Biarritz

All you want to know about Biarritz

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Coordinates: 43°29′N 1°33′W / 43.483, -1.55

Commune of Biarritz
Location
Image:Paris_plan_pointer_b_jms.gif
Map highlighting the commune of
Coordinates 43°29′N 1°33′W / 43.483, -1.55
Administration
Country France
Region Aquitaine
Department Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Arrondissement Bayonne
Canton Chief town of 2 cantons
Intercommunality Communauté d'agglomération
de Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz
Mayor Didier Borotra
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 0 m–85 m
(avg. m)
Land area¹ 11.66 km²
Population²
(1999)		 30,055
 - Density 2577/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 122 64 122/ 64200
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Biarritz (French: Biarritz, pronounced [bjaˈʀits]; Gascon Occitan: Biàrritz; Basque: Biarritz or Miarritze) is a town and commune which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in southwestern France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers. Biarritz also boasts some of the best beaches in Europe and has won multiple awards for their top class standards.

Contents

Geography

Biarritz is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département, in the Aquitaine région. It is adjacent to Bayonne and Anglet and 11 miles (18 kilometres) from the border with Spain. It is in the traditional province of the French Basque Country, Labourd.

History

 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)

Vikings who invaded Gascony in 840 settled in Biarritz, which later participated in the whaling trade. Biarritz is a Basque name with locative suffix -itz (cp. Isturitz) attested Bearriz in 1170, Bearids in 1186, Bearritz in 1249. The Scandinavians settled in the area above the Gardague Beach. It has been suggested (disputedly) that the remaining Vikings became "Agots," a social group in Gascony not allowed to mix with the population at large. Segregation among these communities—there were many in Gascony and Navarra— disappeared only in the early 20th century.

The Sea and the Mountains at Biarritz, ca. 1943by Louis Dewis
The Sea and the Mountains at Biarritz, ca. 1943
by Louis Dewis

Biarritz has long made its fortune from the sea: as a whaling settlement from the 12th century onwards, in the 18th century doctors recommended that the ocean at Biarritz had therapeutic properties, inspiring patients to make pilgrimages to the beach for alleged cures for their ailments.

Biarritz's became more renowned in 1854 when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) built a palace on the beach (now the Hôtel du Palais). The British royal family regularly took vacations in Biarritz: European royalty such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and Alfonso XIII of Spain were frequent visitors.

Tourist Office
Tourist Office
Hotel du Palais or Eugenie Palace
Hotel du Palais or Eugenie Palace
La Grande Plage, the town's largest beach
La Grande Plage, the town's largest beach
Overview from the Pointe Saint-Martin
Overview from the Pointe Saint-Martin
Sunset in Biarritz
Sunset in Biarritz
Sea Museum
Sea Museum

Sights

Biarritz features:

  • the Asiatica Museum, which houses a significant collection of Asian art primarily from India, Nepal, Tibet, and China.
  • The Museum of the Sea, which boasts 24 aquariums containing sharks and seals
  • The annual Biarritz Surf Festival founded in 1993 at the Côte des Basques is one of the premier surf events in Europe and longboarding events in the world. [1]
  • St-Martin's Church, constructed in the 12th century, and restored in the middle of the 16th century.
  • The Russian Orthodox Church in Biarritz, constructed in the 19th century for visiting Russian aristocrats, with its famous blue dome.
  • The Chapelle Imperiale built for Empress Eugenie, which has an intricately decorated roof interior, and elegant wall tiling.
  • A Museum of Chocolate, which explains its history and manufacture.
  • Two large Casinos, the Barriere and the Bellevue, on the waterfront by the Grande Plage.

Spectacular cliffs and lookouts lie to the west of the main beach.

Sport

Surfing at Biarritz is of a world-class standard and first appeared in 1957 [2], and the town has a strong surfing culture. [3]

The town is home to a prominent rugby union club, Biarritz Olympique.

Basque pelota is a very popular sport of the Basque country. Several local or international competitions take place in Biarritz.

The golf course, near the lighthouse (Le Phare), was created in 1888 by British residents. In addition to this the town has a large circular golf range area on the border with illbaritz.

Transport

Biarritz is easily accessible from Paris by France's high-speed train, the TGV, which departs from Gare de Montparnasse. Furthermore, as of April 2008 a 'discotheque' night train runs this route.[citation needed]

Biarritz has an airport Aéroport de Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne located about 4 kilometers away from the city in the inland. Its very near at N10 road towards Anglet, it is joined airport with Anglet and Bayonne.

Miscellaneous

The town lies in Basque territory, and Basque flags and symbols are prevalent throughout Biarritz.

Biarritz's casino (opened August 10, 1901) and beaches make the town a notable tourist centre for Europeans.

Births

Biarritz was the birthplace of:

Twin towns

Source: Twin towns, Biarritz Official Site

Notes

  1. ^ Encyclopaedia of Surfing
  2. ^ Biarritz: summer nights - Telegraph
  3. ^ News from Biarritz - France

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Municipalities in Labourd (Lapurdi)
Ahetze · Ainhoa · Anglet (Anglet) · Arbonne (Arbona) · Arcangues (Arrangoitze) · Ascain (Azkaine) · Bardos (Bardoze) · Bassussarry (Basusarri) · Bayonne (Baiona) · Biarritz (Biàrritz) · Bidart (Bidarte) · Biriatou (Biriatu) · Bonloc (Lekuine) · Boucau (Bocau) · Briscous (Beskoitze) · Cambo-les-Bains (Kanbo) · Ciboure (Ziburu) · Espelette (Ezpeleta) · Guéthary (Getaria) · Guiche (Guishe) · Halsou (Haltsu) · Hasparren (Hazparne) · Hendaye (Hendaia) · Itxassou (Itsasu) · Jatxou (Jatsu) · Lahonce (Lehuntze) · Larressore (Larresoro) · Louhossoa (Luhuso) · Macaye (Makea) · Mendionde (Lekorne) · Mouguerre (Mugerre) · Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune) · Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle (Senpere) · Saint-Pierre-d'Irube (Hiriburu) · Sare (Sara) · Souraïde (Zuraide) · Urcuit (Urketa) · Urrugne (Urruña) · Urt (Urt) · Ustaritz (Uztaritze) · Villefranque (Milafranga)
Official name in French (native name in Basque or in Occitan, if different, in parentheses)
 Coat of arms of Lapurdi
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biarritz"

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