The Basque Country, Gascony, and Hautes-Pyrénées Feature

The area around Biarritz has become Europe's hot-cool surfing center. The season kicks off big-time every summer with the Roxy Jam longboard world women's championship (usually held July 1-8 www.roxy.com). For more real action head to the coast north of Biarritz and the towns of Anglet and Hossegor. La Barre beach in the north doubles as the hangout for dedicated surfers who live out of their vans. On the southern end (by the Anglet-Biarritz border) are surf shops, snack bars, and one boulangerie. These give the main beach drag, Chambre d'Amour, a decidedly California flair. If you're coming by train, get off in Bayonne or Biarritz and transfer to a STAB bus to Anglet. The main tourist office (1 av. de la Chambre d'Amour 05-59-03-77-01 www.ville-anglet.fr) is closed off-season. Hossegor, 20 km (12 miles) north of Bayonne, hosts the Rip Curl Pro and the ASO Junior Surf Tour Championships every August as well as the ASP World Tour competition in September.