mild temperatures, summer is undoubtedly the best time to visit the Basque Country. Near the Basque Coast, in the south Situated between the Grande Plage and the Plage de Marbella, with the Rocher de la Vierge overlooking the sea, the town centre is the place to stay in Biarritz if you want to do everything on foot. Near the main beach, to the north The Front de Mer district is located between the Biarritz lighthouse and the Casino Barrière, along the Grande Plage. A stone's throw from the sand, with an uninterrupted view of the ocean and just a stone's throw from the Hôtel du Palais de Biarritz, this area is one of the most sought-after in the city thanks to its ideal location.

The period between May and October is a good time to enjoy the beach in Biarritz.

Biarritz enjoys a temperate climate, sustained by a warm ocean current known as the Gulf stream. The water temperature varies from 12°C in winter to 23°C in summer: June, July, August and September. In winter, you surf in a 4.3mm wetsuit and in summer in boardshorts. In the off-season, in April, May and October, November, the water temperature is around 17°C. You'll be surfing with a mid-season wetsuit: 3.2mm. In terms of air temperature, at Easter or All Saints' Day, the average temperature is 15°C during the day and 10°C at night. In summer, the average temperature is 23°C during the day and 18°C at night. Beware, the Basque climate is reputed to offer the 4 seasons in a single day (or sometimes in 12 hours!).

Biarritz's six beaches offer plenty of variety. Some are perfect for swimming or surfing, others are ideal for families with young children. Here's our guide to help you choose the right beach for you and your family. And don't forget to check the tides before heading to the beach!

Plage de La Côte des Basques

Ideally located at the foot of the Villa Beltza, compared to the other beaches in Biarritz this is a spot that is naturally protected from the swell and the wind, particularly from the north. What's more, the sandbank to the north of the beach is so wide that it forms a permanent plateau and offers the best waves for beginners in the whole of Biarritz. Further to the left, the best waves will delight intermediate beginners, just as the 3rd spot further south will catch the swell better and allow advanced surfers to make more radical manoeuvres... but watch out for the locals! This beach, one of the most beautiful in Europe according to TripAdvisor users, only reveals itself like a sunken treasure from time to time, and only at low tide. During high tides, it's possible to walk more than 7kms... beaches, cliffs and the most secret places! Finally, let's face it, it's a spot with gentle waves loved by families, children and especially girls. It attracts a young population who have always enjoyed frequenting the trendy bars lining the jetty. Rdv à la murette for sunbathing and drinking and a moscow mule!

Le Grande Plage

The central beach close to the town centre is the Grande Plage. This is the beach most often shown in photos of Biarritz and where the famous and not so famous come to swim, relax and pose in the heart of this seaside resort. But thanks to the big waves rolling in from the Atlantic Ocean, it's also considered one of Europe's finest surfing beaches. The waves can be enormous! The Grande Plage stretches from the famous Casino on the seafront to the even more famous Hôtel du Palais. This beach has everything you need for a perfect day on the sand; beach clubs for youngsters, cafés and restaurants all around and three underground car parks if you're driving. Don't forget that the beach is even busier on the high seas! Sometimes the swimming and surfing areas are moved around depending on the state of the tides and how busy the beach is. Incidentally, it wasn't always known as the Grande Plage. It was originally known as the Plage des Fous due to the carefree nature of the first bathers diving into the giant waves and then the Plage de l'Impératrice in honour of Empress Eugénie (this was in the mid-19th century when she was the wife of Napoleon III) for whom the Hôtel du Palais was built.

Miramar beach

Miramar beach is really a continuation of the Grande Plage after the Hôtel du Palais - perhaps a little less populated because it's a little further on foot! Surfing is not permitted here, although bodyboarding is. The currents can be dangerous, taking the unwary out to sea when the sea is rough and the tides are high. There are also rocks on this beach. Lifeguards are on duty from the end of June to the end of August. That said, it's a charming and generally less crowded beach for a quiet swim and sunbathing. It is frequented by many people who like the atmosphere of the main seafront but not the crowds. Some say the sand is softer than on the Grande Plage. Please note that you are not allowed to swim to the large rock known as Roche Ronde just off the coast, as this is a bird sanctuary. You are also not allowed to go to Plage Bernain further up the coast due to the risk of falling rocks.

Plage Port Vieux

Port Vieux beach is to the south of the Grande Plage, and as its name suggests, it's right next to the Port Vieux or Vieux Port de Biarritz. This small beach is set in a rocky cove that shelters it from the wind and big waves. This means it's not great for surfing - but it is perfect for people with young children. It's definitely a family beach. Port Vieux beach is actually popular all year round with locals. There are swimming and diving clubs on the beach, as well as cafés and restaurants nearby. Lifeguards are on duty from mid-June to early September.

Marbella beach

Marbella beach is essentially a continuation of the Côte des Basques beach. It is an attractive beach and has a slightly wilder feel than the neighbouring beaches. The setting and waves make it perfect for surfing or relaxing. Although due to the difficult access down the steps and through the rocks, it is not ideal for people with reduced mobility. Lifeguards are on hand from June to August and there is a café/restaurant on the beach.

Plage La Milady

This is a large beach that is particularly popular with locals - perhaps because it is generally less crowded than some of the others and the fact that there is plenty of free parking nearby. There's also a lovely promenade around the beach and a children's play area, as well as a café. All in all, it's a great beach and a Biarritz beach often overlooked by tourists.

The beach on the Basque coast is protected from the northerly wind, offering more surfing opportunities than elsewhere. Conditions are best between 2 and 4 hours before and after low tide. Why is this? Safety when getting in and out of the water Quite simply because from mid-tide onwards there is no beach and you have to climb up concrete steps to get out of the water, which are often slippery and hit by the swell... which exposes you to the risk of equipment breakage and, above all, injury. Surfing conditions Beginners like soft waves, which have already broken and are commonly referred to as ‘mousses’, because they have a foothold and can work on the first stage of their initiation: straightening up on the board. What impact do tidal coefficients and high tides have on waves? Tidal coefficients have nothing to do with wave quality; they are simply linked to tidal phenomena and their amplitude. However, the tides do affect the way the waves break on the sandbanks, making the moment when the tide is ideal for surfing conditions and the balance between wind, swell and sandbanks more fleeting.

The Basque coast is often subject to thermal winds. In the morning, as the land is warmer than the sea, an offshore wind blows towards the sea and the waves, smoothing out the water and making for nicer waves. In the afternoon, on the other hand, the water heats up and an on-shore wind blows behind the waves, crushing them and increasing the ripples on the water: the chop. Squalls, or brouillarta in Basque, and ocean storms also cause this onshore wind, unless a high-pressure system reverses the phenomenon. This produces strong swells and perfect big wave surfing conditions.

A surfer generally prefers a 50cm wave that's fast and hollow to a 1.50m wave that's soft and degraded by the wind. If you're a beginner, avoid waves over a metre long. A slightly soft 50cm to 1m is perfect for getting control of the board and successfully righting yourself on the board and then in the wave.

Kids from the Basque coast in the 50s, in 57 to be precise, the future ‘Tontons Surfers’, discovered the pleasure of riding the waves on this beach overlooked by the prestigious residence ‘La Villa Belza’. Surfing was born on the Basque coast...

In 1958, Georges Hennebutte, one of the famous ‘tontons surfeurs’, decided to connect the board to the surfer. But he didn't apply for a patent, just a Soleau envelope for his device, which he called the ‘fil à la patte’.

It's an adventure set in and around Biarritz, a story that brings together characters as diverse as Ernest Hemingway and Sosthène Larcebeau, Deborah Kerr and Jo Moraïz, Arnaud de Rosnay and Catherine Deneuve, Darryl Zanuck and Michel Barland. It was Peter Viertel, scriptwriter for Orson Welles, John Huston and Alfred Hitchcock, who introduced the first ‘real’ surfboard in 1956. Now living in Marbella, Spain, Peter tells us about the early days and how his board introduced all the local sportsmen to the sport of the Hawaiian kings, known today as the ‘tontons surfers’: Georges Hennebutte, Michel Barland, Henri Etchepare, Jacky Rott, Jean Brana, Bruno Reinhardt, Pierre Laharrague, Joël de Rosnay, Jo Moraïz, André Plumcocq, Claude Durcudoy, Paul Pondepeyre, Robert Bergeruc. .. Michel Barland and Jacky Rott were the first to make them, but their methods and resources were more than empirical! ...

There's no greater pleasure than surfing and chilling out on the beach while waiting to surf again! However, surfing isn't like tennis - you need the right conditions. Most of Biarritz's surf spots can be surfed at low tide or mid-tide, except for one, at Ilbarritz. Click here for a map of the spots and tide times... see tide times.

Nicolas Mercadieu takes us through the different topographies of the best-known beaches on the Atlantic coast. As a general rule, he recommends learning to surf in Biarritz in summer, as it catches the smaller swells better, unlike Hendaye, which is a protected spot and therefore accessible in medium and large swells. An ideal spot for beginners out of season. As for Hossegor, and the Landes in general, it's more for those who are no longer beginners: the waves are more powerful than on the previous spots and more subject to baïnes and strong currents.see the comparison between Biarritz, Hendaye and Hossegor