Guide to Biarritz windsurfing holidays

Biarritz is known to many as the European capital of windsurfing with peeling waves between four and six feet. With great conditions year round alongside a fabulous town with beautiful beaches – the only downside to the resort of how popular it has become. In Summer this makes it a bit of a victim of its own success, although it can still be enjoyed without the crowds in Autumn months when water temperatures are still good.

Biarritz windsurfing dates all the way back to 1957 when Peter Viertel, actress Deborah Kerr’s husband, took to the waves. It’s no surprise the resort become a windsurfing paradise given its location in the centre of Europe’s main surfing coastline with many world competitions held in the resort. It boasts nine separate windsurfing schools, so beginners can’t go wrong here.

There’s much to attract windsurfers from coves and outcrops providing scenic backdrop to the real reason everyone comes here, the waves. Despite the gulf stream the waters are still too chilly for many to venture into them sans wetsuit except the height of summer, although be aware the resort suffers from frequent showers even in the summer.

The town itself was once France’s premier resort, but faded considerably prior to becoming a Mecca for water sports. Its old charm wasn’t lost however and you can take a break from the water in its many chic cafés, casinos and shops in splendid architecture – much of it from the Belle Époque period.

In addition to the famous coastal surfing many venture to nearby Anglet for estuary and river windsurfing, but sadly the river is somewhat polluted. Easily reachable is Hossegor which offers coastal and lake windsurfing.