Anglet – La Barre

Anglet · Pays Basque · France

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La Barre is Anglet's smallest and northernmost beach, boxed in between two long jetties at the mouth of the Adour. In the 1960s it was one of the leading waves in Europe, but the river jetty built later shortened the rides; it still gives good lefts at low tide on bigger swells. The walls shelter it from north and south winds, so it is a useful fallback when the open beaches are blown out. In big clean west swells a heavy left known as Le Furoncle breaks right off the tip of the new jetty, for experts only.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard; a step-up for Le Furoncle on big days.

When it works

✓ A 2–3 m west-northwest swell at low tide with a light east wind; the open beaches need about 2 m for La Barre to show 1.5 m waves.

When it doesn't

✕ High tide, when it fills with backwash, small swells, and brown river water after heavy rain.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents
  • rocks
  • pollution
  • boats

Best months

January, February, March, October, November, December

Local tips

Surf it at low tide or just on the turn. When it is good it can draw fifty people and the mood can get tense, so give respect to get it back. Le Furoncle is either on or flat: the take-off is right in front of the jetty, the rips at the river mouth are violent and ships pass close by.

Getting there

At the north end of Anglet's seafront by the Adour mouth; parking is paid for non-residents from May to October, and there is a bus stop close by. Old wartime bunkers along the promenade have been turned into terraces.

History

La Barre was one of the best-known waves in Europe in the 1960s and appears in the surf film The Endless Summer; the Adour jetty works later changed the wave.

Travel notes

How often it works
La Barre needs a big swell and the right sand by the Adour jetty. Wannasurf says it only works about five days a year. When it does, it is one of the best waves in the area.
Crowd and vibe
Most of the year few surfers are here. On the rare good days fifty or more people can paddle out, and some can be unfriendly, so give respect to get it back.
Camping and vans
Anglet has a year-round motorhome aire right at La Barre, by the Adour mouth, with water and waste disposal. The only campsite in Anglet is Eden Villages Bela Basque, on the hill above Lac de Brindos, about 6 km south. Nearest campsite about 6 km away.
Facilities
There are paid car parks (for non-residents, May to October), a bus stop, bars and terraces in the old bunkers, and a lifeguard post in summer.
Water quality
Anglet's beaches are rated excellent and fly the Pavillon Bleu (Blue Flag). But wannasurf warns the water here can be very polluted at times, because the Adour river flows out right next to it. Check the Kalilo app, which shows daily water quality and rain closures, all year in Anglet.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–NW best, WSW–NNW works
Size
1.2–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore ENE–SE; handles onshore up to 18 km/h
Tide
low best, avoid high
Faces
WNW (285°)

Live cam

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

Nearby spots

All spots in Pays Basque · All spots

Sources