If you are one of those who are already thinking about next summer because you do not tolerate winter, then you can go thinking about Biarritz. What do you think of this French city known for its beaches, its nightlife and its casinos? Is it a good combination for you?
Biarritz is a european tourist destination For a long time and although yours is not the casinos, do not worry, with its beautiful beaches it is enough and there is plenty. Let's discover everything that Biarritz has for us.
Biarritz
It is in the Atlantic Pyrenees, in the ancient region of Aquitaine, just 20 kilometers from the border with Spain. A stone's throw from the city of San Sebastián, for example. It rests on a group of hills that face the sea and part of the coast is cliffs while another is sandy, between beaches and coves.
Biarritz was born as spa town in the XNUMXth century, when cities like the English Bath, for example, also began to emerge. The well-off classes, those for whom the concept of vacations was beginning to sound strongly, came here to cool off from the summer and be social. Before, it used to be a whaling port.
The city it has six kilometers of beaches and lots of algae. It is precisely these algae that give the water iodine and make it beneficial for the body. Hence the fame of Biarritz spa.
Beaches of Biarritz
There are different beaches but we will start with the Miramar Beach which is right between the lighthouse and the Hotel du Palais. It is a quiet beach although if the sea is choppy it becomes a bit rough. Surfing is not allowed here anyway.
Another is the Grande Plage o Playa Grande: It's about the main beach and hence, very touristy. It is well located, close to the shopping area, restaurants and bars, between the Hotel du Palais to the north and the Bellevue Congress Center to the south.
La Port Vieux Beach it is divinely small. It is sheltered from the wind and waves and is great for swimming. It is also close to the city center, right next to the Old Port. Another is the Plage of the Côte des Basque, epicenter of surfing in Biarritz. It is the beach surrounded by the cliffs, it is the one where when the tide rises the sand disappears and only surfers remain.
La Beach Marbella it would be the continuation of the previous beach. It is a more rugged beach and also popular with athletes. It is not easy to access because you have to go down many steps but it is not impossible.
These would be the main beaches in Biarritz but naturally they are not the only ones. There is also, for example, the Milady Beach, in the extreme south. It is very large, with a lot of sand and ideal for families. There is a lot of parking and a nice boardwalk.
If you want to get a little further away you can even get closer to Anglet, a city north of Biarritz that also has many beaches or more with a single, very long beach of about five kilometers.
What to visit in Biarritz
We have named above the Palace Hotel, an emblematic site of the city. It is a construction that was born as a palace for the wife of Napoleon III in the 1855th century. The works began in XNUMX, but two decades later Napoleon no longer existed so the palace was left adrift and was sold. In the end, it was converted into a luxury casino hotel, very frequented by royalty and the European gentry.
El Municipal Casino It is in the center of the city and dates back to 1929. It is in an Art-Deco style and today it also has an elegant swimming pool and a theater and great panoramic views of the sea. Inside there are also restaurants, a cafeteria and a bar. It is not the only casino, but it is the oldest.
On the other hand you can visit a couple of churches: the Iglesia Rusa Ortodoxa XNUMXth century with its beautiful blue dome, the Imperial Chapel with many tiles and the Church of San Martín which is from the XNUMXth century. As for museums and art galleries there is the Museum of Asian Art, the Museum of the Sea with whales, sharks and aquariums and the Chocolate Museum. If you like galleries there is the Mésanges Gallery and the Mulheim Gallery, among other private galleries.
If you like movies then you can go to Cinema LeRoyal, right in the center. It usually has an interesting program, from popular and blockbuster films to more auteur films. But don't you like art and if you leave open and dance? Well there are discos and some, those that are on the sea, are the best and most magical. Aim: Le Caveau, Le play Boy Club, Maona Beach, Carré Coast.
La shopping area It has a bit of everything: antiques, souvenirs, fashion, chocolates. The most commercial streets, ideal for walking on foot, go from Place Clémenceau to Port Vieux and from Les Halles to the Saint Charles district. The official Biarritz tourism page has itineraries designed for each type of buyer: the luxury, the Zen, the one who follows fashion, the one who likes surfing or the one who loves Basque culture.
The port area, the Puerto de los PescadoresIt is a construction from 1870 to which only the name remains because the fishermen are conspicuous by their absence. There are restaurants, the quaint little old fishermen's houses, and that sort of thing. Of course, it is great to eat fresh fish and seafood.
Another interesting destination is the Virgin Rock, a promontory connected to the mainland by a bridge built in the time of Napoleon III. It is known as the Eiffel bridge it was built by Gustave Eiffel, the same one from the famous tower.
And finally, do not stop walking through the local market, covered and old, in two buildings that sell fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meat, bread and fish, and the Biarritz lighthouse. It is a construction from 1834, it is 74 meters high and you have to climb 248 steps to have the best views. The sunset, a dream.
To finish, let's talk a little about accommodation. Obviously there are all kinds, from luxurious hotels and boutique hotels, houses and apartments for rent by season, hostels and, luckily, for those who do not go with much money, camping. The camp, Le Biarritz Camping, It is a four-star category site that has its own two kilometers of beach and is only 500 meters from the Cité de l'Océan. And with a pool and everything!
As you can see, although Biarritz is synonymous with luxury, you can still carry a backpack on your shoulder and the euros are counted.