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 is a beautiful city located on the Bay of Biscay in southwestern France. It's part of the French Basque Country and is only about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the border with Spain.

Biarritz is famous as a fancy seaside holiday spot. People love its grand Hôtel du Palais, which was first built for Empress Eugénie around 1855. The city also has exciting seafront casinos and is known worldwide for its amazing surfing culture.

Geography

Biarritz is in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques area of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. It's right next to the cities of Bayonne and Anglet. The city is also in the traditional area of Labourd, which is part of the French Basque Country.

Climate

Biarritz has a mild oceanic climate. This means it has cool summers and mild winters. It's also one of the wettest cities in mainland France, so be ready for some rain!

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 the Basque language, Biarritz is called Biarritz or Miarritze. In the local Gascon dialect, it's Biàrritz. If you're from Biarritz, you're called a Biarrot in French, or a Biarriztar or Miarriztar in Basque. The ending -itz in the name is a Basque word that means "place of."

The city's name has been spelled in many ways over hundreds of years, like Bearids in 1150 and Beiarridz in 1165.

History

Ancient Times

Scientists have found old stone tools from the Middle Stone Age in the Biarritz area. This shows that people lived here a very long time ago!

Middle Ages

The first time Biarritz was mentioned in writing was in 1186. It was called Bearids back then. The first part of the city to grow was inland, around the oldest church, the église Saint-Martin.

In 1152, Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II of England. This meant that Biarritz and the surrounding area became part of the Duchy of Aquitaine, which was controlled by England.

During the Middle Ages, there were two main areas where people lived. One was around the Saint-Martin church, with many small neighborhoods. The other was near the coast, where the château of Belay (also called château de Ferragus) protected the old port. People also gathered at a chapel called Notre-Dame-de-Pitié, which looked over the fishing port.

A document from 1342 shows that fishing was very important. It allowed people from Biarritz to sell fresh fish in Bayonne.

The English started building the château de Ferragus on a hill overlooking the sea. This spot was used to watch for whales. The castle had strong walls and towers. Even in 1739, one tower was still standing and used as a landmark for ships.

Whaling

Whaling was the most important industry in Biarritz for a long time. The city's coat of arms even shows a whale under a boat with five sailors! The motto on the coat of arms means "The air, the stars and the seas are helping me."

Biarritz often had disagreements with Bayonne and the English rulers about whale hunting. In 1284, Biarritz's right to hunt whales was officially confirmed.

In the Middle Ages, there was a watchtower in Biarritz called "La Humade." When someone spotted a whale, they would burn wet straw to make a lot of smoke. This told everyone that whales were nearby.

By the 16th century, whales became harder to find near Biarritz. So, whale hunters from Biarritz sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to places like Labrador Peninsula and Newfoundland to find them. Later, they started fishing for cod there instead of whales. Eventually, the fishing industry in these far-off places ended for Biarritz.

The first lighthouse in Biarritz was built in 1650.

18th Century

Until 1784, Biarritz was an independent town with its own leaders. They would meet in a small room near the church, or even in the cemetery if there wasn't enough space! At this time, about 1,700 people lived in Biarritz.

In the 18th century, doctors started saying that the ocean water in Biarritz was good for your health. This made people travel to the beach hoping to feel better. Biarritz slowly began to become a famous spa town.

19th Century

After the French Revolution in 1789, sea bathing became very popular. In 1808, even Napoleon himself swam in the waters of the Basque Country. In 1840, Biarritz started trying to attract more tourists.

Victor Hugo, a famous writer, visited Biarritz in 1843. He wrote that it was "the most pleasant and perfect place" he had ever seen. He loved the wild beauty of the coast and the friendly people. However, he also worried that Biarritz would become too popular and change.

His prediction came true! Biarritz planted many beautiful trees and flowers, built railings along the dunes, and added elegant stairs. It became a very popular and luxurious place.

Many hotels appeared, along with a municipal casino, and fancy shops from London and Paris. A tall white lighthouse was built in 1834 to guide ships.

Hôtel du Palais, Biarritz, France.

Biarritz became even more famous in 1854 when Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, built a palace on the beach. This palace is now the famous Hôtel du Palais. Many European kings and queens, like British monarchs Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, and Spanish King Alfonso XIII of Spain, loved to visit Biarritz.

The Biarritz casino opened in 1901, and its beaches made the town a top tourist spot for people from Europe and North America.

In 1893, Biarritz opened special salt baths. Water ten times saltier than the sea was brought from a salt mine 20 kilometers (12 miles) away. These baths were closed in 1953.

The arrival of the French government's leaders and a new train line from Paris to Hendaye helped Biarritz become one of Europe's most important tourist areas. It became known as "the beach of kings and queens." Many famous people and rich families gathered in Biarritz during the summer. The city's population grew a lot, from 5,000 to 18,000 people. By the end of the 19th century, 50,000 holidaymakers were visiting Biarritz!

The Belle Époque

During a time of peace and wealth in Europe called the Belle Époque, a large department store called Biarritz Bonheur opened in 1894. It was a place for luxury and fashion. By the early 1900s, many of its workers spoke English because so many visitors were from Britain.

After World War II

After World War II, the U.S. Army decided to open a university campus in Biarritz for American soldiers who were returning home. The city's hotels and casinos were turned into dorms and classrooms. The university opened in August 1945, and about 10,000 students attended. It helped soldiers get ready for university life back in the U.S. The university closed in March 1946.

The Arrival of Surfing in Europe

Surfers participate in a demonstration for the 2019 G7 Summit.

In 1957, an American film director named Peter Viertel was in Biarritz. One of his friends from California visited him and used a surfboard in the ocean. This was the first time surfing was ever done in Europe! Biarritz quickly became one of the most popular places in Europe for surfers from all over the world. It developed a lively nightlife and a strong surfing culture.

Main Sights

Biarritz has many interesting places to visit:

• The Asiatica Museum has a large collection of Asian art from places like India, Nepal, Tibet, and China.
• The Museum of the Sea has 24 aquariums with sharks and seals.
• The Museum of the Ocean and Surf teaches you about the ocean and surfing.
• The Historical Museum of Biarritz is in an old Anglican Church.
• The annual Biarritz Surf Festival, started in 1993, is one of the biggest surf events in Europe.
• The église Saint-Martin de Biarritz [fr] (Saint Martin's Church) was built in the 12th century.
• The église russe de Biarritz [fr] is a Russian Orthodox church built for Russian visitors in the 1800s. It has a famous blue dome.
• The Chapelle impériale was built for Empress Eugenie and has beautiful decorations.
• The Museum of Chocolate explains how chocolate is made and its history.
• Two big casinos, the Barrière and the Bellevue, are right on the waterfront near the main beach.

You can also find cliffs and great viewpoints to the west of the main beach.

Demography

Economy

Biarritz used to rely on fishing, but now it has a modern economy. It works with nearby Bayonne and Anglet to manage the BAB Airport.

The most important economic activities in Biarritz are:

• Spa tourism: People visit for relaxation and health treatments.
• Sports: Especially golf, surfing, and rugby.
• Thalassotherapy: This uses seawater for health benefits.
• Industry: Some important companies include Atlantica-Séguier (a French publishing house) and Dassault Aviation, which makes parts for Falcon planes.

Culture

Languages

Biarritz is located where the Gascon and Basque cultures meet. It's not always clear which language was spoken more in the past. In the 1800s, some people thought Basque was the main language in certain neighborhoods. However, French became the most common language in the 20th century.

Since the 1990s, the city government has been working to promote the Basque language and culture. Gascon is also promoted by local groups.

Museums

• Sea Museum: Built in 1993, this Art Déco building has a huge collection of sea animals and birds.
• Museum of Chocolate: Learn all about the history and making of chocolate.
• Asiatica: A museum of Eastern art with pieces from India, Tibet, Nepal, and China.
• Museum of the History of Biarritz: Located in an old Anglican Church.
• Cité de l'Ocean et du Surf: Opened in 2011, this museum focuses on the ocean and surfing.

Music and Dance

Biarritz is home to the Ballet of Biarritz, an important French dance center. It also has a cultural center called Atabal and a chorus called Oldarra, which started in 1946.

Theatre

In the past, emperors Napoleon III and Eugenie made the "sea-theater" popular in the Old Port area. Today, you can see beautiful light shows on the cliff at night.

Cinema

Biarritz hosts two film festivals:

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

Buildings to See

• Hôtel du Palais: The famous palace built for Empress Eugenie.
• Hotel of England: A beautiful building from 1870.
• Casino of Biarritz: A stunning building in the Art Deco style.
• Lighthouse: Built in 1834 on Saint Martin cape, offering great views.
• Fishermen House: Found in the port area.
• Miremont sweet shop: A historic place for delicious treats.

Churches and Other Religious Sites

• Chapelle impériale de Biarritz [fr] (Imperial Chapel)
• Église Saint-Martin de Biarritz [fr] (Saint Martin's Church)
• Église Sainte-Eugénie de Biarritz [fr] (Saint Eugenie's Church), built between 1898 and 1903.
• Église russe de Biarritz [fr] (Russian Church)
• Synagogue de Biarritz [fr] (Biarritz Synagogue)

Rocks

Biarritz rocks.

The rocks along the coast are a big attraction in Biarritz. However, they are slowly eroding away by about 70 centimeters each year!

Beaches

Biarritz has six main beaches: Miramar, Grande Plage (Big Beach), Old Port, The Basque Coast, Marbella, and Milady.

Gardens and Parks

Biarritz has 120 hectares (about 300 acres) of parks and two lakes, Marion and Muriskot, where you can relax. In the city center, there are three gardens: the Pierre Forsans public garden, Lahouze Garden, and Parc Mazon. You'll also find outdoor sports fields there.

Sport

Surfing in Biarritz is world-class! It first started here in 1957. The town has a strong surfing culture and is known globally for its surf scene and yearly competitions, like the Quiksilver/Roxy Jam. In 2011, Biarritz also hosted the Roxy Pro event, a major women's surfing tournament.

Biarritz is home to a famous rugby union club called Biarritz Olympique. They have won the French championships five times and the European Cup twice!

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

The golf course near the lighthouse (Le Phare) was built in 1888 by British visitors. There's also a large golf driving range near Illbaritz.

View of the Hippodrome des Fleurs.

The Hippodrome des fleurs is a horse racing venue. It's a trotting racecourse with a sand track that's 803 meters long. It's one of the shortest tracks in France.

Education

Schools

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

High Schools

Malraux High School is the main high school in Biarritz. There's also a special tourism high school near the La Négresse neighborhood.

Transport

You can easily reach Biarritz station by train. France's high-speed train, the TGV, connects Biarritz to Paris. You can also take regional trains from Bordeaux. Night trains from Irun (south of Biarritz) pass through the city on their way to Paris, which is a great way to save travel time.

The Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne Airport is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the city. It has flights from France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, and Germany.

Twin towns – sister cities

Biarritz is connected with these cities around the world:

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

Festivities

Saint Martin's Day is celebrated on November 11. On this day, a new leader of the Confrérie de l'Operne de Biarritz is announced. This group focuses on ecology.

Since Biarritz is a big tourist city, there are many activities all summer long! These include pelota games, horse riding competitions, concerts, folklore festivals, water skiing shows, boat trips, rugby games, and night parties.

Since 2018, Biarritz has also hosted a pop music festival called "Biarritz en été" (Biarritz in Summer).

Images for kids

• 

  La Grande Plage, the town's largest beach.

• 

  Sainte-Eugénie church.

• 

  Outdoor cafés.

• 

  Notre Dame du Rocher.

• 

  Plage Miramar

• 

  Railway poster

See also

In Spanish: Biarritz para niños