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"I know of no other place more charming and magnificent than Biarritz" Victor Hugo

Internationally famous resort with its magnificent surfing beaches, golf courses, cultural events, pelota basque and traditional fiesta's. Situated next to St. Jean du Luz near the Spanish border at the heart of the Basque country.

There are some immediate attractions within walking distance: Pignada Forest for jogging, cycling, horse-riding and a kids' adventure park; Plage des Cavaliers is a lovely sandy beach within 5 minutes walk; golf and tennis at Chiberta Golf Club, a 10 minute walk; and Alianthal Thalassotherapy is less than 5 minutes' walk.

Biarritz is back in fashion. Celebrities and sports stars are flooding back to live in the region, turning their back on the Côte d'Azur. Biarritz is an eclectic place; it somehow manages to mix an affluent elderly population with a steady flow of well-dressed surfers plus a sprinkling of super-rich jetsetters on top. A compact and stylish town, Biarritz really does have something for everyone...famous beaches, museums, fine restaurants, boutiques, casino, golf courses, horse-riding and the south west's famous spa and thalassotherapy centres.

The Basque Country is a little world all of its own. The regional cuisine and architecture provide character enough but more than that, this ‘country’ also has its own language. For a ‘formal’ introduction to Basque culture, try the Musée Basque at Bayonne. However, the best way to soak up the culture is to visit one of the many fêtes or ‘festivals of strength’ that take place in the high season, or, even better, watch a game of pelota. The fastest ball game in the world, this is perhaps the most vivid image of Basque country.

St Jean de Luz is also nearby and whether its beaches, shops, restaurants or festivals you are looking for, both of these towns are hard to beat. Stylish but without the pretence of the Riviera, both are colourful and vibrant seaside towns with plenty of family evening entertainment. They are the sort of places where you will see whole families sitting down to start dinner at 10.30pm! St Jean de Luz is recognised as the capital of Basque cuisine and is noted for its seafood (it is one of Rick Stein’s favourite places) and use of the spicy Basque staple pimento. For sampling pretty Basque villages on the coast, try Bidart and Guéthary.

A great trip for the kids is a ride on Le Petit Train de la Rhune. Standing over 900m high, La Rhune is the distinct and symbolic peak of the western Pyrénées. It can be reached by foot – a lovely day’s walking – or by funicular train. The 360 degree views from the summit are spectacular.

There are great beaches all along the coast from the Spanish border at Hendaye, north into the Landes and Gironde départements. Because the Côte d’Argent is so vast, the beaches are less crowded than on the Mediterranean.

The area is totally under-visited for its golf despite the game’s rich history in this region and the presence of some wonderful courses: the renowned Chiberta course is walking distance from the villa and Biarritz le Phare (continental Europe's 2nd oldest course) is just a 5 minute drive.

Chantaco, Nivelle, Arcangues, Makila, Hossegor, Seignosse and Moliets are all within 45 minutes drive. José-Maria Olazabal’s course, Fuenterrabia, is just across the border into Spain. Horse-riding, mountain-biking and fishing are also popular. Surfers will already be familiar with the Côte Basque, and there are plenty of surf schools for beginners.

Thalassotherapy and thermal spa are big attractions in this area – people come from all over France for sea and freshwater therapies; there are venues across the region including Hendaye, St Jean de Luz, Biarritz and Dax.

The countryside is a delight; the rolling green hills are popular with the few British visitors that the region receives. The foothills rise to the mountains of the Pyrénées which are home to dozens of hiking trails including the famous coast-to-coast GR10 track. Eagles, wild horses and the occasional brown bear make this one of Europe’s most exotic wildlife locations. Bird-watchers will be kept busy twitching. The Pyrénées also provide thrill-seekers with a range of extreme sports from white-water rafting to paragliding. The mountain landscapes are at their finest in the Haut-Béarn region.

Other suggestions for day-trips from Tamarind:

• A tour of Basque country villages: Ascain, Ainhoa, Sare, La Bastide Clairance Cambo-les-Bains, Espelette and St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
• A visit to Bayonne, the under-rated ‘capital’ of the Pays Basque; sample its famous chocolates and hams and visit the splendid cathedral
• Wine-tasting in the vineyards of Irouleguy
• A visit to the city of Pau for sight-seeing, boutique shopping and café-crawling
• Crossing the border into Spain for a visit to San Sebastian, Pamplona or the Guggenheim museum at Bilbao