Biarritz beach is the best in France

BEACH users have voted the Côte des Basques beach in Biarritz as the best beach in France in a survey run by Tripadvisor.

Calling the famed surfers’ beach a “superb spot”, the Tripadvisor voters added: “The views are breathtaking, the waves fantastic and the sunset truly magnificent.”

It is the second year in a row that the Biarritz beach has grabbed the award with its site on the Atlantic and views to Spain and its mountains.

But it ranks only 25th on the European list of best beaches, with the No1 being Rabbit Beach on Lampedusa, Sicily.

Indeed, five British beaches were named ahead of it on the European list. Woolacombe beach was voted No4, Weymouth No8, Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales No11, St Brelade's Bay in Jersey No14 and Porthminster, St Ives No18.

Runner-up in the French top 10 is Plage de Palombaggia, Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, followed by Biarritz’s southern neighbour, the 3km Plage d'Hendaye, the longest beach on the Basque coast.

The other beaches honoured were: Plage du Touquet, Pas-de-Calais; Plage de Pampelonne, Saint-Tropez; Plage de Santa Giulia, Porto-Vecchio; Plage du Petit Spérone, Bonifacio and Plage d'Arone, Piana (all Corsica); Plage d'Espiguette, Le Grau-du-Roi, Gard; Plage de Paloma, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes.

Côte des Basques photo: Dennis Jarvis 2014