Anglet, between the ocean and the forest

In just a few decades, this little commune between Bayonne and Biarritz has succeeded in making itself a name among addresses highly-prized for their fine art of living. Large beaches, pine forests, cycling trails, golf-courses, tennis clubs and surfing spots are among the assets offered by the enticing Anglet.

A town with 37,000 inhabitants belonging to the agglomeration formed by Bayonne and Biarritz, Anglet boasts eleven beaches on a coastline 4.5 km long : those of La Barre, Les Cavaliers, Les Dunes, L’Océan, La Madrague, La Petite Madrague, Les Corsaires, Marinella, Les Sables d’Or, Le Club and that of the VVF holiday village. A pine forest covers 10 % of its territory. The Brise-Lames sailing harbour marks the starting-pont for very charming walks along the Ardour and its tributaries. With its many bays and coves, the area offers a labor­atory for techniques monitoring shoreline erosion. The economy focuses on tourism and thalassotherapy, thanks to the Centre Atlanthal. The surfing culture also pervades the local atmosphere : eleven surfing spots benefit from inter­national renown, and many competitive events liven up the summer and autumn. Around Chambre d’Amour (a neighbourhood in Anglet thus named in homage to a pair of lovers supposed to have been cut off by the high tide in the 17th century), there are surfing schools and relaxed bars which are gathering places for fans of the waves. Designed in 1927 by British architect Tom Simpson, the Golf de Chiberta is comprised of two courses ideally laid out between the ocean and the forest. Thanks to Indian summers and rather brief winters, the greens can be played all year round. Anglet also offers a university campus of 3,600 m2 in the midst of a natural area of about 22.25 acres. Since 2002, the “UFR Sciences et Techniques” dispenses training courses at degree level in physics, chemistry and biology.

Many people would love to have a holiday home, or even their main residence, in Chiberta, the residential part of Anglet : “This neighbourhood is becoming ever more lively. It offers excellent living conditions, with everything dedicated to well-being. In the morning, residents go surfing or jogging on the beach, some setting off on bikes, others heading for the Pignada health circuit at the heart of nature amidst the pines,” says Alexandra Guinel, manageress of the Crazy Home agency, founded in Anglet in 2009. “Life here is very pleasant, everything is within walking distance : the beach, shops… And Biarritz is only 5 minutes away by car or on regular shuttle buses. The town is lively year-round”. And it offers a wide choice of accommodation as well as diverse architecture : old Basque houses to renovate, contemporary villas, properties designed by architects or even building plots where one can build the house of one’s dreams.

“The most highly-prized homes are those near the golf-course, around the lake of Chiberta or at the edge of the beaches,” says Patricia Biondi, manageress of Sotheby’s International Realty in Biarritz. “Some of the houses are very luxurious, offering lofty interiors and top-notch appointments.” And what about the clientele ? “French for the most part,” says our specialist. “60 % of our clients are looking for second residences. They are drawn to this town which they see as a go-ahead alternative to Biarritz.” In Chiberta, prices are now identical to those in Biarritz, ie. from 10,000 to 12 ,000 € per sq. metre. To acquire a lovely villa with a garden, one needs a budget of 700,000 to 1 million euros. In the case of building land, prices revolve around 1,000 € per sq. metre depending on the location.

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful golf-courses in the Basque country, the Golf de Chiberta has played its part in the boom experienced by the commune. Villas around its edge post very high prices. The 18-hole course has, in fact, attracted a clientele of Anglo-Saxon golfers who own holiday homes close to the greens. Among his most recent sales, Pierre Deglaire, manager of the Coldwell Banker agency in Biarritz, mentions “a contemporary villa of 375 m2 with a view of the lake and golf-course, priced at 3,805,000 €”. In the Chambre d’Amour neighbourhood, which is more built-up, one can find a few apartments. “Though Anglet is mainly a market composed of villas,” adds Pierre Deglaire, who estimates that the segment for apartments only accounts for 20 % of properties available for sale.

A developer from Bordeaux has just acquired the former Fontaine Laborde campsite - closed since 2009 - on which to build a high-end residence. Luxury apartments should thus be available in

the not too distant future.