the Saint-Jean-de-Luz air show offers one of the very last aviation attractions of the season the traditional Saint-Jean-de-Luz air show will be held on October 13 from 2 pm to 6 pm – and spectators will be able to see the show from the town’s famous bay there will be plenty of activities set up along the famous Promenade Jacques Thibaud including the French Air and Space Force’s exhibition vehicle recruitment stands for the various French armed forces (the Air and Space Force for future Rafale pilots the most prestigious ambassadors of the French Air Force will be on the scene with demonstrations by paratroopers from Bayonne’s 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (RPIMa) and the French Air and Space Force’s aerobatics team There will also be a simulated sea rescue featuring a helicopter from the Air Gendarmerie and the local French Sea Rescue Organization (SNSM) teams Not to mention demonstrations of the Eurocopter EC120 Colibri and the famous Alpha Jets of the Patrouille de France The perfect way to end the season on a high note We will remember your choice for a period of one year. 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You can find our detailed Cookies Policy here The Website and our partners use "required only" cookies in order to improve your browsing by securing your use of the Website and by optimizing its operation These cookies do not involve obtaining your consent This cookie is used by the "GDPR Cookie Consent" cookie management module to store the user’s cookie consent status This cookie is used by the "Dassault Mag" module to keep the "Dassault Mag" area user session open This cookie is used by the "Incapsula" firewall technical solution to help ensure the security of your use of the Website This cookie is used by the "Incapsula" firewall technical solution to balance the server load This cookie is used by AT Internet / Piano Analytics to store the visitor’s anonymous ID which is initiated upon the first visit to the website This cookie is used by AT Internet / Piano Analytics to store information about the tracking context This cookie is used by AT Internet / Piano Analytics to save the visitor privacy mode This cookie is used by Google reCaptcha to display personalized ads on Google sites based on recent searches and previous interactions.Cookies directly implemented by Google and not configurable by Dassault Aviation This cookie is used by Google reCaptcha to provide information about the way in which the end user uses the website and about every ad that the end user was able to see before visiting said website.Cookies directly implemented by Google and not configurable by Dassault Aviation This cookie is used by Google reCaptcha to display personalized ads on Google sites based on recent searches and previous interactions.Cookies directly implemented by Google and not configurable by Dassault Aviation This cookie is used by Google reCaptcha to prevent or discourage the sending of spam by users or spambots.Cookies directly implemented by Google and not configurable by Dassault Aviation This cookie is used by Google reCaptcha to store user preferences regarding cookies.Cookies directly implemented by Google and not configurable by Dassault Aviation The Website and our partners use “not required” cookies for collecting statistics on the use of the Website required for the operation of the “SiteImprove” tool These cookies involve obtaining your prior consent This cookie is used by SiteImprove to balance the server load This cookie is used by SiteImprove to collect statistics about Site usage Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience From surfing the restaurant scene of Biarritz to indulging in the untamed flavors of Haute-Soule the Basque Country's restaurants are a treat for the taste buds Here's where to go for a foodie journey inspired by the all-new MICHELIN Guide 2025 selection with a newly awarded Two-Star restaurant and an exceptional terroir.Hero Image: © Lore Ttipia In a region where diners are already spoiled for choice with lots of Basque Country restaurants worth adding to checklists young restaurateurs are embracing the Basque Country's increasingly glamorous It's hard to resist the combination of stunning nature (both the coast and the mainland) and the influence of the Spanish dining culture of sharing plates The MICHELIN Guide France 2025 has bolstered its selection with a substantial number of new restaurants in the Basque Country over the course of an itinerary where travel meets finger-licking food where Chef Guillaume Roget's exceptional sauces and jus are particularly noteworthy where the pairing of Brice Goeuriot and Margaux Le Baillif gets creative in the kitchen giving pride of place to plants and aromatic herbs in addition to the lovely view from the terrace serves delicious food jazzed up by creative flourishes Chef Xavier Isabal prepares tasty (and hearty!) Basque cuisine which is served up in a relaxed atmosphere which was awarded One Star in this year's 2025 MICHELIN Guide selection One of the emblematic peaks of the Basque Country, Mt Baigoura can be reached by a small train, which transports you and your mountain bike or paraglider; alternatively, follow the wonderful hiking trail. From the summit, you can enjoy an exceptional 360° panoramic view over Lower Navarre, the Basque Coast and the Pyrenees On the way back down to the plain, it is well worth stopping off at Irouléguy to taste the wines of the only vineyard in the French Basque Country. Your best bet for lunch is Jarapea (Bib Gourmand 2025) where Chef Michel Moutroustéguy and his Chilean partner concoct market-fresh cuisine featuring seasonal local ingredients The post-prandial stroll takes in vineyards on one side and grazing Manech Tête Noire ewes on the other Their milk is used to make Ossau-Iraty cheese now run by the fourth generation of the same family where you can recharge your batteries with comforting food From listening bars to neighbourhood restaurants explore all the top recommendations from Chishuru’s Adejoké Bakare One of the most prominent chefs serving Indian cuisine talks India and his New York Update your must-visit list with The MICHELIN Guide’s new London restaurants the best hotel rooftops are a go-to when you touch down What the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors Saw in 2025 The Mexican capital takes center stage alongside the culinary world's top talents From Texas Barbecue to Mexico City's cutting-edge dining these new MICHELIN Guide hot spots promise unforgettable vacations and world-class cuisine These are the best lake vacations for a summer break from Lake Tahoe in the US to Lake Como in Switzerland and the MICHELIN-recommended restaurants and bolt holes to bed down in when you visit where do fashion’s biggest names retreat for a bite and a bed We imagine the post-Gala sanctuaries of the chicest attendees these iconic chefs mentor professional chefs who have an ego Who knew brisket and biscuits could be so good From tartan fabrics and stag antler furnishings to rare Scotch whiskies and castle views you'll have no doubt which country you're in when staying at these Michelin-Key hotels she has championed America’s farm-to-table movement for 54 years The self-proclaimed “unofficial talent scout” shares his local favorites from the city he calls home Sustainability is more than a buzzword—it’s a core value embraced by some of North America’s most design-forward hotels Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels and an exceptional terroir.Hero Image: \u00a9 Lore Ttipia In a region where diners are already spoiled for choice with lots of Basque Country restaurants worth adding to checklists One of the emblematic peaks of the Basque Country, Mt Baigoura can be reached by a small train, which transports you and your mountain bike or paraglider; alternatively, follow the wonderful hiking trail. From the summit, you can enjoy an exceptional 360\u00b0 panoramic view over Lower Navarre, the Basque Coast and the Pyrenees On the way back down to the plain, it is well worth stopping off at Iroul\u00e9guy to taste the wines of the only vineyard in the French Basque Country. Your best bet for lunch is Jarapea (Bib Gourmand 2025) where Chef Michel Moutroust\u00e9guy and his Chilean partner concoct market-fresh cuisine featuring seasonal local ingredients and grazing Manech T\u00eate Noire ewes on the other which has six book presentations of 20 minutes realized in the event of 2022 that it was not enough: “That’s why we made the presentation of the writer Joanes Etxeberri from Ciboure outside the day of the fair That’s why I wanted people like that too.” In 2023 they continued testing and organized two more events: Presentation of the book Ahairera de Palabras by Rafa Rueda and Obispo Barandiarán And this led them to organize the Fair in 2024: "The fair moved its boundaries in terms of scope and time we're in Baltsan for kisses and it would've been too heavy for us We are Basque speakers on the Lapurdi coast so we have to create moments where we can unite Basques strengthen the community and enjoy the Basque language.” For this reason they planned to open the fair to the surrounding villages and in last year’s edition they held four events in Urrugne “They come from those towns that we have before to the Ciboure Fair and we also had to return something to them thus confirming that people are interested since about 30 to 40 citizens have gathered at the events.” These events are organized by the Basque Life Committee of Urruñan Ikastola with the readers of Azkain and the AEK of Saint-Jean-de-Luz: “We share the same concerns.” “This year the Basque Country has advanced to May and as a result we saw that it could be confusing with the Fair That’s where the name change comes from.” And there are other changes if last year the fair of Ciboure was extended to the neighboring towns this year it has been extended to the neighboring country and an event has been organized in Navarre’s Baja Orcaz: The writer Uxue Alberdi presents the book Hetero in the bookstore Menta Arrosagarai specifies that the fair of Ciboure “We are organized by Baltsán and LUZ and publishers and people come from all over the Basque Country Irún and/or Hondarribia: we will not break the border with it which is important in order to eradicate the border that separates us in the heads of the Guineas” he says that two media outlets have been placed around an event so Basque Radio and LARA have organized a round table with Amagoia Gurrutxaga and Ximun Fuch “We would also like to keep these to work on the reflections and meaningful discussions that can take place in the environment of the Basque language and/or culture It is Basque that makes us a people and culture that makes us a living people (More about the fair:Fair time: six cultural activities at the gates of the 6th Fair of Ciboure) Where can you visit with your family in France during summer My route on ViaMichelin Is finding the perfect destination for your summer family holiday proving a real challenge Luberon and Morvan offer a wide range of activities to suit all tastes from unspoilt nature to outdoor adventures and cultural discoveries the little wild horses that inhabit the Basque Country The Thursday of the festival is children’s day and there is a real party atmosphere and lots of fun and entertainment for kids Not forgetting the picturesque trails in the lush Lozère forests Are you ready for an adventure in the Luberon Regional Nature Park This natural gem offers a host of activities for nature lovers there’s a donkey ride and a treetop adventure course Are you looking for a place for your family holiday in August Venture into a world of natural wonders in the Morvan an experienced hiker or a water sports enthusiast the Morvan offers you an unlimited playground The white waters of the Yonne and Cure rivers are a paradise for thrill-seekers with wild rafting and exhilarating canoeing The skies of the Morvan are also the realm of paragliders seeking out new views of the region’s landscapes an architectural gem nestling in the heart of the Morvan countryside And for a truly unique experience, head to the Domaine Fantastique de la Pierre Ronde in Saint Martin de la Mer You can spend the night in very unusual accommodation here: a Hobbit house See our suggestions for novel trips and must-see places to visit near your home or holiday destination tips… Our online magazine is ideal for those who know that the journey is just as important as the destination The country is large enough to still produce surprises – Roman remains you didn’t know about Basque coastBetween the glamour of Biarritz and the tuna boats and half-timbered houses of Saint-Jean-de-Luz lies a surprisingly peaceful stretch of the French Basque coast with relatively few tourists even in high summer “It’s the crashing waves of the Atlantic that save us from the invasions,” says Amaia Urruty who has been coming to Guéthary since she was a teenager the huge court for games of Basque pelota in front of the village hall that is also a venue for markets the port is remarkable today for the way its fishing boats are hauled on to dry land every day rather than left in the water The buildings are beautifully kept and typically Basque – white facades with long “It’s great for families and people who love the Basque style.” Plage des Alcyons is the best for families: rock pools become aquariums of sea urchins prawns and tiny musselsThe beaches are fantastic – long and sandy – and there are plenty of places to enjoy traditional pipérade aux oeufs (omelette with tomatoes peppers and ham from nearby Bayonne) or a panaché de fruits de mer (seafood platter) overlooking the fishing boats in the tiny port see the Spanish Basque coast,” says Urruty Plage de l’Uhabia is wider and good for swimming while Plage de Parlementia is the big one for surfers and the only beach with lifeguards all summer long Plage des Alcyons is the best one for families: at low tide the rock pools become mini aquariums of sea urchins To the south-west is Espelette, known for its red chillies seen drying on house fronts and balconies during the summer, while in neighbouring Cambo-les-Bains, Villa d’Arnaga the Basque-style museum-house of Edmond Rostand the honeypot village of Ainhoa is a 20-minute e-bike ride away but on summer Mondays the village hall organises a night-time hike – La Nocturne d’Ainhoa – to its hilltop chapel Stay Guéthary’s old village school has been converted into the three-star Hotel Balea (doubles from €79) with 28 rooms and breakfast served in the interior gardenJon Bryant Read moreThink of the ancient Romans’ legacy in France and the spectacular Pont du Gard aqueduct will probably spring to mind or perhaps the Maison Carrée temple in Nîmes or the spectacular amphitheatre at Arles with a population today much the same as it was two millennia ago – a mere 30,000 – will barely get a look in The ancient ruins are woven into the fabric of this town on the banks of the Rhône once capital of the Gallic Allobroges tribe until it was turned into a Roman colony under Julius Caesar in 47BC The ancient ruins are woven into the fabric of this town on the banks of the RhôneDogs play around the arches of the Jardin de Cybèle overlooking the Temple of Augustus and Livia Thomas Jefferson visited Vienne in 1787 and the temple is said to be the inspiration behind his design for the White House of the Confederacy in Richmond cylindrical towers sprouting like fat straws in the streets around the temple reveal the presence of traboules covered passages similar to those found in Lyon Château de la Bâtie. Photograph: Keitma/AlamyThe centuries slowly obscured much of the Roman heritage until vast mosaics were unearthed at Saint-Romain-en-Gal in 1891. Sections of the mosaic are on display at the Musée de Saint-Romain-en-Gal including a newly renovated area depicting the agricultural seasons every stripe visible on Dionysus’s tiger in one square every grape being trodden by harvest workers in the next the theatre is free to visit on the first Sunday of each month Ancient Roman mosaics in the Musée de Saint-Romain-en-Gal. Photograph: Keitma/AlamyBoutellier fused jazz and Vienne’s Roman history even further earlier this year when he opened a jazz club within the Musée de Saint-Romain-en-Gal Concerts are held every other Sunday evening The vines that run down the hillside are the Romans’ living legacy in Vienne, and Vitis Vienna is a collective of revived Roman vineyards (call any of the wineries directly to visit). I enjoy my own Crozes-Hermitage in modern surroundings, at the newly opened wine bar Ô BievVin Stay La Péniche Bed & Bicycle (doubles from €149) is one of three self-catering barges on the Rhône overlooking Vienne and its vineyards The harbour and railway at Méjean Photograph: Hemis/Alamy“I’ve never been as happy as when I was in La Redonne,” wrote Blaise Cendrars in 1927 The words of the Marseille-based writer ring true as I hike red rocks between green pines and the azure sea I’ve come to the Côte Bleue to escape the city and explore the tiny villages of this enchanting coastline The Côte Bleue unfurls along the Mediterranean north-west of Marseille it is on a more intimate scale than the vast 5,000-hectare Calanques national park to the south of city the Côte Bleue also has a chain of calanques (rocky inlets) and villages that give a glimpse of simple southern living They can now be toured on foot thanks to 18th-century smugglers and 20th-century railway engineers The Sentier des Douaniers (customs officers’ trail) was built during the French Revolution for officials (douaniers) to patrol the coastal path checking for smugglers out at sea Hikers using it today encounter a kaleidoscope of nature – verdant flora and ochre and white rocks – and an epic panorama the jagged trail offers a good cardio workout The harbour of Martigues. Photograph: clodio/Getty ImagesThe Train de la Côte Bleue is a more leisurely option it allows commuters and tourists to soak up breathtaking vistas while traversing 18 stone viaducts It’s easy to hop on and off at the old tiled stations I prefer to do this coast on a mix of trails and train I board an 8am train at Marseille’s Saint-Charles station Seats on the left side give the best view as we whiz past container ships and the red-tiled roofs that Cézanne painted in the L’Estaque neighbourhood the urban sprawl dissolves into the Mediterranean’s endless blue I hop off at the tiny port of Niolon to hike to Ensuès-La Redonne, a 4½-mile walk that takes 2½ hours (compared with the train’s six minutes). At Niolon station, the Train Inc Café sells picnic grub with a side of social impact. Beside the port, the vine-canopied terrace of seafood restaurant La Pergola is ideal for a lingering meal I have arrived in time for the Sunday market where local foodstuffs are sold beside inexpensive clothes and bric-a-bracWith the train tracks on my left weaving between fragrant pines and bursts of poppies A stone viaduct soars above the Calanque du Jonquier I take a refreshing dip at the bigger Calanque de l’Erevine The limestone cliffs give way to rocks in 50 shades of ochre as I descend into Méjean via a natural staircase passing people playing a game of Provençal pétanque Lined with old cabanons (fishers’ cottages) the tiny harbour is dwarfed by a towering viaduct the casual Mange Tout restaurant fries up thousands of whitebait daily to the delight of locals and tourists The rest of the route to Ensuès-la-Redonne is a paved road which is less picturesque but easier on the feet it is a quick ride to the popular seaside town of Sausset-les-Pins it now has a lovely harbour filled with pleasure boats where local foodstuffs are sold beside inexpensive clothes and bric-a-brac I pick up a Provençal olive-studded fougasse bread and head along the coastal boardwalk for a nap at Plage du Petit Nid Calanque de l’Erevine Photograph: AlamyThe last stop on the Côte Bleue is Martigues which has earned the nickname of the “Venice of Provence” for its picturesque canals They are at their photogenic peak in the Quartier de l’Ile where pastel houses and traditional coloured wooden boats are reflected in the mirror-like water I check out the baroque Saint Marie-Madeleine church stopping off to taste poutargue – cured mullet roe similar to Italian bottarga – whose briny punch smacks of the south It’s on sale at the Domaines des Terroirs market or direct from the sea at Lou Calens the last producer to use calens (traditional fishing nets) On the cinematic journey back to Marseille I am reminded of a quote I saw painted on rocks on the coastal trail Trains run every hour from Marseille-Saint-Charles until around 8pm The Pontusval lighthouse near Brignogan-Plages Photograph: Makasana Photo/AlamyThere are many Francophiles to be found on the south coast of Brittany where the golden sand beaches at Carnac and Bénodet are popular for family camping and beach holidays The region’s south coast is easy to reach after arriving at Saint-Malo or Roscoff by ferry and driving across the peninsula To reach a more peaceful corner of Brittany it’s wiser to head west from the ferry instead the sweeping blond beaches of the Côte des Sables (the sandy coast) are much less frequented than their southern counterparts when my curiosity for parts unknown saw us travel along the coast towards Le Conquet We stayed a few nights at Hotel de la Mer in Brignogan-Plages a resort on a gently looped coastline with many beaches to choose from The hotel is by the water at Plage des Chardons Bleus whose white sand is punctuated at low tide by silver-grey boulders sheltered Plage du Garo is overlooked by stately umbrella pines and the water that fills the bay at high tide is turquoise Plage du Phare sweeps around towards the whitewashed Pontusval lighthouse The market hall at Plouescat Photograph: Shotshop GmbH/AlamyHeading back east along the coast we came to Plage des Amiets at Cléder – a wide sweeping curve of golden sand backed by moorland and a windswept campsite we shared the beach with just a few families; some were paddleboarding on the incoming tide while others played tennis or just lounged around I stood in the shallows watching my two children paddle wetsuit-clad foragers gathered edible seaweed from the rocks and I was transfixed by the ribbons and frills that fluttered around my feet in the water like an octopus’s garden With a slightly bleary head from a sensational meal the night before I strolled on to the beachWe’d taken a picnic but it made a perfect lunch as we basked in the sun we parked in the village square in Plouescat bought ice-creams from the shop and marvelled at the huge 16th-century market hall sorry that we’d missed that morning’s market It had caught my eye from the window of La Butte an eco-friendly hotel high on the hill at Plouider where chef Nicolas Conraux’s cuisine draws on the area’s abundance of top-quality produce I strolled on to the beach as the green-hued sea lapped gently to the shore A murmuration of small seabirds twirled against a sky streaked with wisps of cloud When there are quiet corners like this to be found Stay Hotel de la Mer has doubles from €150 room-only; La Butte has doubles from €135 room-onlyCarolyn Boyd chef Iñaki Aizpitarte’s Le Chateaubriand has been one of the most influential restaurants in Paris Those who have followed the Paris restaurant scene at any point since the early 2000s have probably been to, or at least heard of, Le Chateaubriand, in the hip 11th Arrondissement, and its neighboring wine bar, Le Dauphin. There, the iconoclastic chef Iñaki Aizpitarte has challenged and delighted diners, critics, and international-awards judges with his singular, stripped-down cuisine. It’s hard to find an article on him that doesn’t nod to his contribution to the bistronomy movement—bistro fare combined with gastronomic techniques—or use the term “rock star” to describe his status and preternatural cool. SaveLog in or to save articleShareCopy link Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe It pleases me to report that according to the results of my unofficial but extensive canvassing Australians are southern Europeans’ favourite anglophone tourists Americans are the largest and spendiest contingent I’m allowed to say this – not the most palatable an entente too often freighted with Brexit animus I’ve heard variations on all these sentiments expressed admiringly many times Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. ShareSaveLifestyle TravelGreat European Weekend Breaks: Saint-Jean-De-Luz, FranceByJoanne Shurvell La Réserve is perched above Saint-Jean-de-Luz overlooking the Atlantic and from the moment we arrived La Réserve has a quieter vibe from Hotel Byblos but the level of service is equally good and we felt immediately at home with attractive soft furnishings and linens Steel sculpture by Bernar Venet on the grounds at La Réserve There had been a swimming pool on the grounds as well but it was being replaced when we were there by an infinity pool overlooking the cliffside We stayed in the main hotel building but there's also the option of staying in the apartment residence beside the hotel The residence has 44 studios and apartments each with terraces or balconies facing the ocean these apartments would be ideal as they have well equipped modern kitchens Our stay included dinner at the hotel's restaurant, the Ilura which offers an impressive menu that blends French and Spanish Basque cuisine If it had been a warmer evening we would have chosen to sit outside on the lovely terrace The Basque country is known for its outstanding cuisine with over 40 Michelin starred restaurants across the region We certainly weren't disappointed by Chef Fabrice Idiart's menu that makes superb use of local seasonal products I was happy with my main of sea bass with tiny pieces of pasta and saffron foam while Paul enjoyed his filet of beef For dessert I was tempted by the churros but was intrigued by the use of truffles in the praline dessert View of Saint-Jean-de-Luz from the coastal path La Réserve is steps from a lovely coastal path that runs for 25 kms from Bidart to Hendaye Saint-Jean-de-Luz is the ideal starting point for a stroll along the coastal path A leisurely 15 minute stroll along the coastal path took us directly to the beach and harbour of Saint-Jean-de-Luz The sandy Grande Plage in the center of town is lovely while slightly further afield are four more beaches We didn't have time but I'd love to return to try one of the two thalassotherapy centres overlooking the Grande Plage The town itself with its wood-beamed basque houses, cobbled streets and shops is charming. The twice weekly market with local products is worth checking out, as is Tissage de Luz a family run shop that's been selling Basque linen since 1908 Our brief visit whetted our appetite for a longer visit to this lovely region with its rugged coastline La Réserve Getting there: St-Jean-de-Luz is about 20 minutes from Biarritz airport, which is served by Easy Jet and Ryanair Become a member here We use cookies to improve your browsing experience The French Basque Country is an idiosyncratic region of green mountains and long beaches Rouleur joins modern nomadic influencer Virginia Cancellieri for an exploration of both This article was produced in association with ASSOS and they are as distinct from each other as red and white wine Brittany would never be confused with French Provence while the Alsace region is worlds apart from the French Midi But down in the southwestern tip of the country there is a region like no other: the Basque Country Officially known as the French Basque Country or Northern Basque Country the region remains closely linked to the neighbouring Basque region in Spain It occupies a very rough rectangle of territory with a southern border stretching along the Spanish border and the Pyrenees and the western coast looking out to the Atlantic Ocean from Bayonne through Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Hendaye a strong Spanish accent resonates in this corner of France Here the architecture is distinctly different while tapas and tortillas can be found at most bars and restaurants The region has historic ties to cycling as well. Legendary champion Louison Bobet, who won the Tour de France three times in a row between 1953 and 1955 settled in Biarritz after retiring from the sport considered by many to be the Tour’s greatest sprinter before Mark Cavendish and fifth on the all-time stage winners list with 22 But this region is also an internationally renowned surfing mecca thwacking the Basque coastline with the full force of the Atlantic Ocean behind them are considered some of the best in the world And it was this multi-sport combination that first attracted Virginia Cancellieri to the Basque Country Cancellieri is a modern day free spirit who thrives as an influencer for a handful of brands that share her passions the historic cycling clothing brand that has expanded into gravel and bikepacking in recent years Growing up on the Ligurian Coast in northern Italy, she watched Milan-Sanremo pass through her town every spring and cycling became an obvious choice when she got into sports surfing has become an integral addition to her lifestyle as well she soon found herself travelling around Europe in search of great places to both ride and surf “I started racing bikes when I was a kid and I wanted to try everything while enjoying a glass of rosé in Guéthary a small coastal town just south of Biarritz that has become one of her favourite destinations “After high school I moved to London and joined the Velo Club Londres But then I got into the fixed-gear scene and started travelling a lot I understood that bikes can allow you to discover new cultures and new languages Getting into bikepacking and gravel was just an extension of that Then about the same time I discovered van life As a kid we travelled a lot with a camping car on vacations I would go to sleep while we were driving and wake up the next day in a totally different destination I would often wake up in the morning and say where are we?’ I thought that was so cool.” Since embracing her life as a 21st-century nomad Cancellieri spends upwards of 10 months of the year on the road “Most of the time I travel alone,” she says It’s really a huge community and through my travels I can connect with a lot of them.” Surfing may well have been the first thing that attracted Cancellieri to the French Basque Country but the hills that rise up behind the coast “I really love places where I can cycle and surf I also love the mountains and how everything is so green I discovered the Basque Country in Spain first but I really love the French Basque Country To introduce us to the French Basque Country Cancellieri came up with a 60-kilometre loop which shows off the geographic diversity in this part of France “Today’s ride embodies everything I love about this region,” she says It’s amazing what you can pack into 60 kilometres Cancellieri heats up the Bialetti espresso machine on her two-burner camping stove as she gets dressed for the ride “I love the way that van life forces you to focus on the simple things sometimes I don’t go outside for a couple of hours skirting quickly around Saint-Jean-de-Luz and into the hills that climb out from the seaside But if the French Basque Country is renowned for its lush greenery Considering the overcast sky and the cool morning temperatures Cancellieri opts to start with her Dyora RS rain jacket in its distinctive and highly visible Venus Violet colour doors and wooden beams boast contrasting colours of dark reds used for a sport similar to squash but where players use their bare hands while Gâteau Basque cakes are being sold across from the post office that we are in a completely different world “I love riding through these Basque villages,” says Cancellieri It’s like nothing else I know.” Descending out of town Cancellieri picks up speed as she pedals through a tunnel of trees on the edge of town Soon enough the road winds its way upwards as we tackle the day’s major climb a 900-metre rise that straddles the Spanish and French border The Spanish side is covered with a dense green forest that grows darker by the metre as the clouds coalesce and the first raindrops quickly turn into a downpour I find it refreshing,” she says with her trademark positive twist Meanwhile her Dyora RS rain jacket is getting a proper workout And as we reach the summit and cross back into France the sun is clearly visible in the valley below where some of the most spectacular views of the Basque coastline unfold when I come back and hit the coast again it is like coming home,” says Cancellieri while stopping at the end of the Corniche road to admire the views There are jagged rock formations and cliffs below but simply to admire its distinctive muscular landscape It has always been really essential to me,” she says “I need to wake up in the morning and see it and smell it.” Rolling back through Saint-Jean- de-Luz And after stopping for a coffee along the Parlementia Hondartza the boardwalk along the beach at the foot of the town she then returns to her van to change and relax after the ride she enjoys the sea breeze while sketching on her couch “I studied art at the University of Genova after I returned from London,” she says while drawing some cows she remembers from a recent ride one day when I am not travelling so much I would really love to do more art and soon enough she is back outside with her skateboard and I love the fact that you can bring a skateboard anywhere plus it’s way faster than walking,” she says “I only got into surfing a couple of years ago but I watched all of the surfing movies growing up It is a sport that takes a long time to learn But the feeling you have being out there in the water with just a board is amazing That is one thing that is different from cycling because for surfing you don’t need a lot of equipment It’s not like you have to check that your tyres are pumped up or if your computer is charged while Cancellieri’s life is in constant movement she has established a daily routine that grounds her one that starts with a bike ride and finishes with surfing Just when Cancellieri may not be travelling so much is an entirely different subject that is clearly not a priority for this 26-year old at the moment the UMA GT Jersey S11 and UMA GTV bib shorts C2 Evobib shorts with Bisiclick technology Cancellieri opted for the ASSOS women’s Summer Skin Layer P1 as well as R Socks S9 not to mention her stylish Dyora RS Rain Jacket for those Basque Country moments when the skies opened up “I’ve been with ASSOS for a year now and I love the quality,” says Cancellieri I would much rather spend money on something that lasts and ASSOS makes things to last which is so important when I am on a long gravel ride or bikepacking I feel cool when I ride with ASSOS and that is really important because cycling is my life There are days when the only time I get dressed to go out is for a ride Rouleur takes a look at the contenders to win the Maglia Rosa in Italy this month Alexander Vinokourov's team are making the impossible rather quite possible All the essential information about the first Grand Tour of the year While the former Olympic and World champion is relishing new ventures in retirement she is keen to ensure more support is in place for those.. From SD Worx-Protime's continued success to Canyon-SRAM's disappointment Rouleur takes a look at how each squad performed at the Spring Classics Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines Join today for exclusive content from independent journalists This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply From the lavender fields of Provence to the art nouveau buildings of Paris the most beautiful places in France are as diverse as they are alluring The country has its fair share of cosmopolitan cities and charming small towns of course – some of which date as far back as the 9th century – but it also has white-sand beaches Whether you’re drawn to the azure waters of the French Riviera, the dramatic cliffs of Normandy, or the enchanting châteaux of the Loire Valley this list of the most beautiful places in France is sure to inspire your next storybook adventure even though the water barely pushes the 75-degree mark at the height of summer Just one more excuse to warm up with a traditional French Alpine meal come dinnertime and frescoed ceilings depicting owls in the treetops Throw in an exceptionally good ski-in ski-out location in the Trois-Vallées estate and you have yourself one of the coolest accommodations in France are not only gorgeous – they’re also hugely popular with surfers thanks to their mellow a marshy delta between the Mediterranean and the two branches of the Rhône Visitors can take Jeep tours deep into the wilderness You’ll also see the Camargue’s trademark free-roaming white horses and some of its 400 bird species – if you’re lucky The 150,000 bubbly boxwood trees and hedges wrap around a 17th-century chateau that overlooks the Dordogne Valley The entire vista looks like an illustration from a Perrault fairytale considered the world’s first elevated park stock up on cheese and wine for a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens and end the day watching the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower This Belle Époque landmark really needs no introduction but we never pass up an opportunity to swoon over its seaside location and bedside vases overfilled with roses from the garden Take a road trip through the region to get nonstop views of the countryside – with plenty of winery pit stops along the way Its elevated location makes it one of the best places in Provence to watch the sunset and it is also an excellent home base for seeking out lavender fields during the summer months a series of cruises exploring France’s waterways – complete with heated pools and king-sized beds so it’s a given that Mont Blanc and its subsidiary peaks needn’t bow to any mountains Gothically-drawn skyline is the kind that inspires poets and painters Take a motorboat tour to get some of the best views but be sure you head back to the mainland in time for a perfect seafood lunch but Château de Chenonceau easily rises to the top of the pack – both in terms of beauty and popularity The current château was built on top of an old mill starting in 1514 while the trademark bridge and gallery were added about 60 years later the river-spanning structure and surrounding gardens are one of the most-visited attractions in the entire country Champagne-Ardenne is the birthplace of bubbly and one of the most beautiful regions in France The area is covered with idyllic valleys and vineyards Make sure to visit the capital city of Troyes for splendid churches from the Middle Ages and Reims for underground wine cellars and the masterpiece Cathédrale Notre-Dame Louis XIV’s 18th-century residence is one of the most impressive combined displays of art a masterpiece of over-the-topness; the legendary Hall of Mirrors still used by the French government today to receive heads of state; or the three square miles of perfectly manicured gardens NormandyLocated along France’s Alabaster Coast the pebble beach of Étretat is popular among sailors and surfers But most visitors come to this stretch of coast in Upper Normandy for one reason: the famous chalk cliffs and arched rock formations At various points along Étretat’s 80-mile stretch you’ll find natural sculptures that have inspired travellers and artists (most notably Claude Monet) for ages which comes from the reddish sandstone used to build it Although the original plans called for a pair of spires on top of the church complete with winding streets and tiny houses but the crown jewel is undoubtedly the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel The incredible structure was built in 708AD and was the inspiration behind the castle in Disney's Tangled it certainly doesn’t fall short in terms of beauty The 2,300-foot-deep valley was formed by the Alpine Verdon River a dazzling turquoise stream that flows into the artificial Lac de Sainte-Croix Hiking and horseback riding trails weave throughout the vertical limestone cliffs connecting tiny villages and offering once-in-a-lifetime views and quality Italian cuisine due to its position on the Franco-Italian border both of which are open to the public today The pastel pink house is as pretty as a picture with spring green shutters and ivy crawling up every surface The gardens are like an impressionist painting come to life the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park consists of a cluster of around 80 dormant volcanoes for an easy (but still breathtaking) 2.5-mile ridge hike set in an elegantly restored 17th-century convent If you don’t fancy learning about Sylvaner the dreamy countryside will conquer the heart of even the most jaded teetotaller a hamlet near Colmar with cobblestone lanes and gingerbread houses where storks nest on rooftops and flowers hang over every carved window frame Best bet: the family-run Maison Emile Beyer excels in luscious rare grands crus a pink and white Belle Epoque confection overlooking the Atlantic a gem facing the glinting gold Cap Canaille a potato pancake cooked in duck fat and topped with fresh Cantal a buzzing old-world-style brasserie flush with the Opera House helmed by celebrity chef Philippe Etchebest serving tasty regional specialities from black truffles to duck and mashed potato pie a contemporary art museum on a wine estate lost in the pines ProvenceWhether you’re wandering on the banks of the Rhone or through the medieval historic centre past the colossal Roman arena there’s a certain village-like douceur de vivre about Arles that makes it unique Ancient history and lots of nods to Van Gogh’s time painting here intermingle with a recent upsurge of contemporary artistic effervescence starting with the ambitious Luma arts complex featuring the city’s future cultural hub – the Gehry-designed steel-panelled tower shimmering against a blue sky Just beyond are the wetlands and pink salt flats of the Camargue a bird-filled sanctuary where wild white horses also roam the town’s uber-stylish 70-room hamlet of Alpine farmhouses and get slathered with edelweiss-derived beauty products at its Pure Altitude Spa where chef Mauro Colagreco dishes up pure poetry on a plate Some of the content in this article was first published on Condé Nast Traveler. Skip the lines in Paris and visit these picturesque towns and villages where the crowds are fewer and the pace is slower Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50 She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel and fact-checker specializing in travel and anything related to it and was previously editor-in-chief of Michelin Guide US 20 minutes drive from the Spanish border and at the mouth of the Nivelle River lies the coastal town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz It was once the home of King Louis XIV of France who briefly relocated here from Versailles it’s a pedestrian and cycle-friendly destination an active fishing harbour and cobbled streets it has strong Spanish as well as French influences (particularly in the culinary department) It serves as a popular weekend getaway for those from both nations Visitors here will find the light to be quite stunning – hence the city’s name And there are relatively few British holidaymakers The 20 rooms at the Hôtel Parc Victoria have been decorated uniquely and thoughtfully with an Art Deco leaning with suites – some boasting verandas and private gardens – also located in the lush park of its grounds plus a large pool in an almost tropical setting Chef Guillaume Applaincourt is at the helm in Les Lierres restaurant showcasing ingredients indigenous to the region like Val d’Aran caviar and Lalbenque truffles langoustines and fish among the menu’s many highlights seven-storey hotel was built in 1909 in the Belle Epoque style and lies in the city’s old quarter suites with accents of colour come with blackout curtains The Thalasso Spa opens directly onto the beachfront a relaxation area and yoga classes among its amenities Also looking onto the ocean is the Grand Hôtel’s restaurant pets are welcome and there’s an outdoor pool * All the properties and products we feature are independently selected by our editors and contributors If you buy something we may earn a commission Eater’s annual guide to the most exciting food destinations featuring hidden gems and well-known locales that live up to the hype If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy Let’s trade our familiar concerns for unfamiliar flavors and experiences These are the basic desires that compel travelers to restaurants around the world and bring together people for meals across cultures 2025 is set to be one for the record books — and the guest books — in crowded hot spots and businesses around the world are eager for visitors including many places where chefs are attracting attention by putting their food cultures front and center We tapped our team of culinary experts to find out about some of these overlooked destinations They lay out arguments for the places they’re sending friends and hungry travelers in 2025: why you should skip the clogged Greek island ports for the olive groves and tavernas of Messenia on the mainland eschew the packed Mexican coast for the contemporary Yucateco cuisine and roadside kibis of Mérida and take a break from the bustling French capital for laid-back Basque specialties in St-Jean-de-Luz and street vendors ready to make their own cases for escapism in full plates and brimming glasses a seven-year project to promote tourism and culture that comes to fruition this year the country has invested in infrastructure a cultural landmark that mixes art and modern African design transforms local coffee beans from export commodity into cultural statement These meals are more than sustenance — they’re testaments to a country redefining its place where chef Panagiotis Kikentzis prepares kremidolmades (sweet onions stuffed with meat and rice) and kolokithokorfades (stewed tomatoes and dill) that’ll make you nostalgic for an idyllic Greek childhood in the country — even if you never had one There’s nothing like relaxing with a good meal after a long day on the slopes. Yet, many of the world’s iconic mountain towns are plagued by subpar tourist traps. That’s not the case when it comes to Whistler, a destination as beloved for its food as it is for its fresh Canadian powder the town punches well above its weight thanks to a steady stream of culinary talent from nearby Vancouver a wealth of great sushi restaurants established during a boom in the ’80s and a blend of tried-and-true classics and acclaimed contemporary fine dining Travelers once sought out Mérida as a sleepy alternative to Yucatán’s buzzy beaches, but the peninsula’s inland capital has come into its own. The new Cancún-Mérida leg of the regional Tren Maya train line will clue in even more visitors to this bastion of regional cuisine, where patrons line up at market stalls like Taquería La Lupita for relleno negro and cochinita pibil tacos a speakeasy where clinking cocktail glasses mix with strains of jazz Berlin is a late culinary bloomer among European capitals The city is known for its proudly poor-but-sexy mentality which has fostered a world-famous club scene but not much of a culinary one and Michelin stars have kickstarted the food scene once self-consciously hip and distrustful of sophistication are leaning into the locales and foods that make the city what it is tucked away in a disused depot of busy Friedrichstrasse Station All of these spots bring guests up close to Berlin’s old-school cool Luang Prabang (sometimes spelled Louangphrabang) where rivers and dense jungles have shaped foodways locals sail the Mekong transporting foraged herbs and prepare khao niew (sticky rice) every morning for saffron-robed monks who meditatively stroll the streets and ferment local flavors into compelling meals Uninhabited until the 15th century, Cape Verde — also known as Cabo Verde — feels like nowhere else. The archipelago’s desert landscapes yield abundant ingredients, shaping a soulful Creole cuisine that’s influenced by West African, Portuguese, and Brazilian cuisines, yet remains entirely its own. While the country’s Macaronesian cousins (Portugal’s Azores and Madeira Spain’s Canary Islands) have long drawn food-focused tourists this volcanic chain of islands farther south offers a unique flavor — or rather One of the country’s top culinary schools, Johnson & Wales, supplies talented up-and-comers, while longtime hospitality leaders promote new generations of businesses. After experimental pop-up Thick Neck at the well-established Dean Hotel, in 2024 chef Eric Brown launched sunny corner cafe Frank & Laurie’s with partner Sarah Watts serving generous slices of custardy quiche and charred pancakes dripping with maple syrup you’ll find it tough to cover all the city’s great meals and successful chefs with Chiclayo roots like Valerie and Nando Chang in Miami and Rodrigo Fernandini in New York Tucked into France’s southwestern corner, the oft-overlooked French Basque Country is just as alluring as its Spanish sibling over the border. Nowhere is this clearer than St-Jean-de-Luz, a blend of picturesque fishing village, laid-back surf town, and retro-chic holiday spot, and the best of both Basques. Prized Espelette peppers hang in dark red garlands across shopfronts. Wine bars treat guests to boards of local Kintoa ham and pepper-flecked patés alongside glasses of Bordeaux And the town even has an answer to San Sebastián’s famed cheesecake: the gateau basque which tucks irresistible crème pâtissière or black cherry jam into a crumbly Of course, you can always just enjoy the bounty of the Atlantic — like line-caught hake, grilled sardines, and fresh oysters — at classic regional bistros like Pil Pil Enea and slick modern restaurants like Kaïku and a distinct Basque pride in eating very Trinidad is well-known for its iconic doubles and roti While these dishes constitute beloved home cooking for many locals they’re not the foods driving the island’s restaurant scene today Chefs are busy unpacking Trinidad’s historic culinary influences as well as cuisines introduced more recently to the region which has quickly become one of the island’s most popular spots Trinidad and Tobago declared a 15-day state of emergency in response to reprisals between organized crime groups The measure is designed to support law enforcement in addressing these targeted incidents Acting Attorney General Stuart Young has assured residents that public activities remain unaffected Visitors can continue to enjoy the island’s vibrant food culture and warm hospitality which are integral to both its economy and community With new international hotels — like the Mercure Ambassador set to open in historic Mokpo this year — the region is looking forward to hosting more visitors Panama City connects the Western Hemisphere linking North and South America and the Caribbean to the Pacific a generation of internationally trained chefs are engaging with the country’s historic role as a crossroads spotlighting flavors and ingredients of people — including enslaved Africans and Chinese immigrants — who not only passed through Panama but made it what it is today Chef Isaac Villaverde at La Tapa del Coco, a pioneer in Afro Panamanian cuisine, features one-pot colonense, a hearty combination of coconut, rice, pork ribs, beans, and shrimp that’s cherished along the Caribbean coast. At Maito chef Mario Castrellón describes his cuisine as “Chombasia,” his own term that represents the unique fusion created by Panama’s Cantonese and Creole communities; for his pesca Chombasia he applies a mixture of Afro Caribbean ingredients and smoky wok hei to the daily catch and cafes find inspiration in the country’s Creole cuisines As new hotels pop up among the city’s colonial-era buildings one of Central America’s most popular tourism destinations is getting even better Dispatches from the Eater staff about the world’s culinary destinations worth planning an entire trip around Tuesday World Subscribers only Friedrich Merz bets on two private sector converts to revive the German economy and reform the state World Subscribers only 'A Pope in the tradition of Francis': From New York to Ghana Catholics hope for continuity at the Vatican World Subscribers only Chancellor Merz's diplomatic first week 2025."> World Trump's proposal to reopen Alcatraz deemed 'absurd' in San Francisco World Subscribers only Founder of Sant'Egidio community fears next pope could undo Francis's legacy Opinion Subscribers only 'Russian gas and Europe is an old story that ended badly Economy Subscribers only Europe's steel industry flattened by crisis World Subscribers only How European countries plan to fund defense efforts France Subscribers only Macron announces citizens' convention on school schedules France Subscribers only 21 charged over French prison attacks as investigation narrows in on drug traffickers France Subscribers only French mosque stabber was driven by 'morbid fascination,' prosecutor says France Subscribers only At the trial of Kim Kardashian's robbers Videos World expos: From Paris 1855 to Osaka 2025 Videos How the Trump administration is attacking scientific research in the US Videos Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas as calls to boycott Musk's company grow worldwide Videos Can France's nuclear deterrent protect Europe Opinion Subscribers only 'It is pointless to imagine a significant wave of American academics leaving' Opinion Subscribers only 'The American dream is dying' Opinion Subscribers only 'The trade war creates new opportunities for Europeans and France' Magazine Subscribers only Tracking down the pianos taken from French Jews during the Nazi Occupation Magazine Subscribers only Eve Rodsky the American helping couples balance the mental load Magazine Subscribers only Desecration or more glory Joan Didion's private diaries are revealed Magazine Subscribers only For Jewish cartoonist Joann Sfar 2025."> Pixels Subscribers only Golden Owl solution is revealed but leaves players of 31-year hunt disappointed Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris With the teenage assailant set to be indicted for what is described as a 'sudden and totally incomprehensible' act emotions are running high in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz By Eléa Pommiers Flowers brought by children and their parents in tribute to the teacher killed are placed at the entrance of Saint Thomas d'Aquin high school in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) on February 23 HERVÉ LEQUEUX / HANS LUCAS FOR "LE MONDE" In the pouring rain converged on the entrance to Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin high school in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques others carried single white roses to add to the growing piles along the gates but also by the police and a swarm of journalists they were back in their classrooms the day after a tragedy that has left the whole town in shock a 16-year-old student from this private high school stood up in the middle of Spanish class locked the classroom door and stabbed his teacher with a kitchen knife he had hidden in a roll of paper towels before moving onto an adjoining room where two teachers intervened asked him to drop the weapon and managed to restrain him She has since been in the thoughts of many and tributes have been pouring in The teenager is due to appear before an examining magistrate on Friday for indictment announced that a judicial investigation would be launched on Friday to determine whether it was a premeditated murder given that there was "obvious preparation." You have 85.22% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative digital tools and expert support enabled Paris 2024 to achieve record-breaking visibility and flawless brand protection Download the full Paris 2024 Success Case now and get inspired by the strategies behind this record-breaking achievement For further information and other cases please visit Wiztrust.com protect your company and its directors from disinformation and adopt the “trust mark” of the market leaders plan campaigns targeting your audiences through all channels (e-mail social media) and organise your activities and events improve results by exploiting your data's true depth Discover the best way to manage your PR & Marketing efficiently: Wiztrust is THE integrated communication platform for corporate professionals Prioritise your activities thanks to a clearer view on your assets Manage your communication thanks to a collaborative platform for you and your team Certify your corporate communication thanks to our blockchain-backed technology Save your team and yourself some precious time Learn more about Wiztrust in our case study additional trains and the improvement of its offer To conquer 30% of SNCF Voyageurs' high-speed market by 2030 our low-cost offer is continuing to expand in France and Europe with the aim of doubling the number of passengers carried by 2030 and representing 30% of the high-speed market within SNCF Voyageurs trains through renovation operations or the deployment of new trains Thanks to a programme to renovate old INOUI TGV trains with a different design and level of comfort from the current Ouigo trains The arrival of these trains will enable us to reach 33 million customers a year by 2027 renovated train meets the needs of a much broader customer base thanks to: Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz will provide a daily round trip all year round thereby offering an additional round trip to Bordeaux the Paris-Rennes line will be enhanced by a 3rd Ouigo high-speed round trip supplementing the two existing high-speed round trips and the classic Ouigo Train round trip for example to and from the Languedoc region between Paris and Lille and between Paris and Strasbourg Connections between major regional cities without passing through Paris are also being considered Ouigo will thus increase the number of stations served from around sixty today to almost 75 in 2027 the Ouigoland price map enables customers to consult a map of destinations filtered by price The destinations displayed are tailored to passengers' choices Discover our offer This site is in partial compliance 98,53% (with RGAA 4.1 standards) The TimesThere’s no mistaking I’m in France’s Basque country: as the motorway pushes beyond the Landes forest the curtain of tall pines opens and the Pyrenees are ahead I drive past the archetypal Basque architecture — red timber frames and roofs against whitewashed walls — to arrive at my hotel I’m sipping the house cocktail while the lights of Biarritz twinkle in the distance and the waves crash against the rocks below Tucked in the curve where France runs into Spain St-Jean-de-Luz embodies the best of the Basque country on this side of the Pyrenees Its long golden beach is sheltered from the Atlantic’s rolling waves by headlands jutting into the bay a buzzing market and several excellent restaurants It also turns out to be the ideal place to stave off winter; even in December the temperature rarely drops below 12 After breakfast on the terrace overlooking the sea The view opens out in front of me — the town and beach are bathed in a gentle morning haze framed by the Pyrenees behind My first port of call is the buzzing Friday morning market stalls vie for my attention — creamy goat’s cheese the local speciality; Espelette peppers; and people queue with baskets for the local catch in streets lined with houses with red and green shutters I head towards the imposing Église St-Jean-Baptiste Its unremarkable exterior belies the treasures inside: an astounding baroque altarpiece has three tiers of golden saints four levels of dark-wood seating galleries rise to the roof The church was chosen for the marriage of the French king Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Spain in 1660 In tying the knot they ended centuries of conflict between the two countries The royal couple’s nuptials were celebrated by the creation of a small macaron called the mouchou a patisserie founded in the year of the wedding where counters are full of Basque indulgences including Espelette pepper chocolates and gâteaux basques The 17th century was when the town became wealthy as a result of fishing and the activities of corsairs (pirates sponsored by the king) who made this part of the Atlantic coast so fearsome that English sailors called it the Viper’s Nest These days a boat trip is a less risky affair so I board the small cruiser Nivelle V for a trip along the coast towards Spain The boat heads out past the glorious beach at Ciboure the fishing village on the opposite side of the river It turns west after the long sea wall at Socoa overlooked by its dinky 15th-century cylindrical fort built by Louis XIII I’m fascinated by the sloping cliffs at Flysch where the curious vertical strata look as if they have been made from layers of cardboard a town on the border alongside its Spanish counterpart Hondarribia the village famous for the local chilli peppers Coachloads of Spanish tourists pile into the pedestrianised streets that are buzzing as visitors and locals mill about in fromageries and shops selling Basque specialities The garlands — or ristras — of peppers hang on the front of most buildings I sit on the terrace of Aintzina and order axoa a veal stew flavoured with the red peppers I ask the waitress if it is always so busy visitors and locals disappear into restaurants and I have the village to myself where an brook ripples past and the hum of an accordion wafts on the breeze There’s not a soul to be seen; I’ve found my perfect escape La Reserve Hotel has well-appointed rooms and an excellent restaurantThe luxury hotel: La ReserveA four-star hotel high above the sea, with views along the coast to Biarritz. Its excellent restaurant, Ilura, features haute cuisine with a Basque flavour. Room-only doubles are from €118 (00 33 5 59 51 32 00, hotel-lareserve.com/en/) Hotel Ohartzia is a short stroll from the beachThe budget hotel: Hotel OhartziaThis friendly hotel in the town centre is a few steps from the beach and has 15 rooms and a quiet, tree-shaded garden at the back. Room-only doubles are from €95 (00 33 5 59 26 00 06, hotel-ohartzia.com) Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker 2015Save this storySaveSave this storySaveA couple are kissing on the platform in Bayonne I’ve watched variations of this scene for many years—the station farewell there are cigarettes and high-collared coats next to the lovers are three young blond women wearing shorts and bikini tops and believed I was giving up a surfer’s life for a café life in black-and-white that I had chosen Robert Doisneau over David Hockney where I discovered a France I’d never imagined I sat at a pretty corner café in St-Jean-de-Luz drinking cafés crèmes and eating croissants with raspberry jam Watching the town’s elegant denizens stroll past I had the sense that I’d discovered a perfect fusion of two things I loved equally which still plays host to royalty of both the literal and the Hollywood variety.I am hardly the first to fall in love with these beaches and mountains I am pleased to say that I have this in common with Empress Eugénie She too fell for the landscape and brought her new husband he built them a Belle Époque summer palace a pretty whaling and fishing backwater some five miles from Bayonne and Ava Gardner)—a list that reveals the fundamental tension here between the regal and the common It is the same tension that exists in every beautiful beach town that’s become stylish even St-Tropez was once a humble fishing village as was every other stop along the French Riviera It is kings or artists who often turn a good place toward ruin But it is not ruin I am thinking of as I’m shown to my massive room at the Hôtel du Palais I draw back the heavy velvet drapes as far as they’ll go and open the windows: There is the ocean shifting from deep blue to turquoise and back again and the sound of waves breaking on the beach below I can see children running through the water a couple spreading out their towels on the sand Beneath my window is a long-haired surfer singing the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge” in a thick French accent I wonder if Empress Eugénie would have taken as much pleasure in this scene as I do I imagine so—even if she was a staunch Catholic and notoriously conservative How else to explain the photograph of a handsome young man “One must learn to love in secret.” I like to think that she came to Biarritz for love—perhaps of that young man I descend the wide carpeted staircase to the lobby with its crystal chandeliers and leave my key on its heavy gold chain with one of the concierges the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant (jacket required) and out through the tall wrought iron gates that surround the property A suite at Les Prés d’Eugénie with a view of the garden beyond.That evening I walk the promenade curving along the wide main beach and that exceptional September light has turned everything amber—the cliffs the simple restaurants lining the Port Vieux I sit outside above the water and eat wonderful grilled sardines with a carafe of rough rosé while the sun sets after wandering the paths that run along the seawall which floats at the far northern end of the beach I want to fall asleep to the sound of the waves breaking I roam the beaches of Bidart and Guéthary a little road I remember from years ago that ends at a tiny cove with waves breaking over rock reef one of my favorite beaches on this stretch of coast: perfect yellow sand protected and contained by a low hill of grass It reminds me so much of places I grew up surfing in California—not so much for the way it looks as for the feeling of secrecy But what those places do not have is La Plancha To eat so well—fresh hake with piment d’espelette and razor-thin slices of garlic sizzling in olive oil—barefoot on a simple terrace full of sunstruck people is a pleasure second only to being in the ocean I’m confronted by an enormous gray dog stalking down the lobby corridor its nails clicking on the inlaid marble floor “Rudi!” Everyone turns to watch as the dog trots back to its owner who waits impatiently in the open elevator thinking that neither man nor beast would have been out of place here a century and a half ago and kings with all their eccentricities were common I enter my room to find chocolates on the bedside table a tiny inn north of Biarritz.In the morning a spa town about two hours northeast of Biarritz but I can’t help thinking that for all its careful opulence the Hôtel du Palais lacks something of the spirit which was renamed for her in 1861 when she granted the town her patronage lusher; by the time I reach Michel Guérard’s Les Prés d’Eugénie Guérard was a young chef who transformed a once simple North African restaurant in the northern suburbs of Paris into Pot-au-Feu and made it world famous he’d been granted two Michelin stars and had fallen in love with his wife Christine (who had turned a family estate into a Relais & Châteaux property) Guérard left his restaurant and moved south to Eugénie-les-Bains he and Christine have been amiably ruling over this exquisite kingdom composed of 40 acres of parkland Michel Guérard is—at least in France—more famous for cuisine minceur an unfortunate term for food that manages to both be healthful and not taste like an old paperback which serves his “slimming cuisine” as well as a full- blown has maintained three Michelin stars since 1977 but having spent the last few nights at a hotel best known for its icons I keep expecting a wave of tourists to pour over the dunes It feels impossible that I should be in France one of the most visited nations in the world which smells faintly of wood smoke and lavender down to the polished brass light switches and the bottle of Guérard Armagnac on the dresser but none of it feels at odds with or in opposition to its environment the way the Hôtel du Palais occasionally did Eventually I find my way to La Ferme Thermale After exchanging my clothes for a cotton robe I sit on a couch drinking a tea made of leaves harvested from the garden The floors are seventeenth-century terra-cotta; a fire burns in the massive fireplace A young woman ushers me into an elegant room with a smaller fireplace and a long bathtub It has been drawn with warm thermal water infused with rosemary These herbs have also been bound into a fat bouquet that she encourages me to use as a scrub brush I follow my attendant’s advice while Eugénie and Napoleon III gaze down on me from their gilt frames looking out at the late sun shining through the leaves of a plane tree I’m served a glass of Guérard champagne and handed a menu with both categories—cuisine minceur and cuisine gourmande It seems madness to live with any kind of restriction here a restaurant’s three Michelin stars often mean that both the food and I will be treated with the grave seriousness of an operating room But for all the refined elegance of the place there is a lack of pretension that makes dining here an unmitigated joy I will not go on about every dish that night Les Prés d’Eugénie: An exquisite kingdom composed of 40 acres of parkland One of Guérard’s most famous creations is a single egg slowly scrambled with cream It is served in an eggcup balanced atop a ceramic chicken’s foot and the pleasure they take in watching me eat half a lobster cooked in a wood oven and accompanied by onions and peach cream There is also the duck with minced pigeon and clementines I return to the garden for coffee and mignardises and the air smells of jasmine and orange flowers after breakfast is delivered to my room (there is no choice here—it is breakfast in bed or no breakfast at all) an outpost of the Guérards’ empire about an hour north of Biarritz I think of the conversation I had with Madame Guérard a strikingly beautiful woman dressed in a starched white gown She spoke about the property with evident pride and to be happy you must commit to one madness or another A guy in dreadlocks cruises by in a beat-up van a stack of surfboards strapped to the roof it’s somehow a shock to hear the staff speaking French a kind of majordomo who serves as housekeeper built as a hunting lodge in 1858 by Baron Charles-Eucher Boulart looks like no other I’ve seen in the region The roof is made of red tile; the outer walls are yellow and trimmed in a deep Moab red beautifully restored buildings of weathered gray wood—one a former boathouse Each is reminiscent of my room in Eugénie I follow a wooden walkway that rises through the dunes and high grass until I come to a low gate The beach is wide and stretches on and on in both directions I have the sense that I’ve stumbled upon some wild It is the same feeling I imagine Eugénie might have had the first time she saw it After a long swim and a bath in the beautiful stone tub in my room I dress and walk to the worn wooden deck that wraps around the Pavillon Anglais Claudine shows me to a table facing west and places a plate of spoons in front of me On each is a piece of endive stuffed with minced veal She opens a bottle of Billecart-Salmon rosé and pours me a glass after the sun is replaced by a sky the color of champagne and a dessert of three small strawberry tarts unpretentious meal that perfectly matches this place: the art of balance that the Guérards have mastered not to look at the water but to look back at this little haven where I will sleep as deeply as I’ve slept in months Hôtel du Palais: Victor Hugo and Bing Crosby have all stayed at this oceanfront stunner that’s so close to the Atlantic Hôtel La Villa l’Arche: If you’re a surfer be sure to seek out this second-home-of-your-dreams just off the coastal road It has seamless access to Les Embruns Beach Guérard Armagnac: In the guest rooms at the Guérards’ Les Prés d’Eugénie, you’ll find a bottle of the housemade brandy on the dresser. Have it as a nightcap, after a meal of fire-roasted suckling pig or Landes chicken at the hotel’s La Ferme aux Grives restaurant. Izarra Jaune: An herbal liqueur with a slight almond flavor, it is usually served as a digestif. Txakoli: This crisp, clean, sparkling white wine (pronounced chock-oh-LEE), which pairs nicely with seafood or charcuterie, is made from the hondarrabi zuri, a grape native to the neighboring Spanish Basque region. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Authentic Brands Group announced Wednesday that it has finalized a deal with French company Beaumanoir to acquire the former Boardriders operations in France and to license the Quiksilver with 2.3 billion euros in annual revenue and 2,000 retail stores operates a variety of brands and retail concepts across the fashion spectrum and e-commerce for the brand in key categories such as apparel “With great expertise behind us, we are confident in our ability to stimulate the development of famous brands such as Quiksilver, Billabong, and Roxy, in France and across Europe,” said Jérôme Drianno, CEO of Beaumanoir “Wholesale operations represent a key growth area for the future of the Boardriders Group and an avenue for diversification of Beaumanoir as does the international expansion this acquisition makes possible.” The current president of Boardriders EMEA, Nicolas Foulet “The acquisition by the Beaumanoir Group opens up new avenues for long-term investment for all the Boardriders brands in Europe,” Nicolas Foulet I am fully committed to and enthusiastic about this news which promises to increase the presence of our brands in their market.” Europe has been an important region for Boardriders with many of the brands having a more elevated position in the market and they are often more profitable in the region as well Several Boardriders brands also have their global brand teams based in France David Brooks, executive vice president of Action Sports and Outdoor Sports at Authentic, told SES in a previous interview that the global brand teams for those brands will remain based in Europe “Nico Foulet and his legacy Boardriders team in Europe have a deep understanding of our customer and extensive wholesale relationships combined with Beaumanoir’s expertise in sourcing we are excited for the future and for the opportunities that the partnership will bring.” Posted in: News Tagged with: Authentic Brands Group, Beaumanoir Group, Boardriders editorial@shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com advertising@shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com tiffany@shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com Matthew.Yates@emeraldX.com by André Pavlovsky in Ciboure and Saint Jean de Luz in the French Basque Country For high resolution versions of these photographs, visit davewalshphoto.com’s gallery: Les phares jumeaux de Ciboure et Saint Jean de Luz – The Twin Lighthouses, Basque Country French Basque Country is foodie heaven by the sea Lifestyle | Travel Sign up for the best picks from our travel I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice They say when you come to Biarritz It might not boast of the brightest constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants (that plaudit goes to Basque sister town San Sebastian) but what it does have is an extraordinary number of places to gorge yourself with wild abandon Jean Cocteau and Frank Sinatra spent summers and a place immortalised in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises We checked in to the town’s other grand dame hotel With its Belle Epoque architecture and detailing (the Eiffel Tower-inspired ceiling of the main atrium is particularly wonderful) and postcard-perfect views of the Atlantic from our bedroom the cortisol from our 7am EasyJet flight evaporated instantly Special mention has to go to the woman behind its neo-deco aesthetic who has woven seaside-inflected flourishes into the interiors seamlessly jaunty rope tassels and bronzed seashell sconces lining the walls so our first port of call was Les Halles market We made like the locals and started off with coffee from Lobita and snacked on pintxos at as many counters as we could handle before grabbing local specialities for lunch on the seafront a big draw for surfers (our concierge said it’s not uncommon to master the art in a weekend) but we were content watching the swells from a distance on our petite picnique We headed back towards our hotel in a post-lunch stupor along the esplanade where the other great sport Biarritz offers is people watching While there is a pervasive feeling of old money (the private villas and their manicured gardens prove as much) you’ll have a hard time spotting a guy in finance with a trust fund not fast and flash; in their happy place perusing brica-brac at the weekend antiques market or playing pétanque at sunset at the roadside café Extola Bibi After a reviving massage at the hotel’s subterranean spa open room and candlelit tables offered a perfect setting for the exquisite food Local wine producers dominated the house lists while plates festooned with curried carrots pickled girolles and tender veal chops from Basque farmer Pierre Matayron disappeared as soon as they were set down How to spend a weekend in Estonia's capital Tallinn How to nail a rainy staycation: the hotels that are chic no matter the weather Meet the triathlete breaking new ground for Deaf athletes Rooms at Regina Experimental, from £268 per night (reginaexperimental.com) Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Now it is the turn of the two groups’ European headquarters to merge They are both based in south-western France about 40 km away from each other: Boardriders is in Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Billabong in Hossegor.Their merger had been on the cards for quite some time the reorganisation plan was presented to Billabong’s 170 employees starting a three-month period of discussions between employee representatives from both Boardriders and Billabong and a joint committee from the two groups the regional authority for competition and employment Saint-Jean-de-Luz takes pride of place in a region blessed with great beaches I’m watching my friends try to balance on paddleboards cheered on by an instructor in Vilebrequins Not at all — I’m being pounded with jets in our hotel’s thalassotherapy pool Catching the sun in a warm bath of natural springwater is salty heaven we meet in the pedestrianised streets to shop inhaling the scent from a dozen patisseries In Sandales Bayona we try on candy-striped espadrilles from tall stacks behind the counter and pay our £12 apiece I hadn’t been prepared to get much out of Le Pays Basque Spain’s Basque region seems to get all the love — pintxos Pays Basque villages are distinctively Tudor-Alpine: chalky-white The colours are deliberate: chalk predated stucco Crossings continue day after 12 migrants die in Channel tragedy Kate Winslet says photographer Lee Miller ‘faced so many challenges’ Minister warns of ‘worrying trend’ towards more overcrowded migrant boats an intriguing new perfume from Penhaligon’s Behind a port strewn with fishing nets are decadent Italianate villas including the mansion where Louis XIV married Maria Theresa of Spain in the 17th century We see bearded fishermen with woolly jumpers and flat caps A walk around the bay takes lands us in Ciboure for lunch on the beach His process is innovative: he pours wine into tanks When it’s sloshed around enough he ferments it like champagne “The name means ‘the truth is in the wine’ in Basque,” says our guide The next day we head north to revel in the ragged coastline Trails plough for miles over dunes and brush-covered cliffs where shaggy-haired surfers peeled down their wetsuits at rustic beer shacks Then we double back to Erromardie for platters of Bayonne ham and marinated octopus at a seaview brasserie Back in Saint-Jean-de-Luz we enjoy the easy glam of a seafood bistro (La Boëte) serving lobster The sort of place where you grab sundowners then stumble in for squid named after local lad Jean Paul Gaultier and learn that the restaurant (L’Océan) actually has a Michelin star The boutique-hotel concept is still rather foreign on the coast but it’s made inroads inland Inching behind cyclists aiming for the Pyrenees Its timbered cottages backed by mountains include Arraya a fine restaurant that tosses Basque delicacies — spider crab Kintoa pork — into the Franco-Spanish canon The guesthouse upstairs is all dinged wood antiques and bolts of toile topless pelota players compete with vein-popping aggression then hug like brothers after the last lash of the ball We break off onto a path past tiny wood chapels part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route Though we could have hiked all the way to Navarra in Spain we head for Ainhoa Our great regret is that we can’t bank more time at the palm-lined pool linger longer over pigeon and Breton octopus in the dining room Ithurria’s restaurant barely whispers about its own Michelin star We have time for one final trip before returning to Biarritz — the mountain of La Rhûne and with a funicular that chugs to the summit past shaggy horses you can see over the Spanish border to San Sebastián Ryanair flies from Stansted to Biarritz from £70 return saint-jean-de-luz.com/en VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Lady Victoria Starmer Photo: Paloma Saint LégerFrom the picturesque beaches that have earned it the title of Europe’s surf capital to its majestic landscapes articulated through the Pyrenees mountains and the rolling hills of Basque Country to its proximity to cultural hubs like Bordeaux and Madrid Biarritz has remained something of a well-kept secret and French locals have been visiting for years Biarritz is having a moment right now: what with the likes of experienced French chefs and a renowned gallerist all making their mark on the unassuming seaside town in this small corner of France’s southwest a guide to Biarritz—and why it’s set to be this summer’s buzziest European beach destination it remains the jewel of France’s southwest to this day the past five years have seen a string of new-agey boutique hotels populating the seaside town’s western shores signaling a new awakening for an oft-overlooked slice of France’s coastline a 27-room boutique hotel situated in a former classic car garage that opened in 2021 located just a 10-minute walk from the beach serving sandwiches with locally-sourced ingredients paired with natural wines and hot beverages vinyl records spin daily while a rotation of chefs from all over France are invited to take over the kitchen A popular dinner outpost since 2016, Carøe is owned by a Danish husband-wife duo who sought to create a cross between a restaurant and a tapas bar serving seasonal products paired with natural wine and good music Primarily offering up fish dishes from small boats around the harbor of Saint Jean de Luz and shellfish from the Atlantic up to Brittany as well as one meat plate and many vegetables transforming the former fish shop into a casual restaurant focused on local and seasonal ingredients with a daily-changing dinner menu centered around sustainability featuring 60 to 70 percent vegetable-forward items as well as high quality and sustainably-sourced fish and meat guests can access the wine cellar to hand-select their own bottle of natural wine to pair with their meal Chef and owner Anthony Orjollet of Eléments opened EPOQ and wine shop in the center of Biarritz in 2019 Serving local and sustainable cuisine– 80 percent of which is cooked on an open fire—Orjollet places a particular focus on biodynamic and natural wines Working closely with wild foragers and botanists as well as independent fishermen and local cheesemakers 98 percent of their offering is local and organic Travelers have long descended on Biarritz not only for its gastronomic excellence but also for its unwavering promise of surf and sun The scenic seaside town was once a hub for members of France’s high society who preferred something more laid back than the glitzy Cote D’Azur in the east and a casual atmosphere still persists here thanks in part to the surf culture that has propagated over the years It’s no secret that Biarritz is a surfer’s paradise often being dubbed “little California'” for its breathtaking beaches like Le Grande Plage (Those seeking calmer waters can swim in smaller bays like Plage du Miramar which the British gallerist opened in 2021 As the first contemporary art space in Biarritz which has featured exhibitions by artists like Gaetano Pesce and Tim Breuer Chadwick’s presence has led to many in the art and fashion worlds making a beeline for the city over the past few years An exhibit by artist Tim Breuer at Galerie Champ Lacombe Champ Lacombe will host an immersive group exhibition co-curated by Taylor Trabulus: titled “Baroque,” it features over 20 international artists across multiple mediums and will span both the gallery and Biarritz and Chadwick’s new outdoor location in Les Landes “[While] there is an abundance of cultural festivals that take place in and around Biarritz annually there have not been many new physical spaces that have opened in Biarritz itself as the contemporary art scene is particularly new,” Chadwick explains More recently, there have been a series of projects and residencies taking place at Villa Magnan, as well as at Sunburn Store Chadwick continues: “The closest active contemporary art scenes are in Bordeaux where the CAPC Museum has a brilliant program led by Cedric Fauq and then across the border in Spain in San Sebastián and Bilbao.” Looks like it won’t be long before Biarritz has its moment in the creative spotlight Photo: Paloma Saint LégerMore Great Living Stories From VogueThe Danish Home Lighting Trend That Can Improve Your Mental Health In America’s Cities, Saunas Are Becoming the Hottest Social Spot Millie Bobby Brown Shares Her Favorite Paella Recipe—and Details About Her Wedding to Jake Bongiovi A Day-by-Day Guide to Hiking the Legendary Nakasendo Trail in Japan Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month A group of 32 senior rugby players from the School’s 1st XV and 2nd XV embarked on an intense and rewarding pre-season tour in the Basque Country in late August 1st XV Coach and Deputy Head of English as rugby coaches alongside Matt Cowley Head of Athletic Development and George Demitriou the team spent six days immersed in rugby and team-building activities The tour kicked off with a day of pre-season training at School where the players stayed overnight in Ferox Hall before flying from Gatwick to Bilbao The Squad then settled into a hotel in Anglet and trained each morning at the Stade Christian Belascain in Bayonne Afternoons were spent exploring local Basque towns including Bayonne Anglet and the stunning coastal city of San Sebastian A highlight of the trip was a pre-season fixture against Saint Jean De Luz on Friday evening The Tonbridge team faced a physical and determined local opposition but emerged victorious in their first competitive match of the season the team enjoyed the warm hospitality of their hosts Saturday offered a change of pace with a surf lesson in Anglet followed by an exciting local rugby derby between Biarritz and Bayonne where former England international Manu Tuilagi made his debut for Bayonne The tour provided a perfect blend of training setting the stage for a promising rugby season ahead Back to news cliff-top La Réserve is full of patriotic local colour – and don't miss the chef's l'oeuf piperade La Réserve stands high above the Atlantic on the cliffs to the north of St-Jean-de-Luz It's hard to imagine a more dramatic location for a hotel which includes the legendary Byblos in St Tropez but it's more than fit for chic four-star purpose after a comprehensive updating of the bedrooms last year Opening this weekend after its winter break it is ready to receive guests for the new season the seven stripes of the Basque provinces – three in France four in Spain – feature prominently in the bar The regional souvenir of choice is a cotton but the hotel's approach to the motif is more restrained Terracotta walls and red-tiled floors contrast with deep brown sofas and striped chairs in muted shades of beige and cream some of unknown purpose but all marked with the Basque cross potted orchids and vases of cut hydrangeas create a relaxed and homely ambience the British have brought home pleasures to the area but lawns dotted with palm trees rolling towards the ocean evoke ghosts of fairways past when wealth accumulated by pirates supported a city of 12,000 and the Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain in 1660 Their elaborate his-and-hers palaces are flanked by handsome townhouses built for courtiers and corsairs in the surrounding streets There are 41 rooms and five suites in the main Basque villa plus 44 apartments for two to seven people in the Residence The hotel introduced a radical new concept during the refurbishment replacing the original traditional style with lighter colours and clean The rooms come in assorted colours – the yellow of ripe corn reflecting seasonal aspects of the Basque environment but mixed with softer shades of beige to lessen the aggression Opening the French doors to the panoramic balcony allowed the sound of the sea to roar in through the night has been exploring his native cuisine for the benefit of customers in the Ilura restaurant baby rabbit or scallops tickle many palates but his pièce de résistance is l'oeuf piperade his interpretation of the region's signature dish but the most typical ones take their name from the mountain village of Irouléguy The vines are planted on terraces between 100m and 400m above sea level Producing robust reds on such harsh terrain requires considerable ingenuity but the results – on offer at La Réserve – are both affordable and delectable looks as if it falls off the cliff into the Atlantic and the sauna is more gesture than facility sandy bay and all along the coast is sensational And even though the Golf des Anglais is no longer the Chantaco and La Nivelle clubs are mere minutes away La Réserve, Pointe Sainte Barbe, 1 Avenue Gaëtan Bernoville, St-Jean- de-Luz, Aquitaine, France (00 33 5 59 51 32 00; hotel-lareserve.com). Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies FranceChevron Christopher Cohen/Hôtel Belle PlageSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links but the sun pours down from the cloudless blue sky Agop smiles as he opens the door to the tasting cellar stocked with biodynamic wines from Bertrand’s 16 estates throughout the Occitanie region Talk about le sud conjures up images of lavender fields in Provence and the glitzy beaches of Saint Tropez—and no doubt But outside of that postcard version of southern France regions like wine-soaked Languedoc and surf-haven Basque Country are brimming with culture Especially when coming from the mercurial city of Paris the South of France also offers a spirit of generosity—and still plenty of excellent food and wine a guide to some of our favorite cities and towns across the South of France All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors Hôtel du Palais was commissioned by Napoleon III's wife and put the town of Biarritz on the map in the 1800s Biarritz has been a resort town since the 1800s and the Hôtel du Palais commissioned by Empress Eugenie de Montijo With views overlooking the Atlantic and the Pyrenees in the distance the swank seaside resort reopened in June 2022 after extensive renovations While some of the rooms (86 rooms and 56 suites) retain historic details— ceiling woodwork with deep-sea blues and porthole-shaped windows in partnership with Maison Guerlain and the Leonor Greyl hair institute several restaurants run by the Michelin-star-decorated Aurelien Largeau The 27 rooms and suites have vintage touches with warm woods and terrazzo accents—“neo-retro,” as they call it There’s also a bistro with elegant-meets-cozy dishes like pork breast confit and raclette croque monsieur guests can choose between the onsite heated pool or the beaches of Biarrtiz The historical center of the town of Gruissan's Barberousse Tower in top seen from the opposite side of the pond On the very bottom of the hexagon that shapes France From the Roman footprints in Nîmes to the festive spirit of Toulouse and the wine routes of Languedoc L'Occitanie offers a unique perspective of the south Languedoc is one of the fastest-growing wine regions in France It’s the biggest producer of AOC rosé wines—bottling even more rosé-all-day than its neighbor to the east Opened in 2002 by winemaker Gérard Bertrand the wine resort has perfected the art of hospitality While the château features 13 rooms and 17 suites the newer Villa Soleilla suites are even more secluded The Suite Soleilla is especially luxe—over 1,000 airy square feet with a serene lounge area and a wine cave filled with Bertrand’s choice bottles past the private terrace and over the rolling hills of vineyards You can book tailored treatments at the Biologique Recherche or a lunch or dinner rez at one of three onsite restaurants guests can dine a la plage at the resort's beach club a late-night dinner started with a glass of the delightfully complex Clos du Temple (a biodynamic rosé that commands $190 per bottle) and ended with a warm topped with flaky salt and vanilla bean ice cream July guests have a first-row seat to the property’s well-attended annual Jazz Festival The neo-gothic Château has eight hotel bedrooms with vintage chandeliers and art nouveau mirrors and Mediterranean gardens designed by award-winning designer James Basson in partnership with French cult brand Cinq Mondes hop on a bike and cycle along the canal to the seaside town of Gruissan and stop to explore local artisan shops along the way locals shop for quality local ingredients and gather around tables for platters of fruits des mer and generous pours of wine where the specialty is beef and horse tartare diners get the best show in town—proprietor Bebelle uses a megaphone to shout to the neighboring butcher orders for fresh ground meat which is then lobbed across the market and into the restaurant to adorn plates piled high with homemade frites Matisse and Picasso were captivated by the nature and light of the Côte d'Azur or the French Riviera—a region characterized by sea Raphael Navot designed the 45 rooms and eight pied-à-terres apartments Though the hotel is a great jumping off point for exploring the French Riviera like the buzzy rooftop restaurant from chef Eyal Shani (of the Miznon restaurants) and the Villa Belle Plage spa where guests can pamper themselves with HydraFacials© Provence's lavender fields are a few hour's drive from the Cote d'Azur for a unique mix of scenery produced prolific work from his house surrounded by gardens in Saint-Paul de Vence Located in a small commune (population 475) of Crillon-Le-Brave in Vaucluse, Hotel Crillon le Brave is dedicated to the art of slowing down The 16 rooms and 18 suites rooms look out onto views of vineyards and the mountains of Ventoux With a facial treatment menu designed by Tata Harper the Serene Spa Des Ecuries is a definite selling point or explore the medieval village in Crillon-le-Brave Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel designed the state-of-the-art winery Celebrated cook-by-fire proselytizer Francis Mallman opened a restaurant there in 2017 you’ll find pieces from artists like Louise Bourgeois and Alexander Calder This extraordinary region in southwest France oozes laid-back cool Hemmed between the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees it offers a more authentic Basque experience than its Spanish counterpart This article was published more than 7 years ago but who am I to refuse a taste of frothy rosé on a sun-soaked terrace overlooking the Bay of Biscay a new Pays Basque winery would make a lush out of you with its fruity-fresh fizz and après-surf setting on the beach at Ciboure A converted warehouse dotted with sandy footprints developed by former Moet executive Emmanuel Poirmeur when he discovered Ciboure's protected inlet provided the perfect conditions for a light I'm told by his suntanned assistant Francine as she tours me around the dark cellars in a hollow of a cliff face Poirmeur settled on his unique process: press white and red Basque grapes pour 10 per cent of the liquid into polyethylene tanks and bury them 45 feet under the bay The gentle sloshing of the liquid during the tides combined with the oxygen and carbon dioxide that seeps into the tanks creates a chemical synergy too complex to detail here But the upshot is a fine sparkle and pleasant acidity that "means 'the truth is in the wine' in Basque." Neither version rolls off the tongue Though I could not resist Francine's taster of rosé (nor red nor the diaphanously sliced jambon de Bayonne) Pays Basque creeps up on you that way: extraordinary stuff under the guise of laid-back cool less populous and less developed by industry and tourism than its Spanish counterpart its culture is less diluted than other regions Basque is still the official language – priests hired to work at Bayonne Cathedral Eglise d'Ainhoa or anywhere in between must learn to speak it fluently before the first sermon Even the tiniest hilltop villages have a gabled wall reserved for pelota the local handball that men in whites play (and speculate on) fiercely and competitively The French see it as quelque chose d'exotique; the English as quelque chose d'authentique where the half-timbered oxblood fisherman's cottages were once painted with the actual blood of oxen It's the sort of place where the fishmonger's stucco hut stays open late a few nights a week to present diners with heaping platters of briny Its population of 14,000 is roughly the same as it was as right after the French Revolution And yet the same town hosted the plush 1660 wedding of King Louis XIV to the Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa which you can read about at Maison Louis XIV museum in the small market square where the groom spent his last night as a bachelor Adam provided guests with the first macarons – simple almond-powder biscuits denser than the Ladurée meringues we now know Maison Adam still sells them at its richly stocked épicerie across Place Louis XIV I instead ordered a half-dozen in Adam's parchment-lined white paper box then turned into Gambetta anyway to try on espadrilles at Sandales Bayona a fifth-generation family business that stacks hundreds of pairs behind the counter like old-fashioned dry goods last season Gucci did them for $675.) for drinks at Le Clipper at the Grand Hotel Grand Tour inns on the Atlantic get short-shrift these days with everyone jetting to boutique hotels on the Med but this one's had a rock-solid refurbishment in marble and jewel-toned velvets Le Clipper's new west-facing terrace hits the sea wall to take advantage of those 2,000 hours of sunshine a year It's slick as a deck on the Regent Seven Seas though you can get a Patxaran cocktail flavoured with local Espelette pepper for less than $20 a Michelin-star joint helmed by the affable Christophe Grosjean I'm presented with the marquee dish on the $158 dinner tasting menu: a "deconstructed" squid etched with zebra stripes stuffed with potato risotto and referred to as chipron a la Gaultier The designer and L'Océan fan Jean-Paul Gaultier is the sociable poster child for the town French Basque Country bleeds 150 kilometres inland and south to La Rhune a mountain on the French-Spanish border with a population of squat You can board a cog-wheel train for the 35-minute ascent Or hike the grassy medieval pilgrimage route outside the languid village of Sare a timber-beamed Michelin-star family bistro with pastel-painted guest rooms in winsome Ainhoa The serpentine roads between them swing around small chili pepper holdings and three-million-year-old caves in the limestone massif and slate bergeries gently leaning into the earth The absence of any major industry means an absence of industrial blight; the ugliest building you'll pass is an Intermarché superstore you can walk 30 kilometres of coastal path from Biarritz to Hendaye avoiding big spends and the regrettable designation of a driver From the train station in the surf town Guéthary where commuters watch the tracks while noshing on Basque tapas I follow the arc of the sun as the path inclines gently past food vans in marooned open-topped buses and vast nets collecting algae for face cream Overlooking the ramshackle cabanas at Acotz I watch the sea bash the earthy sand punishingly while surfers stuff themselves into neoprene I slowly get smashed on the route approaching Saint-Jean-de-Luz named for the Belle Epoque taverns painted by the Impressionists stubby sausages to stab with toothpicks and the local dry wine with a 25-per-cent alcohol content A sling-lounger by a low table at the sea wall is good for the soul bad for the hair if you get anything close to average winds It's 40 minutes back to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and I've rounded Pointe Sainte-Barbe to the hotel strip I am soon slipping into a steamy saltwater cove with views out to sea flapping clumsily against a too-strong current I'm faintly allergic to cold Atlantic water and terrified of jellyfish but this is ocean "lite," a thalassotherapy circuit pool siphoned from the sea and pimped up for elderly and arthritic tourists who began coming here to avail themselves of the healing saltwater in the 1950s but this is the most-fun-least-cool activity I've done in years tumbling in the wrong direction like an unfit salmon When the aquabics class around the sinuous bend empties out I drift in to avail myself of the massage jets you should do it like nobody's watching The world capital of thalassotherapy is France's Atlantic coast You're not even allowed to call yourself "thalasso" if you're more than a few metres from shore so the spas that cluster near the Spanish border are so close to the bay the windows get spray No one has determined the therapeutic benefits of thalasso I'm the young whippersnapper here and who can deny the energizing effects of being the youngest in the room But nor has anybody calculated the benefits of a cold glass of rosé or a sea-wall hike and a macaron Maison Tamarin: This eight-bedroom farmhouse bed and breakfast in Acotz on the coastal road between Guéthary and Saint-Jean-de-Luz faces an outdoor pool, two hectares of gardens and one of the quietest beaches on the Côte Basque. Perfectly placed for families, surfers and daytrippers. Doubles from $195. maisontamarin.com Hotel Hélianthal: On the strip in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, this B&B has the most popular thalasso circuit and a prime location near the shops and bars of the town. Doubles from $229. helianthal.fr La Boëte (Saint-Jean-de-Luz): Local brothers serve fresh-from-the-sea shellfish platters, grilled vegetables drizzled with oil and thick fish soups – to be washed down with local white wine or cold Basque beer. laboete-restaurant-poissonnerie-64.com Kaiku (Saint-Jean-de-Luz): Designer Jean-Paul Gaultier is a neighbour and frequenter of this 16th-century stone cellar run by Nicolas Borombo. He deals with local farms and designs exquisite dishes not only with the local fish but veal, pigeon and a 36-hour lamb confit. kaiku.fr The writer was a guest of the Tourist Office of the Pays de Saint-Jean-de-Luz – Terre and Côte Basques It did not review or approve this article hosted the plush 1660 wedding of King Louis XIV to Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa.\n a pioneering winemaker invented a technique in which Basque grape liquid is poured into vats and buried 45 feet under the bay where the tides slosh the liquid and infuse it with oxygen and carbon dioxide.\n \nYou can read about King Louis XIV’s wedding at the Maison Louis XIV museum in Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s small market square.\n you can board a cog-wheel train for the 35-minute ascent.\n you can nosh on Basque tapas on the patio at Le Poinçon.\n the towns of Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz are two evergreen resorts in the Basque country but while the tapas delights of San Sebastian and culture of Bilbao bag most headlines in the western foothills of the Pyrenees facing the Atlantic a destination of note since Napoleon III built a waterfront home for his wife in the 1850s and made the town the summer residence of his imperial court Today Biarritz retains that international allure It’s a stylish holiday resort complete with jaunty candy-coloured beach parasols and world-class surfers competing for the best waves You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed PARIS (AP) — A train hit and killed three people and seriously injured another person in southwestern France on Tuesday morning The regional prosecutor said the victims appeared to be Algerian migrants who had been expelled from nearby Spain and had been sleeping on the tracks The train was on a line that links the seaside resort town of Hendaye The collision occurred at around 5:30 a.m. striking four people who were on the tracks Only one victim has been definitively identified: a 21-year-old man who had recently received an expulsion order from Spanish authorities according to Bayonne Prosecutor Jérôme Bourrier Two others had documents suggesting they were in the same situation but authorities are still working to verify their identities He said it appeared that the group had been sleeping on the tracks and were hit by the first train of the morning While he said migrants walk on the tracks in the area “what’s more surprising here is that the people were lying down The injured person's life is not in danger Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration rewritten or redistributed without permission Conversations and previous steps have been taking place since 2016 and these last years delegations from the coastal Lapurdi city visited the city in California and vice versa Jean de Luz) and Bakersfield are going to carry out youth exchange programs providing stays to facilitate getting to know and learn in another city one of the first measures that will promote the sister-city relationship located an hour and a half northeast of Los Angeles is a city that since its beginnings in the 19th century has had a significant Basque presence. It Euskal Etxea the Kern County Basque Club is celebrating this year its 75th anniversary parking. This celebration also coincided with the club hosting last May the 2019 annual NABO convention Other sister-city relationships in the US with the Basque Country include Donibane Garazi (St Jean Pie de Port) and South San Francisco Basque culture rules in this south-west region of France where visitors can also enjoy superb beaches and unique cuisine The Standard's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site Land at Biarritz airport at the height of summer and you can expect half of your fellow travellers to be heading for the oversized luggage Biarritz of course is the home of surfing in France and thousands make the pilgrimage to its golden sands and rolling waves snowcapped in the winter but dotted with villages full of traditional red-and-white Basque-style houses It’s light years away from what many visitors might call France The French Basque Country starts in Biarritz and nearby Bayonne but the Basque influence is far more in evidence the further south you go from these urban outposts Our first stop on a whistlestop tour of the French Basque region takes us just 10 minutes’ drive from the airport The Basques are as passionate about this fine tipple as the Bretons and Normans further north - and Arbonne's Cidrerie du Fronton with its long tables and convivial atmosphere The cider actually comes free with your meal and you pour it yourself from huge vats on the wall Further south and the picturesque village of St-Pee-sur-Neville brings us into first contact with that great Basque tradition This curious squash-like game featuring players lashing a ball against a fronton (wall) with the help of a huge wooden claw attached to the hand can be witnessed first-hand at many exhibition matches held in the Basque villages FTSE 100 closes lower as global markets continue to wobble Come to St-Pee on the second Sunday of May and you are likely to be overrun by the huge Herri Urats festival celebrating Basque language schools It's actually held at the lovely St Pee lake just outside town with its sandy beach and cafes and a nearby camping ground though thankfully the Basque flavour extends here too offering not only glorious sands and great waves but also a delightful village centre up the hill pelota wall and al fresco dining at the Hotel du Fronton or Hotel Elissaldia opposite The presence of a country and western band playing on the steps of the town hall while encouraging visitors to line dance adds a surreal touch to our visit as well as a sweeping bay sheltered by sea walls with restaurants and bars gathered around its charming place Louis XIV where you might also be lucky enough to be serenaded by an orchestra or prove inspiration to a painter St Jean de Luz is also the home of macaroons - Maison Adam with its distinctive red and black chillis above its awning on the edge of place Louis XIV has been going since 1660 when the family first devised the macaron recipe If you are a fan then you can't miss a visit to Espelette The Espelette pepper - mainly used in the production of Bayonne ham - is only mildly spicy but is hot stuff indeed around here particularly in this month’s harvest season when they are hung out to dry on balconies of every house The Espelette pepper festival is held on the last weekend of October and attracts thousands of tourists with its huge Basque houses and restaurants such as Auberge Alzate with its lovely terrace at the back with views of the Rhune mountain as the rickety ‘Petit Train’ – an authentic wooden train dating to 1924 – takes you from Sare up the 905-metre high mountain on a 35-minute ride past red-headed sheep and pottoks (Basque ponies) grazing on the slopes And last but not least there is St-Jean-Pied-de-Port a preserved 13th-century town on the River Nive with an ancient Roman bridge over the Nive River that’s just 8kms from the Spanish border It’s the old capital of the Basque province of Lower Navarre and also a starting point for walkers on the Camino de Santiago walk hilly region is also home to some splendid wines – sadly we do not have time to visit the Irouléguy wine trail just outside town on the way to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry British Airways flies from London Heathrow to Biarritz twice a week from April to September, ba.com Basque Tourism: tourisme64.com Rhune train: rhune.com, €18 return for adults and where a recently opened boutique-restaurant–community hub offers a serenely chic place for them to shop It is called Etxe Nami which means “house” and “wave” in Basque and Japanese and is situated one quick TGV stop past Biarritz in the center of Saint-Jean-de-Luz (a quaint port town that hosted the moving final scene of Eric Rohmer’s 1986 summer-holiday classic Le Rayon Vert) The name and concept reflect the half-French half-Japanese heritage of founder Gloria Reiko Pedemonte a habitué of the Paris underground creative scene who decamped to the region two years ago after a decade-plus running the electronic music label Tsunami-Addiction Inspired by memories of the country home of her Japanese grandmother a storied early-aughts Paris canteen run by the influential magazine Pedemonte partnered with Paris-based chef Lena Balacco to create a multipurpose space she describes as “a spiritual initiatory journey that would dive me into my deep roots.” An adjacent garden offers ongoing workshops for the public It all makes for an experience far richer than retail—one that feels both radically new and completely natural in a region where time seems to stand still “The Basque country looks strangely like Japan and they have a lot in common: The ocean and mountain landscapes “We want to forge strong links between Japan and the Basque country by relying on crafts and tradition while combining them with modernity The space is an invitation to travel—to understand the cultures.” Etxe Nami, 11 Avenue Jaureguiberry, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France; etxenami.com. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt close to 900 people have been infected by ostreopsis - a form of microscopic algae which was first spotted in the Atlantic Ocean in 2021 A new report by ANSES the French National Health Security Agency warns of the dangers of human contact with the algae and its toxins Marc Rappoport, a doctor who lives in Biarritz believes he was contaminated when surfing in Saint-Jean-de-Luz "I started getting symptoms 45 minutes after entering the water I had nausea but continued to surf," he tells Euronews Green my eyes were red and I was extremely tired It lasted 48 hours and my symptoms were similar to the flu." Whilst inhaling sea spray remains the most common mode of infection, it can also occur through skin contact and ingestion Symptoms typically surface within hours of direct or indirect contact with the algae and tend to disappear within a matter of days those who work on beaches - such as lifeguards - are at particular risk of infection the Basque Committee of Lifeguards stated that they had not yet charted a significant rise in cases of ostreopsis among personnel Workers in nearby shops and restaurants also risk airborne exposure, according to the report "People with respiratory problems" should also be especially vigilant according to to ANSES spokesperson Carole Castini In 2021, multiple beaches in Biarritz in the Basque coast were closed off as a preventive measure due to high levels of ostreopsis monitoring ostreopsis infections proved difficult for health authorities during the pandemic but authorities have since intensified scientific monitoring of the region's waters Maïder Arosteguy, Mayor of Biarritz - a city which attracts thousands of tourists every year - told Euronews Green that closing beaches remains highly unlikely this year "We have more information now than we did in 2021 We also know that if we closed off beaches we should also close off nearby restaurants and shops because of its presence in the air." "We were very disappointed with the French National Health Security Agency for not sending us the report before it was publicly released We must now rush to action but were not warned before of the findings." Arosteguy added that when ostreopsis levels reach alarming rates they will be catalogued in Kalilo a weather app which operates in the Basque region However, some organisations feel that monitoring by authorities could go further. NGO Surf Rider Europe - which works to preserve ocean's across Europe - has been regularly sampling ostreopsis levels in surfing zones "Surfers travel from around the world to surf here but they don't necessarily listen to warnings about algae but we want to ensure their safety" Surf Rider Europe spokesperson told Euronews Surfers risk particularly high levels of contamination "swimmers will go into the water for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, but a surfer will be in there significantly longer A surfer will drink on average drink the equivalent of 1 cup of water per surf session." The NGO has been raising awareness about the dangers of the algae in local surf clubs as well as in pharmacies and in community hubs Ostreopsis outbreaks mainly occur in summertime The microalgae were first observed in France in 1972 and are now regularly found along the Mediterranean coastlines of France The toxic variant of ostreopsis is named the 'ovata' strain and originates from tropical waters Due to a combination of global warming and maritime transport movements Ostreopsis has a brown-reddish colour but is not usually visible due to its microscopic size. But it can aggregate into floating blooms, as well as give water a metallic taste. Nevertheless, other forms of algae can also merge into blooms in the Atlantic Ocean and be mistaken for ostreopsis