This area is quite small but full of interest. It is in a shape of a triangle and stretches from St Jean de Luz and the Spanish border on the Atlantic Coast to Mont de Marsan passing Dax on its eastern side and with Pau in its southern side. It mixes seaside, countryside and mountains. The architecture of the Basque houses is attractive and colourful, with wide sloping of roofs of pink or red tiles, and shutters painted a soft bordeaux red, tending to magenta or a dark blue; walls are painted white. In late summer and autumn, in the villages of Espilette, Ustaritz, Hasparren and Saint Pée, the entire walls become red as the owners hang strings of peppers against them to dry in the sun.

On the coastal side, and even just before Biarritz, going down to Hendaye, the beach is broken by rocky outcrops, between which smaller beaches are situated. Some of these have become famous for surfing.

Biarritz is the second town of the Pays Basque. Originally made fashionable by Eugénie, the wife of Napoléon III, who had been taken there as a child, it became the most sought after seaside resort of the 19th century Europe and has remained so with French society ever since. Part of the explanation for this must lie in the beauty of the Pays Basque arrière pays with its valleys and mountains, as the Pyrénées step out in dramatic lines to meet the Atlantic. The smartest resorts are Biarritz, Bidart and St Jean de Luz, all of which have excellent golf courses.

Moving towards the Chalosse, the benefits of the hot springs of Dax have been recognised either by the Gauls and the Romans ages ago. It was, after all, at Préchacq les Bains that Henry IVth treated his gout! As long as we can remember, the principal fame of Dax has not changed, and it has become the most important town of France for hydrotherapy, being recommended by many doctors for all sorts of ailments. Whether you are seeking a cure or just a passing visitor, a walk in the centre of this ancient city is a must, passing the parks and the banks of the River Adour, the Roman remains or the thermal quarter; in summer are the attractions of regular 'course landaise' or Féria.

Further south, the traditional Béarn is a secret well worth discovering for its mountains, valleys, gastronomy and culture; Pau, its capital, is home to Henri IV's castle as well as sumptuous villas and gardens. Down there, the tumultuous mountain streams of the Pyrénées snake through historical cities such as Oloron, Navarrenx, and Sauveterre. Discover Orthez the town of Gaston Fébus, Salies de Béarn, a small delightful thermal town without forgetting the castles at Laas, Morlanne and Montaner. The Béarn has the most impressive Pyrénées landscapes. The Aspe, Ossau and Barétous valleys are true jewels, with wild gorges, forests, and mountain peaks - perfect for walking, horseriding or water-rafting.

Mont de Marsan on the eastern side of our area is both peaceful and dynamic at the same time. It was built in the Middle Ages, spanning the Midou, the Douze and the Midouze and therefore has a strategeic location between the Chalosse, the Armagnac and the Haute Lande. In Mont de Marsan, walk along the flowery streets and you will begin to sense the atmosphere of the south, almost a Spanish air with its tapas bars, its flamenco festival and its bull fights. Mont de Marsan is a most colourful centre with many award-winning gardens. As you admire the reds and pinks, you can walk through the narrow old streets and admire the 12th Century flour mill, the Plumaçon arena as well as a collection of sculptures which make even the streets of the city into a museum reflecting the former glories of Despiau and Wlérick.

Food and Wine

The plantations of kiwis, asparagus or carrots give to the fields an original blend of colours and shapes. The cattle of the Chalosse, the ducks, chickens- indeed all animals bred naturally in the open air, guarantee their quality. Even mushrooms, cèpes or chanterelles picked on the spot have an unmistakable flavour. Basque cuisine is splendid being open to the rich influence of the south west of France and the north of Spain. If you to ask a native of the Pays Basque for his national dishes he would probably provide 'ttoro', a fish soup, which over the years has been developed into a robust fish casserole based on cod, conger eel, prawns, and mussels; 'la piperade', an omelette of red and green peppers and hot peppers; and 'bakalao', a salt cod casseroled in olive oil and garlic. The ham of Bayonne is famous throughout France.

Also foie gras is prevalent, often best cooked with apples; try a pigeon salami, or a fillet of duck breast with cèpes.

Festivals

All summer long, festivals are organized in the south west of France: from Dax, Bayonne, Biarritz, Aire sur Adour to Saint Sever, Mont de Marsan, Tyrosse, Soustons or Hagetmau - you will find a variety local entertainment in each place, Indeed almost every village will have an annual fête - an event to which everyone goes… friends, families, young, old as well as many passing visitors. The larger centres celebrate with the "course landaise" often happening in an arena; which could well be followed by music performed by local orchestras that lasts well into the small hours of the next day.

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