Biarritz France (Bee-UH-Reets) Today we’re going to talk about a large
resort town, Biarritz.
Biarritz tops the list of being the most visited French city with its beaches with good surfing
spots, golf courses and gastronomy.
If golf is your favorite sport then you will find plenty of golf courses here in this city
that you will certainly enjoy.
It was merely a small fishing village in the beginning but after 1854 it was modernized
and the British are largely responsible for its prosperity and now it’s very well diversified
in tourism.
After frequent visits from the royals now Biarritz is the queen of the resorts and the
resorts of the kings.
And to know more how Biarritz is the perfect holiday spot stick till the end of the video.
Take surfing lessons
Not just the large resort town, Biarritz is also the historic capital of European surfing
and an ideal location for surfing holidays.
Biarritz (bee-uh-reets) is the right place if you want to learn surfing and you’re
a beginner because here on northern beaches you will find all sorts of short or powerful
surf so it doesn’t matter if you have any prior knowledge of surfing or not.
There are plenty of surfing spots in the city where you can find a wide variety of waves.
For example Le Miramar at the foot of Hotel du Palais offers medium to advanced surfing
levels with low to mid tides.
La Cote des basques on the other hand is feasible for all surfing levels with a very unique
view of cliffs and mountains along the Spanish coast, so if you're a beginner you can try
surfing here.
La Milady, La Grande Plage also have the surfing levels suitable for surfers of all abilities.
Marbella on the other hand is the right surfing spot for the experienced surfers with strong
currents.
There’s also a very nice snack bar at the spot and a spa to fix the post surfing tiredness
Embrace Rocher de la Vierge (Virgin of the Rock)
With a very wholesome and simplified lifestyle and multiple attractions in the surroundings,
Biarritz offers plenty of activities to be a part of while you’re there.
Virgin of the Rock is one of the landmarks that you have to go see while being in Biarritz.
It has a historic significance and got its name from the statue of Virgin Mary looking
out to the sea.
It was put atop this rock in 1865 and it commemorates the tragedy in the sea told by the legends.
It is narrated that some fishermen in the sea of Biarritz got trapped in a terrible
storm while on a whale hunt and were unable to find a way out.
There they witnessed a divine light that guided them back to the port so they erected the
statue of Virgin Mary atop the rock to show gratitude.
Napoleon III came up with the idea of cutting a hole through the rock and building a bridge
so it’s feasible for people to get a better view of the sea front.
Since the bridge was wooden it couldn’t stand the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean
and fell apart.
However later in 1887, Gustave Eiffel designed a metal bridge that stands firm to this day.
Take a stroll on this bridge to get a better sight of Basque (BASKE) coastline and enjoy
a stunning view of both the sea front and the statue of Virgin Mary.
Join Local Ferias
In order to get along well with the Biarritz culture you need to party like you’re one
of them and if you’re staying out all night partying you become a festayre.
To know more about a culture the trick is to become one of them.
And in order to enjoy the region’s partying culture, join as many local ferias as possible.
Just dress up the way they dress up, cover yourself up in the two colors red and white,
and engage in partying and it’s guaranteed that you will make the best memories out of
this experience.
You can also join the locals with your friends for an afternoon drink in the Extola Bibi,
the bar located on top of Cote des Basques beach.
You’d find a very friendly environment over there along with the breathtaking view of
the Atlantic Ocean.
So how about you do something fun before the sun goes down?
Grande Plage and the other beaches
Like a postcard!
The most famous beach of Biarritz also known as the crazy beach and Empress beach is just
the right spot to enjoy a sunset of varying colors.
It’s flooded with tourists, sunbathing, and surfing in the summers yet,the sight is
quite the opposite in winters when it’s all deserted.
You can rent out the beach tents and chairs here if you don’t bring it with you and
enjoy the sight of the tourists going crazy.
Since it’s a plethora of beaches you have multiple options to choose from including
La Milady (you can take a walk here and enjoy the magnificent views ahead), La cote des
basques (here you can practice bodyboarding) port vieux ( the fine spot for families and
children and ideal for swimming since the rocky cove shelters from the winds and waves)
Plage du Miramar and La Marbella.
You’d find beaches surf friendly and tranquil here.
And the best part of being out on holidays on such a destination is to soak everything
that’s in sight so when you go back you have a backpack of experiences, memories and
exquisite sights.
Sight-seeing historical monuments Biarritz has many historical monuments and
can be a treat for all the history lovers because it has been preserving significant
historic relics for centuries now.
Along with the historic museums you can explore the two most important historical attractions
of Biarritz Hotel du Palais, and the castle of ILbarritz.
Hotel du Palais being the most striking building in the city holds value because during the
first year of its opening the hotel was mostly visited by the royals including Queen Victoria
and Edward VII.
This hotel was the same place where the king of Spain Alfonso XIII met the girl of his
dreams who he married a year later.
Even during the first world War this hotel served as a hospital but once it was over
it got back to its old ways of hosting events and balls.
Castle IIbaritz on the other hand rules over the Atlantic ocean.
Having seen different owners with the passage of time, the castle was given the position
of a historic monument in 1990.
While you’re here you must go visit the chocolate museum as the name suggests something
unusual and is also the most original museum of the city.
But these days you will find some historical documentation and equipment here.
The city also has various religious monuments as well such as, Chapelle Imperiale, Elise
Saint Martin, Eglise Alexandre Newsky.
You can talk a walk inside these monuments and appreciate the interior as well as the
Roman Byzantine and Hispanic Moorish style architecture.
If you hope to interact with the locals then you should take a stroll around Les Hellas
and meet them while grabbing something to eat on the way.
The markets are very refined there so you can get yourself some local products and cook
yourself something to eat even when you’re on a holiday.
There’s a lot of other things that you can do here including attending a Rugby match,
running on the beach, and taking a day trip to San Sebastian.
Everything that you do here will be worth your while.
So what is that one thing that you would like to do while you’re in Biarritz?
Let us know in the comments below.
Biarritz can’t wait to see you!
And as always, where to next?