Finding sporting paradise in the Aquitaine region of France
To celebrate two of our villas based in south west France, Les Lilas and La Vallée, we have delved into are archive to bring you a post originally from 2014 about the great water sports you can find in the region.
Les Lilas is in Salies-de-Béarn, about 45 minutes from Biarritz. More information can be found here: https://www.vintagetravel.co.uk/villa_details.cfm?p_id=561
More information can be found on La Vallée here: https://www.vintagetravel.co.uk/villa_details.cfm?p_id=555
When people think of top quality surfing in south west France, Biarritz, the European mecca for surfing, immediately springs to mind. Travel 20 kilometres to the north of Biarritz to the beaches around Hossegor you’ll find more surfing action. With year-round swells battering the coastline, Hossegor is home to the origins of European surfing.
It is the Aquitaine Coast which is responsible for the surfing paradise this region of France has become notorious for. This 250 kilometre-stretch of coast is Europe’s biggest beach of fine sand, reaching all the way from the Spanish/French border to Bordeaux.
The foaming waters of the French Bay of Biscay have produced some of the best surfers in Europe. Whilst Biarritz attracts a year-round throng of tourists and is one of the most famous surfing towns in Europe, Hossegor is the epicentre for all things to do with surfing on the French Atlantic coast, including the wild parties and nightlife.
Hossegor is on the World Championship rostra and one of the annual tournaments usually takes place here in October.
There is of course plenty to do in the Aquitaine region other than surfing, particularly for sports enthusiasts. This vast coastline is home to many characterful and picturesque seaside resorts and boating harbours. With a huge network of cycling tracks meandering alongside the coast, this stunning coastal stretch is also hugely popular among cyclists as well as surfers.
In fact being home to the largest forest in France, the unrivalled countryside of the Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne departments, and dotted with medieval castles, Aquitaine is one of the most diverse regions of France.
This sporty region is also a popular haunt for golfers. Golf has been played in Aquitaine for more than 150 years. There are several stylish golf clubs in Aquitaine, which offer much more than just a round of golf. Exclusive bars, restaurants and shops are a typical feature of the golf clubs of Aquitaine and at the Golf du Médoc, there is even an impressive selection of fine wines available!
Whatever your sport is, it’s likely that you’ll be able to get your sporting fix in the diverse and active lands of Aquitaine.