Biarritz is a popular seaside town on the Bay of Biscay in the
south-west of France, 18 km from the border with Spain. It is
situated in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the
Aquitaine region of France. Famous for its world-class sandy beaches
and surfing, Biarritz is a popular holiday destination for both the
French and international tourists. Although the town can get very busy
in the summer months, in the low season it provides a relaxing and very
affordable holiday retreat, offering not only some terrific scenery in
which to unwind, but some of France's best cuisine. Biarritz is
part of the Basque country, so Basque flags and symbols can be seen
throughout the town.
Biarritz owes its name to the Scandinavians who settled in the area in the 9th century. From the 12th century, the town prospered through its main industry, whaling. In the 1900s, it became a popular holiday resort for the wealthy and also one of Europe's leading centres of hydrotherapy. The British royal family (notably Queen Victoria and Edward VII) were frequent visitors to Biarritz, as were the Russian aristocracy and Alfonso XIII of Spain. Today, Biarritz's main claim to fame is its surfing. The annual Biarritz Surf Festival is one of the leading surf events in Europe.
Biarritz's main attraction is of course its main beach, the Grand
Plage, although this can get very crowded in the summer. An
alternative is the long surfers' beach on the Boulevard du Prince de
Galles, called the Côte de Basque. Nearby Anglet also
offers some stunning beaches, which are also popular with
surfers. Another possibility is the small beach by the
Esplanade du Port Vieux, which is good for swimming when the surfers'
beach is closed.
The town's most noticeable landmark is the Hôtel du Palais, which was built by Napoleon III for his wife Eugénie. Prominently situated on the Grande Plage, it now serves as the town's most upmarket hotel, although you do not have to be a paying guest to see its ornately decorated public rooms. Other notable buildings are Saint Martin's Church, which dates back the 12th century, and the Russian Orthodox Church, a grand Byzantine edifice (famous for its sky blue dome) which was constructed in the 19th century for visiting Russian aristocrats.
Another of the town's popular attractions is the Museum of the Sea, which houses 24 aquaria exhibiting marine fauna from the Bay of Biscay, including fishes, sharks and seals. To get your money's worth, it is best to visit the museum when the seals are being fed. For the more culturally minded, there is the Musée Asiatica, which has an interesting collection of Asiatic art, predominantly from India, China, Tibet and Nepal. Other attractions are a lighthouse, the Museum of Chocolate and La Chapelle Impériale, built in 1854 for the Empress Eugénie, a distinctive building of mixed Romanesque-Byzantine, Hispano-Moorish design.
The quai de la Grande Plage is Biarritz's main promenade, offering a long walk that leads to the southern end of the beach. Place Sainte Eugénie is the town's picturesque old square, bordered by quaint terraced restaurants. Below this is the Port des Pêcheurs, which is usually crowded with fishing boats. Another of Biarritz's most famous landmarks is the Rocher de la Vierge, a small rock situated just off the coast with a statute of the Virgin Mary, which can be reached from the mainland via a long raised walkway designed by Gustave Eiffel.
There is a direct high speed train service from Paris to Biarritz, whilst several airlines (including many low cost carriers) fly to nearby Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne International Airport from several European destinations (including Paris, Lyon, London, Amsterdam, Bristol, Dublin and Copenhagen). Both the airport and the train station are situated about 3 km from the town centre and offer a frequent bus service to the sea front. Biarritz has a first rate bus network, which provides good connections to the neighbouring towns of Bayonne and Anglet. Biarritz town centre is largely pedestrianised, so walking is the easiest way to get around the centre and the beaches.
Biarritz owes its name to the Scandinavians who settled in the area in the 9th century. From the 12th century, the town prospered through its main industry, whaling. In the 1900s, it became a popular holiday resort for the wealthy and also one of Europe's leading centres of hydrotherapy. The British royal family (notably Queen Victoria and Edward VII) were frequent visitors to Biarritz, as were the Russian aristocracy and Alfonso XIII of Spain. Today, Biarritz's main claim to fame is its surfing. The annual Biarritz Surf Festival is one of the leading surf events in Europe.
The town's most noticeable landmark is the Hôtel du Palais, which was built by Napoleon III for his wife Eugénie. Prominently situated on the Grande Plage, it now serves as the town's most upmarket hotel, although you do not have to be a paying guest to see its ornately decorated public rooms. Other notable buildings are Saint Martin's Church, which dates back the 12th century, and the Russian Orthodox Church, a grand Byzantine edifice (famous for its sky blue dome) which was constructed in the 19th century for visiting Russian aristocrats.
Another of the town's popular attractions is the Museum of the Sea, which houses 24 aquaria exhibiting marine fauna from the Bay of Biscay, including fishes, sharks and seals. To get your money's worth, it is best to visit the museum when the seals are being fed. For the more culturally minded, there is the Musée Asiatica, which has an interesting collection of Asiatic art, predominantly from India, China, Tibet and Nepal. Other attractions are a lighthouse, the Museum of Chocolate and La Chapelle Impériale, built in 1854 for the Empress Eugénie, a distinctive building of mixed Romanesque-Byzantine, Hispano-Moorish design.
The quai de la Grande Plage is Biarritz's main promenade, offering a long walk that leads to the southern end of the beach. Place Sainte Eugénie is the town's picturesque old square, bordered by quaint terraced restaurants. Below this is the Port des Pêcheurs, which is usually crowded with fishing boats. Another of Biarritz's most famous landmarks is the Rocher de la Vierge, a small rock situated just off the coast with a statute of the Virgin Mary, which can be reached from the mainland via a long raised walkway designed by Gustave Eiffel.
There is a direct high speed train service from Paris to Biarritz, whilst several airlines (including many low cost carriers) fly to nearby Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne International Airport from several European destinations (including Paris, Lyon, London, Amsterdam, Bristol, Dublin and Copenhagen). Both the airport and the train station are situated about 3 km from the town centre and offer a frequent bus service to the sea front. Biarritz has a first rate bus network, which provides good connections to the neighbouring towns of Bayonne and Anglet. Biarritz town centre is largely pedestrianised, so walking is the easiest way to get around the centre and the beaches.
Also in France:
Top tourist attractions in Biarritz, France:
- Asiatica Museum
- Eglise St. Martin
- Eglise orthodoxe russe
- Hotel du Palais
- La Chapelle Imperiale
- Musee de la Mer
- Place Ste. Eugenie
- Quai de la Grande Plage
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