Biarritz, Basque Country

Text and Photography by Mart Engelen

Crossing Borders Again

Photographs and text by Mart Engelen

The first stop on our road trip was Biarritz. My father-in-law, who lives in this beautiful seaside resort in the Basque Country, is at an advanced age and needed some help. My wife and I had to fill in all kinds of documents beforehand (it was the last week of lockdown in France). We decided to leave on a Sunday and during the drive we were lucky to be checked only once, at the Belgian border, and for the next ten hours we enjoyed totally deserted roads and beautiful vistas. On arrival, you could spot the surfers on the beautiful deep blue and turquoise Atlantic and what really makes this place so unique, apart from its wild beaches and beautiful surroundings, is the slow pace of life and excellent food. After an early morning swim in the ocean, it’s great to start the day by enjoying your first coffee at ‘Les Halles’ with the locals. My passion for Biarritz dates back to 1995 when I visited the town for the first time to take pictures depicting the surfing scene of the Biarritz Surf Festival, with its ‘hang loose’ lifestyle. It reminds me of California but, of course, in a typically French way. But what intrigues me the most, even today, is the curious combination of a young, vivacious surf crowd, the mysterious and ancient Basque culture with its very own identity and language, and the distinguished glamour and grand style surrounding the European aristocrats and the rich and famous who have found their way to Biarritz since the early years of the last century. A truly wonderful place to unwind.

All images and text © Mart Engelen