Biarritz, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is an elegant seaside resort in the Basque Country, made famous in the 19th century by Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III. The Rocher de la Vierge, the lighthouse, the Grande Plage, the Côte des Basques and the Hôtel du Palais tell that story, while Belle Époque villas line the seafront.
Biarritz is also considered the cradle of surfing in Europe, introduced on the Côte des Basques in the late 1950s. Today the town welcomes surfers of all levels, as well as the Cité de l’Océan, a museum devoted to the ocean, and a lively covered market where you can taste Basque produce.
A few kilometres from Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Spanish border, Biarritz is an ideal base for exploring the Basque coast. A stay of two to three days leaves time to enjoy its beaches, food and way of life.