Lifestyle
Simply Mini
Biarritz Glitz
4
B
iarritz is a luxurious seaside tourist destination known for the Hotel du Palais (originally built for the Empress Eugénie circa 1855) with its casinos in front of the sea and the surfing culture.
On the Bay of Biscay, it is located 35 kilometres away from the border with Spain. Half ritzy coastal resort, half summer surfers’ hang-out, the seaside resort of Biarritz has been a favourite beach getaway since Napoléon III and his Spanish-born wife Eugénie arrived during the mid-19th century. Its elegant villas and heritage-listed residences, which glitter with belle époque and art deco details, have retained their glamour. Biarritz remains one of the southwest’s seaside gems and throngs with visitors in summer. The Grande Plage, is certainly grand in its own right, and is the main beach in Biarritz. This wonderful beach, picture postcard pretty, boasts its palace, striped beach tents and beach clubs for children. Successively called ‘Crazy Beach’ and ‘Empress Beach’, the Grande Plage is the central beach of Biarritz with shopping, cafes, and nearby restaurants. “We drove in to Biarritz and left the car outside a very Ritz place.” — Ernest Hemingway With two airports (Biarritz and Pays Basque), close to the city centre and only about 20 minutes from San Sebastian airport, Biarritz is well connected to European cities and capitals. Recently, the French government has chosen the brand ‘Biarritz-Basque Country’, as a jewel of international tourism, to underline the advantages of tourism in France, with 19 other fabulous destinations.
Tourist Information https://tourisme.biarritz.fr/
