France (Atlantic coast) surf forecast

Surfing in France (Atlantic coast)

France's Atlantic coast runs from the rocky tip of Brittany down to the Spanish border, and most of it is open to the swells that cross the Bay of Biscay. The southern half is a long, almost straight run of sand: Lacanau in the Gironde and the Hossegor area in the Landes sit on beaches that face roughly west, with sandbanks that shift through the year and easterly winds blowing offshore. These are beach breaks first and foremost, so quality depends on where the banks have settled, and rips and shore break are a real factor once the swell builds.

At the southern end the coast bends into the Pays Basque around Biarritz, Anglet and Guéthary, where reefs and more sheltered corners give options when the open Landes beaches are too big. Further north, Brittany's coastline is far more broken up. La Torche, at the south-western corner of Finistère, is an exposed beach and point setup that picks up westerly swell and is fairly consistent outside summer, when it is often flat.

As a rule the whole coast is at its best from autumn into winter, when North Atlantic low pressure systems send regular groundswell. September and October are often singled out because swell is building while summer crowds disappear. Winter brings the biggest surf but also more storms and onshore days. Summer is the flattest and busiest time, though it is also when learners get the gentlest waves and the warmest water.

Ability needs vary a lot. Heavy beach breaks such as La Gravière and Les Cavaliers are for experienced surfers, while spots like Biarritz, Capbreton and parts of Lacanau suit beginners and improvers in smaller conditions. Use the area pages below for detail on each part of the coast.