Surf Culture & Côte des Basques

Biarritz is the birthplace of European surfing — the Côte des Basques beach is where American screenwriter Peter Viertel first surfed in France in 1957, introducing a sport that transformed this fading aristocratic resort into the surf capital of Europe. The beach's long, consistent left-hand break, framed by cliffs and the Basque coastline stretching south to Spain, is the most scenic surf spot in France.