Hi there, this will be my first proper experience of France and I'm really looking forward to it. My boyfriend is a surfer and has spent a lot of time in Biarritz/Hossegor area, and although I'm sure he'd like to spend all his time surfing there again on this trip, I'll be there too this time and I'd love to actually see some of France, although it may be mostly coastline.
We've just decided to go, and are leaving Weds night 2nd May for ten days, to arrive in Roscoff. We have a van that we can sleep in, but are taking a tent as well. Our budget after petrol is about 60 Euros per day, so not bad at all. We will probably be driving rather fast down to Biarritz area (can anyone reccommend a good campsite or clean accommodation there, and what is Biarritz like?) so that he can do some surfing, then driving more slowly back up to Roscoff again (10/11 days in all). Can anyone recommend good secret surf spots along the way? And, more importantly for me, just anywhere unmissable to stop and spend a day or night? I like interesting, beautiful places, towns and villages; good food and definitely red wine, local specialities etc; churches, natural spas, places of historical interest or intrigue; and, most of all, markets - in particular for furniture and bric-a-brac.
Any suggestions for anywhere that has captured a heart or mind along that route would be much appreciated :)
I think you'll have some compromising to do because the kind of places you seem to be interested in are not really along the coast. I suggest you get a decent guidebook, trace out your route on it and then look to see which places are within a reasonable distance so that you are not going too far off your route. Then, according to the description of the place, choose where you want to stop.
As for markets with furniture and bric-a-brac, either you have to be lucky and find a flea market or else, check to see where there are places belonging to Emmaus, or Les Amis des Pauvres or one of those charity organizations. People donate stuff which they then sell. Their furniture is often crappy and overpriced, but you can find small stuff if you are lucky.
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