The most urban of the seaside resorts on the Basque coast, which seduced the Empress Eugenie and the greats of this world in the 19th century, is a must on the Basque coast with its great beaches, golf courses, thalassotherapy centers, stores, art galleries and trendy bars. A paradise for surfers and gourmets.
Biarritz and the Atlantic Ocean are inextricably linked. The climb (248 steps) to the top of the lighthouse is rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view from the Spanish coast, inland to the vast beaches of the southwest French coastal area.
In the middle of Biarritz, opposite la Vierge Rocher, the Aquarium of Biarritz opens its doors and leads us to a discovery of the seabed. Fifty aquariums are waiting with jellyfish, sharks or seals.... We discover here the species that inhabit the Atlantic coast.
After a jump in the past of the local fishery with collections, galleries of whales and other fish that have been important in the history of the Basque Country, we meet Alice, the loggerhead turtle, which we hear weighs 100 kg and has a shell 120 cm long. Slowly and elegantly she swims on the other side of the disc and it becomes increasingly unclear who is looking at whom.
Once a fashionable seaside resort where the world's rich came to meet, Biarritz is still adorned with imposing buildings, such as two Art Deco casinos, the famous Villa Belza, the sumptuous luxury hotel Hôtel du Palais, a gift from Napoleon III to Empress Eugénie. The Orthodox church, built in the Byzantine style, still bears witness to the fact that Russian high society also came to Biarritz for summer holidays in the last century.
On the Eiffel Bridge, which leads to the famous Virgin Rock, the city's landmark, we let the constant wind blow around our noses and feel the power of the elements.
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