This charming resort has always attracted artists, notably writers, and also boasts some fine architecture.

The houses you see here are in the so-called Basques-Landes style or ‘basco-landais’ in French. This local style incorporates the typically Basque white rendered façades and overhanging roofs, with the timber frames and exposed brickwork of the Landes area. To see these striking houses just head for the seafront, around the lake or the golf course.

Things to see and do in Hossegor, apart from surfing!


Golf

Yes – there is golf in Hossegor too! The Hossegor golf club is called the Golf d’Hossegor and is at 333, avenue du Golf, Hossegor, Tel: +33 5 58 43 56 99 website: www.golfhossegor.com.

Bring the kids to the Reptilarium or the Zoo

About 20 minutes south of Hossegor by car there is the Reptilarium at Labenne where you can see snakes, crocodiles and lizards. There’s a little zoo at Labenne called, logically enough, the Zoo de Labenne which has zebras, lemurs, kangaroos, deer and other species, while there’s also a little farm where children can stroke the animals.

Bird Watching in the Marshland

If you’re into bird watching there’s also the Marais d’Orx nature reserve – La Réserve Naturelle du Marais d’Orx – just to the east of Labenne. It attracts migratory birds, as well as lots of reptiles and amphibians, and there’s a footpath that takes you around this area of marshland. The nearly 1,000 hectare site is said to be the last large remaining protected wetland area on the Aquitaine coast.


Take a boat trip

Take a boat trip from Capbreton and explore what is known as the ‘La côte d’Argent’ or ‘Silver Coast’. Here you have a choice of different boat trips.

Hossegor Restaurants

Back in Soorts-Hossegor itself, there are lots of restaurants to choose from for lunch or dinner. Many of them have great views and are geared for open-air eating.

Jean des Sables at 121, Boulevard de la Dune, is highly spoken of for its high-quality food and has a wonderful setting on the seafront.

A less pricey option is Le Napoli, a pizzeria on Avenue de la Grande Dune which is not far from the beach and generally gets good reviews.

Photo 3 and Photo 4 by Gaël Chardon  / CC BY 2.0 images cropped