Biarritz, Beach Resort, Southern France
The Romans, Vikings, British, and French along with the Basques from Spain have all influenced the food and architecture of the seaside village that was also once a whaling settlement. (Reach Biarritz by train from Paris, See train schedules)
Biarritz
is a resort community noted for surfing and casino gambling located
on the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay where the Pyrenees
mountains define the border between France and Spain.
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Biarritz is noted for surfing, casino gambling,
and its Atlantic Ocean beach on the Bay of Biscay
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The Romans, Vikings, British, and French along with the Basques from Spain have all influenced the food and architecture of the seaside village that was also once a whaling settlement. (Reach Biarritz by train from Paris, See train schedules)
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Two Casinos are located at beach side
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Since the mid fifties the strong
waves rolling in from the bay have made Biarritz a surfing town.
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In the distance, the palace built by Napoleon III for his wife,
Empress Eugenie
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Biarritz
gained fame as a resort and destination for the wealthy when Napoleon
III had a beach side palace built in the 1850s for his wife, Empress Eugenie.
This palace is now the Hotel du Palais and has become the
destination for royalty and for the wealthy and famous of Britain,
Europe, and the USA.
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Biarritz Casinos on the main beach
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Biarritz
also offers casino gambling at beach-side along with dining, golf, and
a walkway the length of the beach and over the rocks along miles of
shore. Along the walkway find the fishing port and seafood
restaurants.
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| Follow the walkway to the fishing port and seafood restaurants |
Sightseeing
in Biarritz includes two casinos located on the main beach, an
aquarium, an Asiatic museum, a museum of chocolate, the 12th century
St-Martin's Church, annual surfing competitions, and lookout points located along the shore walkway.
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Observation platforms above the surf are
located along the shore walkway
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Biarritz
and Bayonne figured in the Hemingway novel, The Sun Also Rises. In
nearby San Sebastian, Spain, the characters Cohn and Lady Bret had
their rendezvous.
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Biarritz is one of France's most popular
surfing resorts |
Biarritz
is today one of France's premier shopping, surfing, and beach resorts.
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Biarritz is noted for shopping and surfing. This October photo
show surfers and shoppers walking a block from the shore. |
TGV
trains from Paris serve Biarritz, Bayonne and nearby Irun. Air
service also reaches Biarritz/Bayonne. Local bus service is
available in Biarritz and Bayonne.
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| Miles of shore walkway |
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| The fishing port offers seafood restaurants |
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Seafood restaurants along the shore near the casino
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Local buses reach Biarritz from the Bayonne
Train station
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A lookout point is located at the top of the
hill along the shore walkway
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| Casino Gambling at beach side |
