068 - Villa Fontaine  Hossegor (5 kms)

In our opinion

What makes Villa Fontaine a great holiday rental

The villa incorporates a number of impressive design features, not least the floor-to-ceiling use of glass in the main living area. It is built to make the most of the sun, both inside and outside. The decked terrace and pool are south-facing and the stunning interior is lit with natural light for most of the day. There is plenty to do in the area - golf, surfing and tennis are all nearby.

Best for:
Families or groups of surfers or golfers.

Suitability for:

Unsuitable for toddlers because of the open-tread staircase, and the lake to the rear of the property.

Unsuitable for people of limited mobility due to number of steps around the property.

Why Hossegor?
An established surfing resort with a very 'cool' vibe. The resort offers great beaches, good shopping, a lovely lagoon and plenty of activities (surf, golf, tennis, cycling, sailing & more).

Accommodation

Light, contemporary architect-designed holiday villa with pool

Villa Fontaine is one of several new villas on a lotissement development near the village centre. Each property is different to the next and it looks as though the owners have had some fun designing their homes.

Villa Fontaine is particularly impressive when viewed from the rear (see main photo). The owner has certainly kept the local glazier in business; the ample use of glass has created an incredibly light home. The luminous feeling is especially apparent in the open-plan séjour where a double-height ceiling employs glass from floor-to-ceiling. There is a contemporary feel throughout.

There are some other touches of individuality too. The owner has dispensed with the idea of a conventional back garden and constructed a tiered decked terrace instead which incorporates an 8x4m swimming pool.

Much quirkier was the decision to locate the first floor bathroom in between the two upstairs bedrooms - on an open mezzanine. The advantage is that from the bathtub you can look out to the lotissement's ornamental lake.

Inside:

There are 4 bedrooms in total - two downstairs (with either a private balcony or access to the terrace), two off the mezzanine level upstairs.

The ground floor living area is open plan and incorporates lounge (fireplace, CD player, TV & DVD player), dining area and kitchen (including washing machine and dishwasher). The kitchen is fully equipped and a large breakfast table provides ample seating for guests. Access to the terrace is provided from the dining area.

Two bedrooms are on the ground floor and these share a bathroom and wc. There is a very handy cloakroom for storing coats and shoes, etc. From the living area is an open-tread wooden staircase leading to the mezzanine bathroom and two first floor bedrooms.

Outside:

The villa is built overlooking a small lake, adding to the feeling of relaxation when one is sitting on the balcony or terrace. Garden furniture and sun-loungers are provided. Outside, to the front, there is ample parking.

This is a popular villa for groups of friends and families with older kids but in our opinion it is unsuitable for toddlers and children who are not swimmers. The swimming pool has a security alarm in accordance with French regulations. It is guests' responsibility to turn it on.

The owner asks guests not to smoke in the house.

Please note:
The villas are relatively close to one another which means if you want to sit out on the terrace until late without fear of disturbing neighbours then we would suggest more secluded alternatives.

There is an independent basement studio apartment below one wing of the villa. It is separately accessed, and is inaudible and barely visible from the villa. It may sometimes be occupied during rental by the owners or their caretaker - they are on hand to look after the pool and answer any questions, but will otherwise leave you in complete privacy.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (43.69110668, -1.377799809)

We endeavour to be as accurate as possible using Google maps but some error is possible.

Things to Do & See

Nearby Activities
Surfing · Kitesurfing · Windsurfing · Sailing · Water-skiing · Jet-skiing · Kayaking · Golf · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Spa & thalassotherapy · Pelote Basque · Course Landaise · Aqua Parc ·

Day-trip Ideas

Belle-Epoque Biarritz - style & surf chic combined
Pretty Basque fishing port & resort, St Jean de Luz
Discover the 'postcard' hillside villages of the Basque Country
Hop over the border into Spanish for San Sebastian or Bilbao's Guggenheim
Explore the superb Pyrenees National Park for great walks & wildlife

Our Personal Highlights

An evening stroll along Hossegor's lagoon, followed by a seafood supper
Explore the coast, forests and lagoon via its network of cycle trails
A day's golf & surf at Seignosse
Unwind at the peaceful Marais d'Orx wetland reserve
Catch an exhibition of Course Landaise at St Vincent de Tyrosse

The Local Area: Hossegor (5 kms)

Seignosse-Bourg is a small Landais village just inland from the Atlantic coast. There's a boulangerie in the village centre and a couple of restaurants to choose from, plus a big tennis centre only a 5 minute walk from the house. There won't be much to keep you in the village night after night, but that's not the point. It's perfectly situated to enjoy the coast and Hossegor but without being in the centre of the action.

Golf de Seignosse is a water and forest monster of a course ranked in Continental Europe’s Top 50! Very welcoming clubhouse with a restaurant and bar (serving meals midday-5pm each day) with fabulous views of the course from the terrace. The course hotel serves excellent, more formal à la carte meals in the evening.

Seignosse Plages - 4kms to the west are the continuous beaches les Estagnots, Bourdaines and le Penon. The architecture is not especially attractive but it's the lovely sandy coastline that draws visitors. Popular with surfers and families, the beaches are superb. There are seasonal shops, a bit of nightlife and a Water Park.

Hossegor & Capbreton - the local region of Sud Landes is typical Aquitaine - endless stretches of sandy beaches buffeted by the Atlantic ocean, vast pine forests punctuated by the occasional lake and criss-crossed by a network of cycle trails.

Capbreton and Hossegor are neighbouring seaside towns which between them offer an appealing contrast. Hossegor is the more famous, largely through its surfing heritage. It's a 'feelgood' place offering boutique shopping, great bars and restaurants, world-famous surfing beaches, casino, and a lovely golf course and a beautiful lake for safe bathing and sailing.

Capbreton lives in the shadow of Hossegor but it's the place the locals prefer for eating out and for beaches. It's definitely the more authentic of the two, largely because of its fishing port and daily fish market. In fact, the town thrived in the 19th century as a whaling port and this sea-faring heritage is still very much apparent today. It also has a charming town centre and market. Capbreton is just more French than Hossegor, if you see what we mean. It remains, admirably, something of a French (and Spanish) secret. Capbreton sea-front is a bustling place, day and evening. You can walk all the way along the marina and sea-front. The jetty, known locally as l'estacade, offers excellent coastal views. There's normally a few locals here trying to catch a fish for supper. It makes for great viewing!

Like most of the south west coast, Capbreton-Hossegor is something of an outdoor playground. Take your pick from surfing, canoeing, sailing, diving, fishing, cycling, tennis, horse-riding and golf to name a few. Golfers will enjoy the local course, the 1930s-built Golf d’Hossegor. The traditional club house is also a delight. A short drive up the road is the infamous Golf de Seignosse. There are other great courses within 45 minutes drive including Moliets and several around Biarritz.

The whole Aquitaine coast is a perfect venue for surfers but at Capbreton the presence of an offshore hollow in the sea-bed gives the waves here that extra edge. If you don't fancy a go yourself, just sit on the sea-front with a drink of your choice and watch the surfers ride to shore.

Cyclists can enjoy the many safe forest tracks that connect between the towns along the coast. Sailing enthusiasts should head for the Capbreton Marina. Being so close to the Pays Basque border, sporting life also includes the legendary game of pelote; you can watch a game at the fronton in Hossegor.

Customer Reviews

“Spacious, bright and airy. Loved the swimming pool and the pool table and beach nearby was a huge hit.”

Mrs L McCarthy, stayed in 2008

“The surfschool Le Penon is very nice with very friendly people.”

Mr K Liu, stayed in 2011