Biarritz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Biarritz Biarritz / Miarritze  (Basque) Biàrritz  (Occitan)
Commune
Beach seen from the Pointe Saint-Martin
Flag Coat of arms
Biarritz Location in France Show map of France Biarritz Location in Nouvelle-Aquitaine Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Arrondissement	Bayonne
Canton	Biarritz
Intercommunality	CA Pays Basque
Area 1	11.66 km2 (4.50 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	25,764
• Density	2,209.6/km2 (5,722.9/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	64122 /64200
Elevation	0–85 m (0–279 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Biarritz (UK: /bɪəˈrɪts, ˈbɪərɪts/ beer-ITS-,_-BEER-its, US: /ˌbiːəˈrɪts, ˈbiːərɪts/ bee-Ə-rits-,_--rits, French: [bjaʁits], Basque: [bi.arits̻]; also spelled Miarritze [mi.arits̻e]; Occitan: Biàrritz [ˈbjarits]) is a city on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the French Basque Country in southwestern France. It is located 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the border with Spain. It is a luxurious seaside tourist destination known for the Hôtel du Palais (originally built for the Empress Eugénie c. 1855), its seafront casinos, and its surfing culture.

Geography

Biarritz is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is part of the arrondissement of Bayonne, adjacent to Bayonne and Anglet and 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the border with Spain. The city is also in the traditional province of Labourd in the French Basque Country.

Climate

Biarritz has a temperate oceanic climate, Cfb in the Köppen climate classification. It is one of the wettest cities in Metropolitan France.

Comparison of local Meteorological data with other cities in France

Town	Sunshine (hours/yr)	Rain (mm/yr)	Snow (days/yr)	Storm (days/yr)	Fog (days/yr)
National average	1,973	770	14	22	40
Biarritz	1,920	1,449.8	2.2	35.5	28.5
Paris	1,661	637	12	18	10
Nice	2,724	767	1	29	1
Strasbourg	1,693	665	29	29	56
Brest	1,605	1,211	7	12	75

Etymology

In Basque, its name is Biarritz or Miarritze. Its current Gascon name is Biàrrits. The name for an inhabitant of the city is Biarrot in French and Biarriztar or Miarriztar in Basque. The suffix -itz, as in Isturitz, is a Basque locative.

Biarritz appears as Bearids and Bearriz in 1150, Beiarridz in 1165, Bearriz and Beariz in 1170, Bearidz (1186), Bearriz and Beariz (12th century), lo port de Beiarriz and Bearridz in 1261 (cartulaire de Bayonne). Other forms include Beiarid (1199), Bearritz (1249), Beiarriz and Beiarrids (1261), Bearridz (1281), Bearrits (1338), (rôles gascons), Bearritz (1498, chapitre de Bayonne), Sanctus Martinus de Biarriz (1689, collations du diocèse de Bayonne, Mearritcen (1712), Biarrits (1863, Dictionnaire topographique Béarn-Pays basque), as well as Biarritze and Miarritze.

History

Prehistory

Analysis of stones from the Middle Paleolithic shows that the Biarritz area was inhabited at that time.

Middle Ages

The oldest mention of the city appears in a cartulary, Bayonne's Golden book, from 1186, where it is named Bearids; some years later the name used was Beiarrids. The first urban development was to the south, at the top, and at the interior. Today this is near the location of the église Saint-Martin, the oldest church in Biarritz.

In 1152, Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II of England, who became suzerain of the Duchy of Aquitaine. Prince Edward, the oldest son of Henry III of England, was invested with the duchy and betrothed to Eleanor of Castile, who brought him rights over Gascony.

Two population centers are attested in the Middle Ages. On the one hand, the église Saint-Martin was active in the neighborhoods in the territory's interior, which were:

On the other hand, the château of Belay (first mentioned in 1342), also called château de Ferragus, protected the coast and the current Port-Vieux (old port), while religious life and community assemblies took place at Notre-Dame-de-Pitié (a chapel mentioned in 1498), dominating the Port-des-Pêcheurs, or fishing port.

A document dated May 26, 1342, attested to this fishing activity, authorising les Biarrots to "(…) remit to Bayonne all the fresh fish that we and succeeding inhabitants of Biarritz can fish from the salt sea".

Construction of the château de Ferragus was initiated by the English, on the foundations of a Roman work, at the summit of the promontory overlooking the sea, named Atalaye, used as a whale-observation post. This château had a double crenulated wall two meters thick, a drawbridge and four towers. Mentions of this château occur as late as 1603, in the letters patent of Henry IV. One tower remained as of 1739 when a daymark was established there, called de la Haille, then de la Humade. The tower disappeared in 1856.

Whaling

Most of the documents, records and official agreements gathered in the archives from Biarritz mention whaling. This was the principal local industry. Consequently, the town's coat of arms features the image of a whale below a rowing boat manned by five sailors wearing berets, one of whom is preparing to throw a harpoon. It bears the inscription: Aura, sidus, mare, adjuvant me (The air, the stars and the seas are helping me).

Biarritz has long made its living from the sea. After the 7th century, Biarritz had many confrontations with Bayonne, with the Kingdom of England – Lapurdi was under English control – and with the Bishop of Bayonne. Almost all of the disputes were about whale hunting. In 1284, the town's right to hunt whales was reinstated by the authorities of Lapurdi and the Duchy of Aquitaine.

During the Middle Ages and early modern period, a watchtower looked down over the sea at Biarritz, from "La Humade", waiting for the sight of a whale. Whenever those keeping watch saw a whale, they would burn wet straw to create a large amount of smoke and thus communicate the news to their fellow countrymen. Eventually, however, the tower disappeared.

In the 16th century, as a consequence of hunting in the area, or for other reasons, the whales migrated elsewhere. Whale hunters from Lapurdi, therefore, crossed the Atlantic Ocean in pursuit of them and spent over a century in the Labrador Peninsula and on Newfoundland. Later, instead of hunting whales, they started to fish for cod in Newfoundland. A century later, due to the ban on fishing off the coasts of North America and the steely competence of English and Dutch fishermen, the number of fishing boats from Biarritz diminished, and nowadays the Biarritz fishing industry in these areas has come to an end.

The first lighthouse in the village was built in 1650.

18th century

The Cape of Biarritz.

Biarritz was an independent municipality until 1784 with a clergyman and four aldermen, and the city was governed by twelve deputies. Deputies were democratically chosen: there were four districts (Portua, Bustingorri, Hurlaga and Alto), and three deputies had to be chosen from each of them. However, deputies were chosen by the abbot and aldermen. Since there was no Town Hall, they gathered in a ward near the church. As there was not enough space for all in attendance, they held their meetings in the cemetery. Biarritz had around 1,700 citizens at this time.

In the 18th century, doctors claimed that the ocean at Biarritz had therapeutic properties, inspiring patients to make pilgrimages to the beach for alleged cures for their ailments. The city began to transition into a world-famous spa town in the mid-1700s.

19th century

From 1784 onwards, after the French Revolution, bathing in the sea was no longer reserved for the mentally ill; sea-baths became fashionable. In 1808, Napoleon himself broke with prejudices and bathed in the Basque Country's coastal waters. In 1840, the Municipality of Biarritz started an initiative to attract tourists to the seaside.

Victor Hugo, who visited in 1843, wrote glowingly of Biarritz in his book Alpes et Pyrénées:

"I have not met in the world any place more pleasant and perfect than Biarritz. I have never seen the old Neptune throwing joy and glory with such a force in the old Cybele. All this coast is full of humming. Gascony's sea grinds, scratches, and stretches on the reefs its never-ending whisper. Friendly population and white cheerful houses, large dunes, fine sand, great caves and proud sea, Biarritz is amazing. My only fear is Biarritz becoming fashionable. Whether this happens, the wild village, rural and still honest Biarritz, will be money-hungry. Biarritz will put poplars in the hills, railings in the dunes, kiosks in the rocks, seats in the caves, trousers worn on tourists."

For good or for ill, Hugo's prophecy was fulfilled. Biarritz planted poplars, tamarinds, hydrangeas, roses and pittosporums on the slopes and the hills, set railings on the dunes, covered moats with elegant stairs and polluted with land speculation and hunger for money.

Tourists have long been drawn to Biarritz's coast, from the beach at the limit of Bidarte (Plage des Basques), to the cape of Saint Martin. There a 44 metres (144 feet) tall white lighthouse can be found, constructed in 1834 to replace the one Louis XIV had ordered built. Various hotels appeared, as did a municipal casino, the Belleuve club, the casino, the thalassotherapy house, and wonderful luxury houses. Luxurious branches of shops from London and Paris were also set up, and 36 small newspapers were published.

Hôtel du Palais, Biarritz, France (2)

Share of the Grand Casino Municipal de la Ville de Biarritz S. A., issued 1900

Biarritz gained renown in 1854 when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) built a palace on the beach (now the Hôtel du Palais). European royalty, including British monarchs Queen Victoria and King Edward VII (who caused a minor scandal when he called H. H. Asquith to kiss hands at Biarritz in 1908 rather than return to London for the ceremony), and the Spanish king Alfonso XIII, were frequent visitors.

Biarritz's casino (opened 10 August 1901) and beaches make the town a notable tourist centre for Europeans and East Coast North Americans.

Opened in June 1893, Biarritz's salt baths were designed and built by the architect Lagarde. Sourced from the gatzagas of Beskoitz and passing through a 20-kilometre (12 mi) pipe, water ten times saltier than the sea was used. The baths were closed in 1953 and demolished in 1968.

The presence of the French Republic's authorities and the launch of the Paris–Hendaye train led Biarritz to become one of the most outstanding tourist areas in Europe. The queen of the beaches became the beach of the kings and queens: Oscar II of Sweden, Leopold of Belgium, empress of Russia Maria Feodorovna, mother of Nicholas II of Russia, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Natalie of Serbia and her son Alexander I of Serbia, George V from Britain, Edward VII and Britain's Queen Victoria, Alfonso XIII of Spain, as well aristocrats, rich people and actors from Europe and South America. In the summer, people of high status gathered in Biarritz. The population thereby increased considerably, from 5,000 to 18,000. At the end of the 19th century, 50,000 vacationers were gathering in Biarritz.

Belle Époque

Biarritz market.

During the Belle Époque of European peace and prosperity, in 1894, a department store called Biarritz Bonheur was created. It was enlarged twice (in 1911 and 1926). It became the temple of luxury and fashion. By the start of the 20th century, most of its workers spoke English.

After World War II

At the end of World War II in Europe, the U.S. Army's Information and Educational Branch was ordered to establish an overseas university campus for demobilized American servicemen and women in the French resort town of Biarritz. Under General Samuel L. McCroskey, the hotels and casinos of Biarritz were converted into quarters, labs, and class spaces for U.S. service personnel. The University opened on 10 August 1945 and about 10,000 students attended an eight-week term. This campus was set up to provide a transition between army life and subsequent attendance at a university in the US, so students attended for just one term. After three successful terms, the G.I. University closed in March 1946 (see G. I. American Universities).

The arrival of surfing in Europe

Surfers participate in a demonstration for the 2019 G7 Summit

In 1957, American film director Peter Viertel was in Biarritz with his British wife, actress Deborah Kerr, working on the film The Sun Also Rises. One of his Californian friends came for a visit and his use of a surfboard off Biarritz is recognized as the first time surfing was practised in Europe. Biarritz eventually became one of the most popular European spots for surfers from around the world, developing a nightlife and surfing-based culture.

Gallery

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  View of Biarritz from the lighthouse

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  La Grande Plage, the town's largest beach.

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  Sainte-Eugénie church.

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  Outdoor cafés.

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  Notre Dame du Rocher.

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  Plage Miramar

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  Railway poster

Main sights

• The Asiatica Museum houses a significant collection of Asian art primarily from India, Nepal, Tibet, and China.
• The Museum of the Sea has 24 aquariums containing sharks and seals.
• The Museum of the Ocean and Surf.
• The Historical Museum of Biarritz, housed in the deconsecrated Anglican Church, St Andrew's.
• The annual Biarritz Surf Festival, founded in 1993 at the Côte des Basques, is one of the premier surf events in Europe and longboarding events in the world.
• The église Saint-Martin de Biarritz [fr] (Saint Martin's Church), constructed in the 12th century, restored in the mid-16th century.
• The église russe de Biarritz [fr], a Russian Orthodox built in the 19th century for visiting Russian aristocrats, with a famous blue dome.
• The Chapelle impériale, built for Empress Eugenie, has an intricately decorated roof interior and elegant wall tiling. She also had a palace built on the beach, which is now the Hôtel du Palais.
• The Museum of Chocolate explains the history and manufacture of chocolate.
• Two large casinos, the Barrière and the Bellevue, sit on the waterfront near the Grande Plage.

Cliffs and lookouts lie to the west of the main beach.

Demography

Economy

Although Biarritz's economy was previously based on fishing, it now has a modern economy due to the metropolitan location of Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz. Together with Bayonne and Anglet, Biarritz takes part in the management of the BAB Airport. The most important economic activities are:

• Spa tourism
• Sport (golf, surfing and rugby)
• Thalassotherapy
• Industry. The most important industries are the following:
  • Atlantica-Séguier, French publishing house
  • Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of fuselages for Falcon planes.

Culture

Languages

As in the cases of Anglet and Bayonne, also located in the approximate cultural border between Gascony and the Basque Country, it is uncertain if the historic language of Biarritz was Basque or Gascon.

According to the book Atlas Linguistique de Gascogne, Biarritz is considered a Gascon town. However, in 1863, Louis Lucien Bonaparte located the northern frontier of Basque in Biarritz, and in some neighborhoods it was without any doubt the most used language. However, over the course of the 20th century, French became the main language. Beginning in the 1990s, the municipal government of Biarritz has promoted Basque language and culture. At the same time, Gascon has been promoted by various private institutions, for instance the Gascon cultural association, Ací Gasconha. [19]

Museums

• Sea Museum. Constructed in 1993 in the rock of Atalaia, it is an Art Déco building. It has a huge collection of sea animals and birds.
• Museum of Chocolate
• Asiatica, museum of the Eastern art. Art from India, Tibet, Nepal and China can be found
• Museum of the History of Biarritz. Located in the Anglican Church of Saint Andrew since the 1980s
• Cité de l'Ocean et du Surf, opened in 2011.

Music and dance

The city has the Ballet of Biarritz, an important centre of French dance. It is also home to the cultural centre Atabal and the chorus Oldarra, created in 1946.

Theatre

The emperors Napoleon III and Eugene of Montijo brought the sea-theater on the Old Port neighborhood into fashion. Nowadays, the light works made by Pierre Bideau can be seen at night on the cliff.

Cinema

Two film festivals of cinema are celebrated in Biarritz:

• Festival of Latin American Cinema of Biarritz.
• International Festival of Audio-Visual Programs (FIPA)

Civil buildings

• Hôtel du Palais or Eugénie House
• Building of the Hotel of England, built in 1870 by Louis Moussempés
• Natasha House
• Sacchino or Castel Biarritz, house of Natalia of Serbia
• Plaza Hotel
• Casino of Biarritz, in Art Deco style
• Lighthouse, built in 1834 in Saint Martin cape
• Villa Black or Black House, built by Alphonse Bertrand between 1880 and 1895
• Goëland House, which since 2003 has been a hotel
• Françon Castle
• Boulard Castle
• Pavilion of England
• Fishermen House, in the port
• The former health resort in the Old Port
• Miremont sweet shop

Religious buildings

• Chapelle impériale de Biarritz [fr]
• Église Saint-Martin de Biarritz [fr]
• Église Sainte-Eugénie de Biarritz [fr], built between 1898 and 1903
• Église russe de Biarritz [fr]
• Synagogue de Biarritz [fr]
• Mosquée de Bayonne

Rocks

Biarritz rocks

• The Rocks of Biarritz are an important part of the city's attractions. Every year they erode by an estimated 70 centimeters.

Beaches

• Biarritz has six beaches: Miramar, Big, Old Port, The Basque Coast, Marbella and Milady

Gardens and Parks

• Biarritz has 120 hectares of parks and two recreational lakes (Marion and Muriskot)
• In the city centre there are three gardens: the Pierre Forsans public garden (across from the Gare du Midi performance centre) and two others nearby (Lahouze Garden and Parc Mazon). The city center also includes a number of open-air sports fields.

Sport

Surfing in Biarritz is of a world-class standard and first appeared in 1957. The town has a strong surfing culture, and is known worldwide for its surfing scene and the competitions it hosts yearly, including the Quiksilver/Roxy Jam tournament. In July 2011, Biarritz also hosted the Roxy Pro event, a tournament in the ASP Women's World Tour.

The town is home to a prominent rugby union club, Biarritz Olympique, who have won five French championships and two European Cups.

Basque pelota is a very popular sport in the Basque country. Several local and international competitions take place in Biarritz.

The golf course near the lighthouse (Le Phare) was established in 1888 by British residents. In addition, the town has a large circular golf range area on the border with Illbaritz.

View of the Hippodrome des Fleurs

The Hippodrome des fleurs is a horse racing venue. It is a trotting racecourse with an 803 m sand track with a right-hand rope. It is one of the shortest tracks in France.

Education

Schools

The city has two public schools (Villa Fal and Jean Rostand) and one private school (Immaculée-Conception).

High schools

Malraux High School is the only one in Biarritz. There is also a tourism high school on the border of the Western neighborhood of La Négresse.

Transport

Biarritz station is easily accessible from Paris by France's high-speed train, the TGV, and regionally from Bordeaux, by TGV or TER. Trains are also available to travel east towards Toulouse. Night trains regularly depart from Irun, south of Biarritz, and pass through the city before heading to Paris during an overnight trip. Many tourists and regulars to the city have begun using the night train to take weekend trips to Biarritz and saving travel time by traveling at night. The Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport is located about four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the city. It is near the N10 road towards Anglet and is served by airlines from France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland and Germany.

Twin towns – sister cities

Biarritz is twinned with:

• Augusta, United States (1992)
• Cascais, Portugal (1986)
• Ixelles, Belgium (1958)
• Jerez de la Frontera, Spain (1997)
• Zaragoza, Spain (1986)

Festivities

Saint Martin's Day is celebrated on November 11. On this date, the new gentleman of the Confrérie de l'Operne de Biarritz is proclaimed. Its logo is the barnacle and people with an interest in ecology are chosen. Since Biarritz is a city based on tourism, there are activities during the whole summer, such as pelota, equestrian competitions, concerts and recitals, folklore festivals, acrobatic water skiing, sea trips, performances, rugby competitions, bullfights, and night parties.

Since the summer of 2018, Biarritz has hosted the pop music festival, "Biarritz en été", whose second edition took place on July 19, 20, and 21, 2019.

See also

In Spanish: Biarritz para niños