Bed and Breakfast hotels in Biarritz

The stylish city of Biarritz lies on the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic coast, in south-west France. Located in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department in the Aquitaine region it is adjacent to Bayonne and Anglet and 11 miles from the border with Spain. Its location also places it in Basque territory, in the traditional province of Labourd in the French Basque Country.

The sea has always been where Biarritz has made its fortune. First as a fishing village and then as a place for whale hunting from the twelfth century onwards. In the eighteenth century doctors said that its sea had therapeutic properties, inspiring patients to make pilgrimages to the beach for cures for illnesses. Its popularity grew in 1854 when Napoleon III and his wife built a palace on the beach (now the Hotel du Palais), inspiring royal visits from around Europe. A casino opened in 1901 attracting tourism from as far as North America and this reputation has only enhanced with surfers from around the globe now making the journey. Today it is one the most frequented tourist destinations on the Atlantic French coast.

A two-day trip
Two days is just about enough time to fully enjoy your trip to Biarritz. Spending your first day enjoying the city’s luxury beaches would be hard to be beaten. The Hotel Campanile Biarritz is just a short taxi ride from the city centre and the main beach, Grande Plage. If you fancy a go at surfing then the Cote de Basque could be for you and it is easily accessible by a short bus ride. If you want a break from the beach on day two then it could be spent exploring the city centre. There is both the Museum of the Sea, with plenty of different marine life to see, and the Museum of Asian Art which are both well worth a visit. Sainte Eugenie, a Russian Orthodox Church with its famous blue dome, should not be missed.

A one-week break
A full week will allow you to enjoy Biarritz’s beaches to the full as well as seeing what else this exciting city has to offer. The small beach by the Esplanade du Port Vieux is good for swimming and makes a welcome contrast to the busier Grande Plage. Rugby union is a big passion of the city's and if you are lucky enough to be in town when Biarritz Olympique are playing a home game at the Parc des Sports Aguilera then buying a ticket is a must for a truly authentic Biarritz experience. The city also boasts a luxurious golf course in the Golf de Biarritz le Phare and a visit here for a round could be the perfect ending to a relaxing break.

A family holiday
Biarritz is the perfect destination to take the whole family with plenty to do to keep everyone happy! If everyone eventually gets bored of the numerous glorious beaches then there is also the Museum of Chocolate, two casinos on the waterfront and the Thermes Marins health spa. Not to mention the various activities on offer such as kayaking, rafting, water-skiing and cycling.

Transport
The Anglet-Bayonne International Airport lies just two miles from the city centre and is a hub for both domestic and European flights. Buses and taxis will take you to the city centre while you can also pre-book a transfer service with Sea-Lifts. Biarritz is easily accessible from Paris by France's high-speed train, the TGV, and more regionally from Bordeaux , by TGV or TER. Trains are also available to travel east towards Nice . The station is two miles from the city centre. By car Biarritz is easily accessed via the D911 road, off the N10. These routes are close to the A63 - a road connecting Belin-Béliet to Bayonne to the border of Spain.

Gastronomy
Biarritz offers a wide range of foods. Being in the Basque country expect to try some traditional Basque dishes such as sirloin steak with green mustard or stuffed eggplant with saffron. Then of course there is seafood, being a coastal city, with plenty of delicious fresh fish to try. Try a mammoth pot of paella filled with rice, mussels, shrimp and even some chicken. Or why not try a fantastic crepe from one of the many creperies around. There is always a wide selection of fillings to choose from so that you never get bored!

Events
Despite having a wide array of different festivals throughout the year the big one is the Biarritz Surf Festival. Every July hoards of surfers flock to the surfing hotspot for a weeklong extravaganza. Festivities take place along every beach in town and best of all there’s no need for tickets. If you’d like something a little less hectic then there is the three-week-long festival of Le Temps d’Aimer every September, featuring ballet and modern dance performances throughout the city. The Les Fetes Musicales takes place in April and showcases a variety of different genres of music while golf lovers should plan a trip for July when the Biarritz Cup rolls into town.

Interesting Fact
Biarritz was a favourite former holiday destination for Edward VIII (before he became King) and his lover Wallis Simpson in the 1930s.

Useful Links
http://www.biarritz.co.uk/ 
http://www.biarritz.fr/en/Website/site/en_tourism.php
http://www.biarritz-for-events.com