7 Essential Things To See In Biarritz

Biarritz is a beautiful French city that is located just a few kilometers from San Sebastián. Its fame is due to the Empress Eugenia de Montijo, although it can be said that it has its own merits to attract thousands of tourists each year. Next,  we tell you what you have to see in Biarritz if you decide to visit it. Can you come with us?

Everything there is to see in Biarritz

Elegant and bustling city, it gained importance as a vacation destination for the upper classes in the 19th century. What is there to see in Biarritz? Take note.

1. Municipal Casino, an essential

Located in the center of Biarritz, it is the art deco symbol of the city. It was built in 1929 by the architect Alfred Laulhé. In addition to a casino, the building houses a theater, a swimming pool and a restaurant. It is also used as a congress center by the city council.

Also, from the terrace of the Municipal Casino you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Grande Plage, which is the main beach in Biarritz. Hundreds of people come to it, both tourists and local people, to enjoy its waters, which were believed to have healing properties.

2. Hotel du Palais

It is another of the symbols of Biarritz and, like the Municipal Casino, it is located very close to the Grande Plage, having direct access to it. It was ordered to be built by Empress Eugenia de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III, to serve as her summer residence. Its construction was completed in 1854 and is in the Second Empire style.

It was not until 1893 that it was converted into a hotel. It currently has five stars and can boast the “Palace Distinction”, which recognizes its exceptional characteristics. It has one hundred and fifty-four rooms, three restaurants, the so-called Imperial Bar, a gym, a heated pool, a sauna, a spa and a golf course.

3. Orthodox Church

Built at the end of the 19th century, it is in the Byzantine style and stands out for its impressive blue dome and for the religious icons brought from Saint Petersburg. It was erected for the colony of Russian aristocrats of the time, under the initiative of Tsar Alexander III, after the alliance between France and Russia.

4. The Imperial Chapel

It was also built by imperial order of the Empress Eugenia. It dates from the year 1864 and is dedicated to the Mexican Virgin of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It also presents a harmonious mix of Roman-Byzantine and Hispano-Moorish styles and is decorated with tiles and mosaics.

5. Lighthouse of the Pointe Saint-Martin

Located on the top of a hill, it offers a spectacular panoramic view of Biarritz and the French coast. This can be enjoyed in the same way, climbing or not to the top of the lighthouse, but it is more than recommended to do so. It is also important to visit it at the end of the day to contemplate the beautiful sunset.

Next to the lighthouse is Anglet, a town in the northern part of the city that boasts beaches – eleven, in total – and is known as “Little California.” The name is due to the intense relationship it maintains with surfing. Moreover, in Briarritz a festival of this sport is held every year.

6. Museum of the Sea

It is one of the most famous attractions in Biarritz and one of the best places to visit, especially if you are traveling with children. It has twenty-four aquariums, the so-called shark cave, a seal show and several restaurants with ocean views. In addition to contemplating the animals, some can be touched, such as starfish or anemones.

7. The Rocher de la Vierge

Or Peñasco de la Virgen, is a rock connected to the land over the sea thanks to a metal walkway, erroneously attributed to the Eiffel workshops. It is crowned with a statue of the Virgin, erected by order of the fishermen so as not to forget her miraculous nocturnal return during a storm.

The rock is located between Port-Vieux and the fishing port, full of restaurants where you can eat fish or seafood, and offers a spectacular panoramic view. In fact, if the day is clear, you can glimpse the mountains of the Spanish Basque Country. A place, without a doubt, that you must see in Biarritz.