Excellence Luxury Villas · Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Luxury Villa Rentals in The Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Basque houses between the Atlantic surf and the first green folds of the Pyrenees
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Where the Atlantic meets the Pyrenees, and France leans towards Spain
France's south-western corner covers two places in one département. On the coast and in the hills behind it is the French Basque Country, with red and white farmhouses, pelota courts in every village and a language older than anyone can quite explain. Inland, to the east, lies Béarn, gentler and more Gascon in temperament, with Pau looking out at a wall of mountains.
Our collection here runs to 39 properties. They range from sea-view apartments in Biarritz to whitewashed maisons with pools in the hills around Arcangues and Ahetze, as well as converted barns and grand maisons de maître with room for several generations.
Below you will find where to base yourself, what to eat and when the light, the surf and the crowds are at their best.
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques at a glance
- Villas
- 39 on the Basque coast and in the hills behind it, with up to 10 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,900 to £9,000 a week, from around £1,800
- Best areas
- Biarritz and Bidart on the coast; Arcangues, Ahetze and Urrugne just inland
- Best time
- June to September for the beach; May and October for walking, food and quieter roads
- Getting there
- Biarritz airport sits just outside town, with Pau serving Béarn and San Sebastián across the border
Browse all 39 villas in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
The Basque House Biarritz9 bedrooms
Villa du Ciel France6 bedrooms
Manoir Landais France7 bedrooms
Villa Magellan France6 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Biarritz and Bidart for beaches and surf, Arcangues and Ahetze for countryside within easy reach of the sea, and Urrugne for the foot of La Rhune and the road to Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
An empress's resort and its surfing neighbours
Biarritz turned fashionable when the Empress Eugénie had a summer villa built on its Grande Plage, which still stands today as the Hôtel du Palais. The town has kept its Belle Époque manners and added a surfing habit. On a good evening the Côte des Basques fills with longboarders while their parents take a drink on the terraces above.
To the south, Bidart and Guéthary are smaller and more relaxed, with clifftop paths and good beach restaurants. Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where Louis XIV married the Spanish Infanta in 1660, has a working fishing harbour and a sheltered bay that suits younger swimmers.
Pelota courts, peppers and a mountain train
A few minutes inland, the coast gives way to green hills scattered with timbered farmhouses. Arcangues is a hilltop village with a golf course, a fronton and a churchyard where the singer Luis Mariano is buried. Ahetze sits quietly behind Bidart and Guéthary, close enough to drive down to the beach for a morning swim.
Further in, Espelette hangs its red peppers out to dry on house fronts in late summer, and Ainhoa is listed among the most beautiful villages of France. From the Col de Saint-Ignace, a rack railway climbs La Rhune, at 905 metres, for views over the coast and well into Spain.
A royal birthplace and a balcony on the mountains
Pau was the birthplace of Henri IV, and his château still stands above the river. The Boulevard des Pyrénées, laid out along the edge of the town, gives one of the finest mountain panoramas you will find from a café table in France. The Victorian British took to Pau for its mild winters, and left behind a golf club and a lingering taste for fox hunting.
The vineyards of Jurançon, just south of town, produce sweet and dry white wines that are well worth a morning's tasting. Beyond them, the Ossau and Aspe valleys lead into the high Pyrenees.
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Bayonne ham, gâteau basque and a long, green summer
Basque cooking makes a strong case for itself. Look out for Bayonne ham, axoa, a veal stew warmed with Espelette pepper, ewe's milk Ossau-Iraty cheese with black cherry jam, and gâteau basque. With San Sebastián less than an hour away, lunch in Spain is easy to arrange.
The Fêtes de Bayonne fill the town with red and white for five days each July. Espelette's pepper festival comes on the last weekend of October. The Atlantic keeps the hills green, so pack a jumper along with the sun cream. Our concierge can book surf lessons, golf, tables and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Vue Montagne France3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £7,478 a week
Maison Des Vagues France5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £7,391 a week
Maison de La Lune France8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £6,871 a week
Rent Chateau De Bearn France10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £6,409 a week
Villa du Bonheur France5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £6,025 a week
Villa D’Or France4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,028 a week
Villa Fantastique France4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £5,141 a week
Maison du Sel Royale | 7-Bedroom Villa in Araujuzon Sus7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £5,057 a weekWhy book your Pyrénées-Atlantiques villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Here a short drive takes you from surf beaches to quiet hill farms, and we know which houses keep the sea within easy reach and which trade it for silence and a view of La Rhune. With 39 properties in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Surf lessons, tee times at Arcangues and nearby courses, restaurant tables in Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, day trips to San Sebastián, a private chef, car hire and transfers from Biarritz. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques?
For beaches, surf and restaurants, Biarritz and Bidart are the obvious choice. For more space, a pool and countryside views, look at the hill villages of Arcangues and Ahetze, which are only a short drive from the sea. Urrugne suits walkers who want to be near La Rhune and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
When is the best time to visit the Basque coast?
July and August are the warmest and busiest months. June and September are warm, quieter and good for surfing. May and October are ideal for walking, eating out and the village festivals. Expect some rain at any time of year, because that is what keeps the hills so green.
What is the difference between the Basque Country and Béarn?
Both are part of the same département, but they have different histories. The French Basque Country covers the coast and the western hills, and has its own language, sport and cooking. Béarn lies to the east around Pau, has Gascon roots, and is known for Jurançon wine and its deep Pyrenean valleys.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques cost?
Across our 39 villas in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, weekly rates typically range from £2,900 to £9,000, with the most affordable from around £1,800 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques from the UK?
Biarritz airport sits just outside the town and has flights from the UK, some of them seasonal. Pau airport is better placed for Béarn, and San Sebastián and Bilbao airports across the Spanish border are also useful. Our concierge can arrange car hire or private transfers.
Are there villas in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques for large groups?
Yes. Our Pyrénées-Atlantiques collection includes properties with up to 10 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
39 Basque houses and villas between the Atlantic and the Pyrenees, booked direct with our concierge on hand