Hossegor

The Gouf de Capbreton is a submarine canyon that runs in close to the shore here, and it funnels Atlantic swell so that waves arrive with unusual power and shape at Hossegor and Seignosse; the result is a beach break with a reputation among surfers well beyond France, and a world tour event has been held here for decades. Autumn is the season, when North Atlantic storms send long-period swell. The town itself grew in the 1920s around a saltwater lake, with basque-basco villas in the pines, and it fills with surf industry offices and shops. The beaches are lifeguarded only in summer and the rips are strong.

What you actually see

• The beach break - powerful waves shaped by an undersea canyon offshore.
• The autumn swell - the season when the surf competitions run.
• The lake - a tidal saltwater lake behind the dunes with calm water.
• The pine villas - 1920s basco-landais houses among the trees.

When to go

September and October for surf; June to September for swimming and the town. Winter storms can be spectacular from the shore. The waves in autumn are for experienced surfers only.

Honest expectations

The break is genuinely dangerous for inexperienced swimmers and surfers, with strong rips and dumping shorebreak. Lifeguards cover limited zones and only in season. Summer accommodation is expensive.

Nearby

Capbreton adjoins; Biarritz lies south.