Biarritz boasts many accolades: it is the capital of the Basque country, one of France's most important surfing spots and a seaside resort on the Basque coast. Have you ever experienced that invigorating sea air that whips your face as you look out to the impetuous ocean, with your feet sinking into the sand of la Grande Plage?
To your right stands the Hotel du palais and the Bellevue is to your left, both testament to a time when the elegance of Biarritz, thanks to the Empress Eugenie, could be felt throughout Europe. A grandeur that remains intact even today, giving the city an olden-day charm. Naturally, this character is on show in its town center, as you walk past such legendary shop fronts as Miremont, the pastry shop that had already proved its reputation among Heads of State in the nineteenth century. This charm can be felt on the peninsula that's home to the Biarritz lighthouse, a pristine finger pointing skyward, the top of which will reward you with stunning views of the town, its surroundings and the Spanish Basque coast.
Because Biarritz would be nothing without the beauty of the Basque countryside, with its pine forests and this scent of sap, these dunes overlooking the hidden beaches, discovered as you walk around the surrounding areas of Bidart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Anglet. So take the road to the Basque hinterland even if it's just to visit the center of Bayonne and its cobbled streets or to fall in love with the small fishing port of Guéthary. If sunny streets, clean air and lush, green countryside sound like something you'd love, head for the village of Sare, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, with its arcaded houses and its famous Church of St. Martin de Sare. A timeless Basque destination, an invigorating bubble that's a world away from the big cities.
