Pyrénées-Atlantiques takes its name from the mountains and ocean that frame it, stretching from the surfing beaches of the Basque coast to the ski resorts of the western Pyrénées. Good road and rail links keep Pau and the Basque coast well connected to the Spanish border. Defined by Basque and Béarn history, Pyrénées-Atlantiques is home to Biarritz, combining a sophisticated seaside history with some of Europe's best surfing, and to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a traditional Basque fishing port. Outside the main visitor towns, buyers will find Pau, sitting inland in the gentler Béarn region with views towards the Pyrénées, and characterful river towns such as Oloron-Sainte-Marie and Navarrenx. Pyrénées-Atlantiques is equally known for offering skiing and the Spanish border both within around an hour of Pau, and the surf beaches of the Basque coast under two. A varied climate brings mild coastal summers and colder, snowier winters in the mountains. Property choice ranges from a Basque villa near the coast, a mountain property suited to skiing or a townhouse in Pau or one of the Béarn river towns. With coast, mountains and Basque culture, it remains among France's most distinctive departments. The average house price in Pyrénées-Atlantiques stands at €2,284/m².