5 musts in Biarritz Pays basque
1. Guided theme tours in Biarritz
Biarritz is a fashionable seaside destination par excellence, with a glorious past. Venues such as Hôtel du Palais and the Casino have welcomed many celebrities such as Queen Victoria, Hemingway, Coco Chanel and Charlie Chaplin. Several guided tourstake visitors on a journey to discover the history of the city and its heritage with themes including great fashion designers, royalty, the origins of surfing on the Biarritz coast and whale hunting. Regular or connected tours around the city's emblematic places are also available, with a stopover at the Lighthouse or near the lively Halles de Biarritz indoor market.
2. Major tourist sites
Aquarium de Biarritz and La Cité de l’Océan
Facing the Rocher de la Vierge (The Virgin’s Rock) and located in a majestic art-deco style building from 1933, the Biarritz Aquarium invites you to an original seabed discovery with several highlights such as the feeding the seals. Just a few kilometres away, at La Cité de l'Océan, unravel the mysteries of the ocean through an immersive visit with 4D cinema, virtual reality and surfing simulators.
Good to know : Combined Aquarium de Biarritz / La Cité de l’Océan rates are available.
La Villa Arnaga
Cambo-les-Bains, known for its thermal spring, has been home to illustrious people, including Edmond Rostand, the famous French writer and author of Cyrano de Bergerac, who began building Villa Arnaga in 1903. The Neo-Basque house is a registered Historical Monument. In addition to the interior architecture designed as a theatre set, the collection of paintings and period furniture is not to be missed. Its French and English gardens, labeled as "Remarkable Gardens", complete this fascinating site, as do its temporary exhibitions, concerts and other events.
Good to know : Tours available in French, English, Spanish and Basque.
Château d’Abbadia
Domaine d’Abbadia, located on a cornice and surrounded by a protected nature park boasts an extraordinary Neo-Gothic castle. This « Historical Monument » is an absolute must-visit! Built between 1864 and 1884, it is equipped with an observatory and its decor is as eccentric as its owner.
Good to know : The castle can be rented for public or private meetings.
3. A tour of several emblematic Basque cities and villages
Bayonne
Bayonne is a registered « Town of Art and History », and a true concentrate of Basque culture: architecture and half-timbered houses, gastronomy, sports, traditional dancing, celebrations, museums, art and even bullfighting. Each year in August, the city greets nearly one million visitors during the “fêtes de Bayonne”: an event not to be missed in South West France!
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Further south, the charming fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz offers visitors a pedestrian city centre with lovely boutiques. You will also find historical places such as Maison Louis XIV where the young monarch once stayed and Maison de l’Infante where Marie-Thérèse of Austria spent some time before her wedding to Louis XIV, in 1660 at Saint-Jean-Baptiste church.
Most beautiful villages
4 villages boast the "Plus beaux villages de France" label for their remarkable typical architecture and their colourful "euskal etxe" (Basques houses): Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Sare, Aïnhoa and La Bastide Clairence. Do not miss: a tour of Espelette, the pepper capital, and the experience that passionate producers offer during the visit of their workshop.
4. Outdoor nature experiences between the ocean and mountains
Climb la Rhune
The famous peak of La Rhune (905m/2.969 ft high) dominates Pays-Basque and offers visitors a breathtaking 360° view of the Pyrenees mountain chain and of the ocean. Marking the border between France and Spain, the summit is reachable on board the authentic Petit Train de la Rhune, or by foot for our most athletic visitors who might encounter a few pottoks (wild horses) and ewes on their way up!
« Sentier du Littoral » path
From Bidart to Hendaye via Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure, Sentier du Littoral offers 25 kms (15,5 miles) of outstanding views on the French side and 54 km (33.5 miles) on the way to San Sebastian on the Spanish side. One f the most beautiful ways to explore the Basque Coast, between the Pyrenees, beaches and cliffs.
5. An initiation to surfing and local sports
In Biarritz Pays basque, the remarkable landscapes are an invitation to try out different sports, which are fully part of the Basque identity. Surfing ? There are 40 surf schools along the coast’s many beaches which offer different conditions according to your level and to the weather. From Anglet to Hendaye not to mention the legendary Belharra wave, beginners and experts are bound to find the right wave!
Pelote basque is the area’s most popular sport. Comparable to « real tennis », this ball game has different forms such as « cesta punta » or « paleta ». Often played outdoors on a pediment, the game is both captivating and beautiful and is played using a "chistera", which is used to return the ball. There are several places that offer lessons.
In the same heading
Biarritz Pays basque
With its strong identity, Biarritz-Pays Basque has everything to please: ocean, mountains, renowned seaside resorts, authentic villages and gourmet pleasures. Its preserved nature, charm and character make Biarritz-Pays Basque a...