Thursday, February 4, 2016

Biarritz - The Luxurious Heart Of Basque Culture In France


A town on the Bay of Biscay, Biarritz is a location that has something for everyone. A culture of surfing that takes advantage of the Atlantic waves. A host of late-night bars for every taste. A casino where you can let loose and let luck take over. However, it’s the luxury of the town that it’s most known for. The town has been a retreat for European royalty since the early nineteenth century. So, as you can imagine, Biarritz prides itself on lavish relaxation. Keep reading and you’ll soon learn how to enjoy this gorgeous city in style.

Image by Wikimedia

Accommodation
Biarritz has its choices of four and five-star hotels. It also has plenty of bed and breakfasts that can take you from the glittering coast to the rural surroundings of the town. The Hotel du Palais is famous for being built by Napoleon III to suit his wife Empress Eugenie’s taste. However, to truly enjoy Biarritz luxury, we recommend setting yourself up in a villa of your own. With your own pool, gorgeous vistas belonging to you alone and plenty of options, renting a villa gives you easy access to the rest of the town.
 

Image by David McKelvey

Artisan food market
The French are well known for loving their food and, in this, Biarritz won’t be beaten. This is no stall for cheap snacks and bland meats. The food market of Biarritz is highly curated and offers only the best local produce. As a fishing village, you’re bound to find a boastful selection of seafood. There’s plenty of the mouth-watering pastries, cheeses and gourmet hams, too
 
Image by Tommie Hansen.

The beaches
Biarritz is close to several beaches where you can soak up the sun and take to the waves. Surfing exploded in popularity here, making the town Europe’s capital of surfing. The Grande Plage can be very crowded in the peak season, but always makes for a peaceful, still very warm, morning visit. The Old Port Beach is large, but often less crowded. This makes it a hit for the locals and those who love the atmosphere of the rocky coves sheltering you from the winds. There are also plenty of cafes nearby to grab yourself a delicious pastry as you watch the tide.

Image by Wikimedia


Basque pelota
Biarritz is one of those regions where Basque culture still lives loud and proud. A town of fiery, free-spirited people, you’ll find that the sport Basque pelota is very much a living past-time here. Why not give it a try? There are clubs in the area to join in and the sport is well known to be one of the most adrenaline-charged games you can play. Just take care of yourself as the balls are both very dense and very fast.

The Imperial chapel
Just like the Hotel du Palais, the Imperial chapel harkens back to the time when the Emperors, most notably the Napoleons, ruled France. A gorgeous building of brick, murals and enamel medallions, it was built by the architect Boeswillwald in the mid-1800s. It’s another reflection of the unique cultures of the area and the times. Mixing Byzantine and Moorish-Spanish styles, it’s definitely one for the architecture fans.

Biarritz is a town of luxury we should all get to see at some point in our life. However, don’t be scared to go if you’re not quite as flush with cash as you would like to be. With the right tips on how to save money on your holiday, you can enjoy all there is to see, eat and do in Biarritz without ending up bankrupt.

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