Côte des Basques, Biarritz, Surfing beach on the Atlantic coast in Biarritz, France.

Côte des Basques stretches for roughly a kilometer along limestone cliffs with fine sand and offers views toward Spanish mountains across the water. The shoreline displays various zones, from shallow areas to rocks that become visible at low tide.

The beach marked the arrival of surfing to France in the mid-1950s, becoming the place where this water sport was first practiced by Europeans. This made the location the birthplace of a new sport culture on the continent.

The Basque name, Euskaldunen kostako hondartza, means "beach of the Basques' coast"; locals shorten it to Côte des Basques. It is one of Biarritz's six beaches, and its neighbour is Marbella beach. At high tide the sand disappears, so bathers move up toward the town.

Lifeguards are on duty from May through September and inform visitors about water conditions and safety measures. Keep in mind that the beach changes appearance with tides, creating different conditions for swimmers and surfers throughout the day.

At high tide the beach disappears almost entirely, and it lies directly beside Marbella beach. It was here that Georges Hennebutte made Europe's first surf session in 1956.