10 Fun Facts About Biarritz and the Basque Coast

1. The Arrival of Surfing in France: Biarritz

In 1956, the filming of the movie “The Sun Also Rises” brought two Americans, Dick Zanuck and Peter Viertel, to Biarritz. Dick, who was a surfer, had a surfboard delivered but had to leave before it arrived. So it was Peter who ended up surfing the waves of the Basque Coast with Georges Hennebutte (who would invent the surf leash two years later). So it was the Americans who brought surfing to France.

Before surfing as we know it arrived on the Basque Coast, the French had already been riding the waves by bodysurfing since the 19th century.

2. The “fil à patte” leash was invented in Biarritz

In 1958, Georges Hennebutte filed a patent for his invention: the “fil à patte,” now known as a leash. Unfortunately for him, the fil à patte was not a success, and his patent had been filed for France only. Later, in 1971, the American Pat O’Neill filed a patent for the leash. Contrary to what is often claimed, the leash was not invented in America but in Biarritz!

3. Surfing without a leash is prohibited in Biarritz

The requirement to wear a leash (an accessory that connects the surfer to their board) is included in the beach regulations. The leash not only prevents you from losing your board and having to go back to the beach to retrieve it, but also prevents it from injuring others. You therefore risk a fine if you surf without a leash on the beaches of Biarritz.

4. An ideal topography for big waves

The Basque Country is the place in France with the biggest waves along the French coast. This is due to the underwater topography of the Bay of Biscay (Golf de Gascogne in French) as well as the rapid rise of the continental shelf, which prevents the waves from being slowed down. In fact, the depth of the ocean allows the waves to break late and with great force.

Source: https://claumanette.jimdofree.com/le-saviez-vous/la-houle-les-vagues/

5. One of the world’s biggest waves in Saint-Jean-de-Luz

The Belharra Wave (which means “green mountain” in Basque) can reach heights of up to 20 meters. It can be seen 3 km off the coast of the Basque Coast in winter. It forms only under certain weather conditions, so you’ll be lucky if you get to witness this phenomenon.

6. World Surfing Championship in Hossegor

Every year between 1987 and 2019, the beaches of Hossegor hosted a stop on the World Surfing Championship tour. That event was the Quicksilver Pro France. Since 2021, this event is no longer part of the World Surfing Championship tour but will serve as a Challenger Series event, which is the final qualifying stage for the World Championships.

7. Sharks in Biarritz?

Rumor or legend? Every year, a few small basking sharks (which have no teeth) are spotted near the beaches of the Basque Coast. However, no attacks have ever been reported, so you can surf all summer long with peace of mind.

8. Mediators in the Water

Starting in July 2022, you’ll see “coastal ambassadors” dressed in neon green. Their mission is to advise surfers and raise awareness by reminding them of safety rules.

9. Ibarritz Castle

If you’re surfing at Milady Beach or Ilbarritz Beach, you’ll be able to see Ilbarritz Castle. This residence was once home to an eccentric figure: Baron Albert de l’Espée. Obsessed with hygiene, he drank only Evian water—bottled at the source by a chemist—and ate only fish he had seen alive. To avoid odors, the kitchens (seven in total) were located away from the castle and were connected by an electric dumbwaiter designed by the engineer who built the Eiffel Tower’s elevator. The restaurant “Le Blue Cargo” (the large house at the bottom right) now occupies the castle’s former kitchens.

Baron de l’Espée had commissioned an organ—the third-largest ever built in France. The castle had been built to accommodate this instrument. You can now see it at the Sacré-Cœur in Paris. It is so large that it did not fit under the vaulted ceiling of the Sacré-Cœur and had to be installed differently.

You’ll probably hear various stories about this castle, including that former French President Georges Pompidou once stayed there.

Source: aventurieux.com

10. France’s first surfboard delivery service is based in Biarritz!

In 2014, while working at a surf school on the Côte des Basques, Marty came up with a revolutionary idea: delivering surfboards. He then launched his business and began making deliveries throughout the Côte Basque, from Hendaye to Hossegor, under the name MartySurfDelivery. A few years later, MartySurfShop, his surfboard rental shop, was born. Determined to make his customers’ lives more convenient, he decided to launch MartyBikeRental, his rental and delivery service for regular and electric bikes.

In 2022, Marty continues to innovate and launches Biarritz BBQ Rental, his charcoal and gas BBQ rental and delivery service.