Biarritz

Biarritz
France-Biarritz-Grande lage et Casino-2005-08-05.jpg
Beach and casino in Biarritz
Biarritz is located in France
Biarritz
Administration
Country France
Region Aquitaine
Department Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Arrondissement Bayonne
Intercommunality Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz
Mayor Didier Borotra
(2001–2008)
Statistics
Elevation 0–85 m (0–279 ft)
Land area1 11.66 km2 (4.50 sq mi)
Population2 27,398  (2006)
 - Density 2,350 /km2 (6,100 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 64122/ 64200
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Biarritz (French pronunciation: [bjaˈʁits]; Gascon Occitan: Biàrritz; Basque: Biarritz IPA: [biarits̻] or Miarritze) is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers.

The town lies in Basque territory, and Basque flags and symbols are prevalent throughout Biarritz.

Contents

Geography

Biarritz is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Aquitaine region. It is adjacent to Bayonne and Anglet and 11 miles (18 kilometres) from the border with Spain. It is in the traditional province of Labourd in the French Basque Country.

History

Vikings who invaded Gascony in 840 settled in Biarritz, which later participated in the whaling trade. Biarritz is a Basque name with locative suffix -itz (cp. Isturitz) attested Bearriz in 1170, Bearids in 1186, Bearritz in 1249. The Scandinavians settled in the area above the Gardague Beach. It has been suggested (disputedly) that the remaining Vikings became "Agots", a social group in Gascony not allowed to mix with the population at large. Segregation among these communities—there were many in Gascony and Navarra— disappeared only in the early 20th century.

Biarritz has long made its fortune from the sea: as a whaling settlement from the twelfth century onwards, in the 18th century doctors recommended that the ocean at Biarritz had therapeutic properties, inspiring patients to make pilgrimages to the beach for alleged cures for their ailments.

Biarritz became more renowned in 1854 when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) built a palace on the beach (now the Hôtel du Palais). The British royal family regularly took vacations in Biarritz: European royalty such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and Alfonso XIII of Spain were frequent visitors.

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

Main sights

Biarritz from the Pointe Saint-Martin.

Biarritz features:

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

Sport

Surfing in Biarritz is of a world-class standard and first appeared in 1957.[2] The town has a strong surfing culture.[3]

The town is home to a prominent rugby union club, Biarritz Olympique.

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

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

Transportation

Biarritz is easily accessible from Paris by France's high-speed train, the TGV, which departs from Gare Montparnasse.

The Biarritz - Anglet - Bayonne Airport is located about four kilometres from the city. It is near N10 road towards Anglet.

Notable people

Biarritz was the birthplace of:

Other:

Twin towns – sister cities

Biarritz is twinned with:[6]

Hotel du Palais or Eugenie Palace.
La Grande Plage, the town's largest beach.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Encyclopaedia of Surfing
  2. ↑ Last Updated: 5:28PM BST 13 Aug 2007 (2007-08-13). "Biarritz: summer nights - Telegraph". Telegraph<!. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/citybreaks/737983/Biarritz-summer-nights.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05. 
  3. ↑ "News from Biarritz - France". Biarritz.fr. http://www.biarritz.fr/en/Website/site/en_accueil_actu_actu5.php. Retrieved 2009-05-05. 
  4. ↑ {pt} Aimee de Heeren.
  5. ↑ Aimee de Heeren.
  6. ↑ Twin towns, Biarritz official website

External links

Municipalities in Labourd (Lapurdi)
Ahetze · Ainhoa · Anglet (Angelu / Anglet) · Arbonne (Arbona) · Arcangues (Arrangoitze) · Ascain (Azkaine) · Bardos (Bardoze) · Bassussarry (Basusarri) · Bayonne (Baiona) · Biarritz (Miarritze / Biàrritz) · Bidart (Bidarte) · Biriatou (Biriatu) · Bonloc (Lekuine) · Boucau (Bokale / Bocau) · Briscous (Beskoitze) · Cambo-les-Bains (Kanbo) · Ciboure (Ziburu) · Espelette (Ezpeleta) · Guéthary (Getaria) · Guiche (Gixune / Guishe) · Halsou (Haltsu) · Hasparren (Hazparne) · Hendaye (Hendaia) · Itxassou (Itsasu) · Jatxou (Jatsu) · Lahonce (Lehuntze) · Larressore (Larresoro) · Louhossoa (Luhuso) · Macaye (Makea) · Mendionde (Lekorne) · Mouguerre (Mugerre) · Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune) · Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle (Senpere) · Saint-Pierre-d'Irube (Hiriburu) · Sare (Sara) · Souraïde (Zuraide) · Urcuit (Urketa) · Urrugne (Urruña) · Urt (Ahurti) · Ustaritz (Uztaritze) · Villefranque (Milafranga)
Official name in French (native name in Basque and sometimes in Occitan, if different, in parentheses)
 Coat of arms of Lapurdi