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Tourisme à biarritz
Biarritz.fr >  Tourism >  What's on in Biarritz? >  Visits and tours >  Walks Friday02 January2009


Walks

 

 
 


► Little Train

Why not visit Biarritz on the 'Petit Train', a guided tour from
the Grande Plage to the Côte des Basques via the Port des Pêcheurs and the town centre… Approximately every 40 minutes, every day
http://www.Petit-Train-Biarritz.com 
Tel.: +33(0)6 07 97 16 35



 

► Grande Plage promenade
 The beach promenade links the Miramar beach to the Grande Plage, skirting the Hôtel du Palais, the former imperial residence. In the 17th century, it was known as the 'côte des Fous' (lunatic coast) as lunatics used to be taken to bathe here - it was thought the sea water had therapeutic effects.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

► Rocher de la Vierge

Napoleon III decided to use this massive rock as the bulwark
for the sea wall of the Port du Refuge that he wished to create. The rock was therefore linked to the coast with a wooden bridge (later replaced by a metallic walkway attributed to Gustave Eiffel) and pierced with a tunnel similar to that of the Atalaye so as to make it possible to hoist up blocks of stone to build the sea wall. The Rocher de la Vierge owes its name to the statue of the Madonna set at its summit in 1865.

► Port des Pêcheurs

This port for seamen and yachtsmen was created with the remainder of the imperial endowment after the works for the Port du Refuge were discontinued in 1870. A cheerful, picturesque little port, with trendy tapas bars and restaurants where you can enjoy local seafood.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

► Eglise Saint Martin
This church was the first one built in Biarritz towards the middle of the 12th century. It was restored in 1541 and has
a flamboyant gothic chancel and a nave with low arcades.
The recently-made organ is one of the most handsome
in the region

 

 

► Lighthouse esplanade

The esplanade of the lighthouse offers a wonderful panorama, encompassing the Rocher du Basta and the Rocher de la Vierge, the beaches, the Port des Pêcheurs, the Casino, the Bellevue, the tamarisks and hydrangeas, the Landes coast and the Pyrénées and even, on a fine day, the Spanish coast.