Campsite near Biarritz

As early as the 18th century, the benefits of wave bathing at the Côte des Fous — which became the Grande Plage — gave Biarritz its first therapeutic credentials. However, it was the arrival of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, that propelled the town to the rank of a seaside resort prized by the European aristocracy. From 1876 to 1906, the population of Biarritz tripled. The town’s architecture still bears the marks: sumptuous villas, palaces, and Art Deco buildings line the streets and the seafront. Villa Eugénie, destroyed by fire in 1903 and then rebuilt, became the current Hôtel du Palais, a true emblem of tourism in Biarritz.

Today, Biarritz combines elegance and relaxation. The town is world-renowned as the cradle of surfing in Europe: it was here, on the Côte des Basques beach, that the first waves were tamed in the 1950s. Surf schools, surf stores and international competitions keep the town alive all year round.

From the Itsas Mendi campsite, Biarritz is accessible by car, by Txik Txak bus, or even by bike via the Vélodyssée. One day is enough to discover the city’s emblematic sites, but you will undoubtedly want to come back!

The Grande Plage, bordered by the Barrière casino and the Hôtel du Palais, is the seaside heart of Biarritz. Visitors come here to swim, sunbathe, stroll along the promenade, or simply admire the surfers. The Côte des Basques, a little further south, is the historic spot for European surfing. Framed by Villa Belza and the cliffs, this legendary beach offers steady waves and a Californian atmosphere. Numerous surf schools welcome beginners and experts alike for lessons or workshops.

For an exceptional panorama of the bay, climb the 248 steps of the Biarritz lighthouse, located at Pointe Saint-Martin. From its height of 73 meters above sea level, the view stretches from the beaches of Biarritz to the Landes coast and, on a clear day, as far as the Pyrenees mountain range. Built in 1834, it is one of the must-see tourist sites in Biarritz.

Empress Eugénie wished for this chapel to be built in the park of Villa Eugénie in 1864. Built by Emile Boeswillwald, a student of Viollet-le-Duc, in a Romano-Byzantine and Hispano-Moorish style characteristic of the Second Empire, it is of rare beauty. Its azulejos on the exterior walls, its exceptional polychromy, and its period furniture make it a heritage jewel. Classified as a historic monument in 1981, it now belongs to the city of Biarritz and hosts four commemorative masses per year.

Facing the Rocher de la Vierge, the Biarritz Aquarium is one of the oldest and most beautiful establishments of its kind in France. Housed in a superb Art Deco building, it invites you to discover the fauna and flora of the Bay of Biscay as well as species from the Caribbean and the Indo-Pacific. Sharks, rays, turtles, jellyfish, and of course the famous seals, whose daily feeding you can observe, will delight young and old alike. The cetacean gallery and collections dedicated to Basque Country fishing techniques complete this immersion in the marine world. An ideal family outing, whatever the weather!

It is impossible to visit Biarritz without strolling through this picturesque and colorful place, just a stone’s throw from the city center. Created after the abandonment of the Port du Refuge works in 1870, the fishing port has retained its soul of yesteryear. Its “crampottes” — small white huts with blue shutters — now house artisan shops, bistros, and restaurants where you can enjoy grilled fish and seafood facing the ocean. The atmosphere is authentic and relaxed, perfect for a gourmet break between visits.

This is the essential symbol of Biarritz. Napoleon III decided to use this imposing rock as an anchor point for the Port du Refuge dike he wished to create. It was connected to the mainland by a wooden bridge, since replaced by a metal footbridge designed by the Eiffel workshops, and pierced with a tunnel to transport the stone blocks intended for construction. In 1865, a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected at its summit, giving it its current name. From there, the panorama over the ocean, the Basque coast, and the Pyrenees is breathtaking, especially at sunset. When evening falls, the spotlights offer a striking spectacle against the backdrop of the waves.