Hossegor

Visit Hossegor, Aquitaine

Hossegor (also called Soorts-Hossegor) is on the coast to the north of Bayonne and Biarritz in the south-west corner of France.

More than just another Atlantic beach resort, the resort is now known as one of the finest surfing beaches to be found anywhere - it is referred to as the French surfing capital.

Not just for surfers...

Other beach life and nightlife hasn't been neglected of course, and the resort is very popular with sun, fun and beach lovers during the summer months.

The town itself is attractive with lots of nice villas built in the local Basque / Landes style of architecture. Even the new apartment blocks are built in the local style. The casino (every beach town in France seems to have one!) is also an attractive building and is a ‘batiment classé’. The shops are very well set up with supplies for golfers and surfers.

There is also a harbour (and beach) at nearby Capbreton where you can park your boat while you go surfing!

In July and August it is possible to have a guided visit of Hossegor.

From the main town it is a short drive to the beach and the beaches here are the fantastic long sandy beaches typical of this part of the Atlantic coast from Arcachon to St Jean de Luz.

Access to the beach is made easier with wooden walkways and parts of the beach are watched by lifeguards.

The only downside really is that lots of apartment blocks have been built here next to the sea and there is almost another town here behind Hossegor itself. The apartments are fine but the same care has not been made to build in the local style. Plenty of other accommodation options are available such as hotels and camping.

Hossegor Surfing

Surfing is both a big attraction for visitors and now a very important tourist activity for Hossegor.

Apparently the surf is particularly good at Hossegor because of a trench ('le gouf') in the ocean floor just off the coast that helps focus the waves. Whatever the reason, it is a very popular destination with surfers looking for the best waves - but these can be very high, frequently the 'tubes' of wave that surfers love so much, so not necessarily for the inexperienced.

It is also possible to organise surfing lessons if you fancy giving it a try!

Note, at the end of August each year the Rip Curl Pro world surfing championship is held here at Hossegor.

Other Hossegor leisure activites

In Hossegor there is also a large lake, useful for avoiding the waves on the beach when they get a bit large for the children. The great expanse of the Landes forest lies behind the town, popular with nature lovers and cyclists.

Golf is another popular activity in the Soorts-Hossegor region (and elsewhere on the Atlantic coast around Biarritz). Other sports offered in the town are diving, tennis, horseriding and Basque pelote.

See Aquitaine and Landes (the region and department for Hossegor) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Hossegor: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Photos of Hossegor

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Suggested places to visit near Hossegor, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Biarritz 22km; La Bastide-Clairence 29km; Dax 31km; Cambo-les-Bains 33km; Espelette 35km; Saint Jean de Luz 36km; Ciboure 36km; Itxassou 36km; Ainhoa 40km; Sare 41km; La Rhune 42km;

Hossegor tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Marais d'Orx - site of natural beauty (7km) : Courant de Huchet - site of natural beauty (26km) : Parc du Sarrat - remarkable garden (30km) : Jardins de la villa Arnaga - remarkable garden (33km) : Courant de Contis - site of natural beauty (49km) :

See more places and a map at places near Hossegor