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Biarritz - the top resort of the Côte Basque
By | February 9, 2008
Still turning our thoughts to romantic beaches, consider the fact that in 1854, Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenia, built a palace on the shores of Biarritz in southwest France, in order to enjoy lovely romantic vacations by the sea. This immediately turned the region from a dull and ordinary whaling town into a holiday retreat for the important and famous. Today, Biarritz Beach on the Bay of Biscay remains the jewel of the Côte Basque, each year attracting surfers and sunbathers alike to its delightful, soft golden sands, its good surfing waves, dramatic cliffs, and upbeat nightlife, which includes a couple of top casinos.
Eugenia’s beautiful palace is now the world-class Hôtel du Palais, which has a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, some top-class restaurants, and luxurious and relaxing rooms. There is even a gym where you can get toned up.
If you visit Biarritz, don’t forget to take a look at the Asiatica Museum which has a fantastic collection of Asian art from Nepal, India, Tibet and China. Also well worth a look is the Museum of the Sea, which has aquaria with fish, sharks, seals, and all manner of aquatic life. And while we are talking romance, don’t forget to check out Biarritz’s very own Museum of Chocolate – chocolate being a gift often given by lovers. Why is giving chocolate such a familiar courtship ritual? The rumour is that it acts as an aphrodisiac. But then, if you are on holiday in Biarritz, that may be aphrodisiac enough.
Topics: France, Romantic Beaches |
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