On the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast in the French Basque Country

 “I have a very nice garden and extraordinary markets, where there are products from the earth and the sea, in the French Basque country.” — Alain Ducasse

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(on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast in the French Basque Country). Nested in the Pyrenees Mountains and along the Atlantic Ocean, the Basque country covers seven provinces in southwestern France and northeastern Spain. Featured here is the French Basque Country (Pays Basque), a cultural region within the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in southwestern France, bordering the western Pyrenees Mountains, along the Bay of Biscay. The region extends from the Anie Peak of the Pyrenees to the magnificent rock-bound coast around Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Bay of Biscay. Several rivers divide the landscape into many verdant valleys that support both agriculture and forestry. The Basque, who speak a language that is among the oldest in Europe, are ethnically distinct from the people who surround them in France and Spain, having preserved their identity among the waves of migrants who have passed through the region since prehistoric times. Along the coastal fringe, known for its pleasant climate, tourism is the economic mainstay with resorts such as Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure, and Hendaye. Featured here is Biarritz, a stylish beach town, which was once the vacation spot for nobility and is now Europe’s surfing capital. It has experienced a tourist renaissance -- summers are quite busy. but you’ll see affluent vacationers in designer gear and surfers in flip-flops, and hear them speaking French, Spanish, or Basque. The Grande Plage (the central beach of Biarritz with shopping, cafes and nearby restaurants) is the center of the action. Behind the beach, check out the restored, Art Deco casino and wander the streets down to the old port to the west.  During your stay in one of the area's top palaces, visit world-class vineyards, cascading waterfalls, emerald valleys, high-mountain passes, and the long stretches of fine sand beaches. Stop in quaint villages, rich in French architecture; taste internationally-renowned Basque cuisine; visit the Guggenheim Museum and archeological treasures; enjoy traditional Basque games (like Pelote); and, see historical monuments and join some of the local festivities. The seaside resort of Biarritz, one of the southwest's gems, has been a favorite beach getaway since Napoléon III and his Spanish-born wife Eugénie arrived during the mid-19th century. Its elegant villas and heritage-listed residences, which glitter with belle époque and art deco details, still retain their enduring glamour.