Beaches

Biarritz is a town in the southwestern France on the Bay of Biscay. The town is noted for its mild climate, sandy beaches and mineral springs. Biarritz was initially a small fishing village and whaling port. It rose to fame when Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, built an elegant resort on the beach in 1854. The resort was frequently visited by European royalty such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII and Alfonso XIII of Spain. Doctors of the 18th century purported that the ocean at Biarritz had therapeutic properties leading a huge number of patients to the beaches of Biarritz to cure their illnesses.

Surfing at the beaches in Biarritz is world-class and some of the best surfers in the world have made Biarritz their home. The Biarritz Surf Festival is held every year in July attracting more than 150,000 spectators and surfers from all over the world including Hawaii, California and Australia.

Plage de la Côte des Basques is the wildest, with breakers crashing at the base of the cliffs, it the surfer’s favorite. Grande Plage has a promenade lined with shops and restaurants and is another hot spot for surfing and water sports. Plage Miramar has a paved path leading through beautiful gardens, carved rock and vista points. Plage du Port-Vieux is a mild and safe beach protected by rocks.

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