HOSSEGOR
Soorts-Hossegor is a commune in France. It located is in the Landes département, in the Aquitaine région. It is well known as a seaside resort and surfing center attracting surfers from around the world since the 60's. Hossegor has gained world renown for the quality and quantity of its sand bars and beach breaks and the economy is now centered around surfing.
Hossegor has an amazing geographic location backed by forest and on an ocean, lined with endless fine sandy beaches and a 250 hectare salt-water lake. Hossegor is (despite all us surfer-types passing through) a very elegant town, proud of its past and heritage but flexible and forward thinking about its future.
Hossegor is a hive of activity all year round, Classical Music festivals, Harley Davidson motor bike festival, Golf competitions, World surfing championship competitions, European kite festival, the Motocross Enduro on the beach and the Hossegor Pelote Basque Open, plus a wild summer season filled with parties, music and watersports.
The atmosphere in the Pubs, Piano bars, Cafes, Restaurants and Disco's is very friendly and the sports and leisure facilities are excellent: Casinos, Swimming pools, Tennis clubs, Shopping, Marinas and 18 hole golf courses to name but a few.
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BIARRITZ
It was in Biarritz in 1957 that surfing first appeared in Europe, almost by accident. It is now part of the local culture and, in 40 years, the king of all water sports has become an emblem of Biarritz and its region.
It all started with Peter Viertel, an American filmmaker who came to Biarritz to make the film "The Sun Also Rises", the director, along with his famous wife, the actress Deborah Kerr, stopped off to discover the waves of the Côte des Basques (Biarritz). Surfing was unknown in Europe at the time, but he had already surfed in Hawaii and California. He brought his long boards over by plane. A few privileged - and astonished - people discovered the unusual spectacle of this first surfer in the waves off the Villa Belza. This was the spark that ignited European surfing...
In 40 years, surfing has become an integral part of Biarritz life, traditions and identity, culture and economy. It has brought back the city's youth and has helped bring it up to date. It is increasingly a part of the economic activity of the city (surfwear shops, manufacture of boards and equipment, surfing schools, specialised magazines, etc.). There are also the very important economic effects resulting from surfing-related visits (spectators for competitions, surfing holidays…). Surfing has also become an educational issue, particularly with regard to environmental protection (creation of Surfrider Foundation Europe in 1990) and the blossoming of youth sports (creation of sports studies, structuring of clubs, improvement of facilities and learning abilities).
Today, surfings "Aloha Spirit" is everywhere and can be felt throughout the city: shops, events, fashion, daily spectacle. Summer and winter, the familiar presence of surfers riding the waves is part of the landscape. Surfing is rooted in Biarritz and feels at home there.
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SEIGNOSSE
The resort of Seignosse Le Penon is a small, family-friendly seaside resort in the southwest of France situated in the biggest forest in Europe. A half an hours drive from the Pyrenees Mountains. Just 7 km from Hossegor, 35 km north from Biarritz.
It has golden beaches as far as the eye can see and pristine lakes set in beautiful natural suurroundings. Seignosse, like Hossegor, is famous for its waves drawing surfers and spectators for over 20 years of world championships.
Seignosse has a great water park for the kids and big kids ;-), 17 outdoor tennis courts, 18 hole golf course, minigolf, horse riding in Saint Vincent de Tyrosse, fishing, walking trails, bicycles trails, mountain bike tracks... all the activities for an active summer holiday.
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