A Travel Guide to Biarritz

Eleven miles from the border of Spain, in the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic Coast of south-west France, sits Biarritz. It became famous in the mid nineteenth century when the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, fell in love with this part of the country and built a palace on the beach (now the Hotel du Palais).

Perhaps surprisingly, the main architecture of Biarritz is not Basque, but rather a blend of nineteenth century buildings, previously the homes of nobility. It is a cosmopolitan city, reputed to be very chic - a far cry from 840 AD when the Vikings invaded. The Vikings participated in whaling, which became a major industry in Biarritz from the twelfth century onwards. Biarritz has been twinned with Augusta, US, since 1992. Biarritz is not cheap, so it is not the place to go if you are travelling on a budget, but, worth a visit if you can afford it.

Biarritz is a big surfing resort and the beaches in the area are absolutely stunning, lots of sand. The Grand Plage is the main beach and gets jam-packed with tourists during the main season. The surfers’ beach is the Cote de Basque, on the Boulevard du Prince de Galles. During high tide, there is almost no sand, but when the tide is out, it is beautiful. There are other beaches nearby, and a number of thalasso-therapy centers nearby – centers with seaweed, seawater and related therapies.

There are also quite a few of museums – including the Museum of Chocolate! - and also beautiful churches, including the Chapelle Imperiale, which was built for the Empress Eugenie. It has beautiful wall tiling and a very intricately decorated ceiling. The Empress Eugenie invited royalty from all over Europe – consequently, the Russians built a beautiful Russian Orthodox Church, Sainte Eugenie, next to the palace. There is also a lighthouse which is open to the public.

And, of course, the casinos, the first of which opened in 1901. In those days, Biarritz was full of the rich and famous, so casinos were de rigeur.

It’s easy to travel around Biarritz on foot, although parts of it are a little hilly, but there is also an excellent bus network. A flat fee payable is for tickets (valid for an hour). Packs of tickets, for multiple journeys, can also be purchased. The TGV (the high speed train) travels directly from Paris to Biarritz. The airport (Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne) is about four kilometers from the city and is served by flights from all major European cities.

Like other Basque towns, Biarritz boasts some excellent restaurants. Some serve traditional Basque-Gascon food, but there are also pizzerias, etc. Biarritz is also big on clubbing (including a club under one of the casinos) and a large number of bars. The night life is one of the major attractions.