One of the best kept treasures in Europe is undoubtedly Biarritz: the French capital of the sun par excellence. This wonderful place goes to show that France is not only about Paris, the city of light. Recognized for its famous beaches, therapeutic waters and the Latin American film festival, Biarritz offers its tourists a magical and incomparable atmosphere.

The city of Biarritz is located in southwest France, in the state of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in the Aquitaine region. This commune is part of the French Basque Country and borders the Cantabrian Sea to the west, the city of Anglet to the north and east, and Arcangues, Arbonne and Bidart to the south.

In addition, it is located a little bit more than eight kilometers from the commune of Bayonne in France and 40 kilometers from San Sebastian or Donostia in the Basque language. The border it shares with the Kingdom of Spain is about 20 kilometers away.

The French capital of the sun is one of the most important places in the Basque-French territory of Labort. The most important area of ​​the coastal region is shared with Bayonne and Anglet, an axis known as the Biarritz-Anglet-Bayona agglomeration community.

In addition to enjoying the celluloid festival, in the same place you can find the art deco casino in Biarritz, a space open to the public on August 10, 1901, considered one of the oldest in Europe.

It has beaches with unbeatable waves for surfing or windsurfing. If you can’t surf, you can find lots of surf schools where you can rent all the necessary equipment for your practice.

Biarritz is an aristocratic place, full of luxurious houses and mansions. Their owners only stay in these houses during the summer months, between June and September. The contrast between its “occasional wealthy visitors” and the local carefree surfers is quite interesting, and you can see the culture diversity and the incredibly different lifestyles.

Among the places you should go in this splendid city is the Hôtel du Palais (Hotel de los Palacios), built by Napoleon III for his wife, Empress Eugenia. From the air you can notice that the building was built in the form of letter “E”, in honor of his partner.

 

Very close to the hotel is the Biarritz lighthouse, built in 1834, over 70 meters above sea level, a space that serves as a reference to know the boundary between the sandy and rocky coast of the Basque Country. The 360º panoramic view from the top is worth climbing the 248 steps that take you up the top.

This spa can be explored on foot or by bicycle. During the sunset you can enjoy a good glass of wine or a few beers. The night life offers several options that range from the most informal to the most important events of the week. Biarritz is not only beaches and sunshine, it is also  about fun and nightlife.

ALFA