Biarritz, Bayonne, Capbreton, St Jean-de-Luz - they're all towns in France's Basque Country and they're all ferocious competitors in the Basque sport of pelote –a blistering, intense handball game (imagine squash with a basket on your hand and a ball that travels at the speed of Michael Schumacher). It's a great spectator sport and there are matches every Monday throughout the autumn.

Stay at the delightfully low-key 19th-century townhouse, Maison Garnier in Biarritz. They may even explain the rules.