Active Pursuits in Biarritz
Along the seafront facing the Casino is the Grande Plage. During the Belle Epoque, this was where Victorian ladies promenaded under parasols and wide-brimmed veiled hats. Today’s bathers are more likely to be in wetsuits or surfy combos.
Promenade du Bord de Mer, along the coast within the city limits, is still a major attraction. The paths are often carved into cliffs, and sections have been designed as rock gardens with flowers, turning the area into a public park. From here, you can head north to Pointe St-Martin, where you’ll find more gardens and a staircase (look for the sign DESCENTE DE L’OCEAN) leading you to allée Winston-Churchill, a paved path going along Plage Miramar.
La Perspective de la Côte des Basques, a walk that goes up to another plateau, leads to one of the wildest beaches in France: Plage de la Côte des Basques, with breakers crashing at the base of the cliffs. This is where serious surfers head. It’s easy to hire a surfboard for a few hours or to get a lesson, but if you don’t want to surf yourself, find a cafe and enjoy a few hours people watching.
If you like calmer beaches, the safest is the small, horseshoe-shaped Plage du Port-Vieux, along the path from plateau de l’Atalaye. Its tranquil waters, protected by rocks, make it a favorite with families.
Biarritz also has 10 golf courses within a short drive of the town. A good practice setting is the Center d’Entraînement d’Ilbarritz-Bidart, av. du Château, Bidart 64210 (www.golfilbarritz.com; tel. 05-59-43-81-30); you can play nine holes for 34€ to 44€.
