Surfing on the étang de Leucate, France

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A spot for great surfing in Languedoc-Rousillon is the étang (salt pond) de Leucate, near Leucate village. When the wind is up, the étang is chock full of colourful sails and kites tacking back and forth. In the distance the Corbières hills are dotted with wind turbines.

A short, rough road, off the D627 turnoff to Leucate village and Port Leucate, leads to a small, parking area and beach. The parking lot is always jammed with caravans from France, Germany, Holland and Britain, with the odd Italian and Swiss vehicle also visible. Avid surfers wait for the mistral to blow and then race to the étang for the action.

At nearby la Franqui, a small beach resort on the Mediterranean, a stretch of smooth, white beach beckons sand sailors.

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