THE (FRENCH) BASQUE COAST is known as the birthplace of surfing in Europe, and has become a favourite destination among ocean-lovers and city-dwellers in search of nature and getting away from it all. An elegant seaside town, Biarritz is famous for its casino overlooking the sandy Grande Plage, luxury hotels and spas which have built its renown. Substantial properties and family residences rub shoulders with more contemporary villas, all opening out to the ocean. Hossegor and Saint-Jean-de-Luz have become haunts for surfers and sports enthusiasts, fond of holidays combining beaches with mountains. The Atlantic Ocean and its tides sketch out the Basque Coast, providing its specific character with steep cliffs and large sandy beaches lapped by the marine currents of Les Landes.