Biarritz City Centre

The origins of Biarritz city centre

Biarritz was once a modest village of whale fishermen and farmers. In 1843, Victor Hugo described it as a charming and magnificent place, while fearing it might become fashionable. His concern proved justified in 1854, when Empress Eugénie chose Biarritz as her summer retreat.

Napoleon III had a summer residence built for his wife in the Second Empire style. Named Villa Eugénie, it was converted into a luxury hotel in 1893 and renamed Hôtel du Palais. European royalty and Russian dignitaries flocked in their wake. Within twenty years, the city centre was lined with aristocratic villas, grand palaces, casinos and entertainment halls.

From that era comes the motto "Biarritz, queen of beaches and beach of kings". The First World War brought this golden age to an end. In 1915, Gabrielle Chanel opened her first fashion house there, and the resort maintained its reputation for eccentricity.

In the 1950s, a new transformation came from the ocean. American screenwriter Peter Viertel had a surfboard shipped from the United States to ride the Biarritz waves between film shoots. His experience inspired the first local surfers and established Biarritz as the birthplace of surfing in Europe.

The must-see landmarks of the centre

Biarritz is far more than its beaches and surf. The city centre boasts a rich historical heritage visible at every turn. The Hôtel du Palais, the Gare du Midi converted into a concert hall, and the Imperial Chapel rank among its most iconic monuments.

Further west, Villa Belza, a Moorish and Art Deco building, towers over the rocks facing the Atlantic. The municipal casino, designed by architect Alfred Laulhé in 1929, punctuates the Grande Plage with its Art Deco style. Higher up, the Rock of the Virgin offers a unique panorama over the bay and owes its name to the statue erected at its summit in 1865.

The Port des Pêcheurs, a true village within the city, has preserved its original charm. Visitors can discover the famous "crampottes", small colourful fishermen’s cottages lining the dock. Strolling between its terraces remains a must for anyone wanting to experience the atmosphere of old Biarritz.

The city centre also offers access to the finest beaches in Biarritz. The Grande Plage stretches out before the Belle Époque hotels. Miramar nestles at the foot of the lighthouse. The Port-Vieux features a sheltered natural pool. The Côte des Basques remains a surfer’s paradise and hosts several major competitions every summer.

The neighbourhoods of the centre

The centre of Biarritz is made up of several micro-neighbourhoods, each with its own character. Place Clemenceau serves as the nerve centre, at the crossroads of the main shopping streets. From here, Rue Gambetta, Rue Victor Hugo and Rue Mazagran branch out, lined with boutiques, galleries and café terraces.

A short walk away, the Halles district revolves around the covered market founded in 1885. Fishmongers, cheesemakers and local producers set up their stalls every morning. The surrounding streets are home to a remarkable concentration of restaurants, tapas bars and wine bars that bring the neighbourhood to life in the evening.

Heading towards the Grande Plage, the Saint-Charles quarter reveals elegant villas in eclectic, Art Deco or neo-Basque styles, dating back to the imperial era. Further south, the Bibi-Beaurivage quarter, a former fishing village centred around Place Pradier, retains a lively atmosphere with restaurants, delis and local shops.

The Espagne quarter, set back from the coast, offers a quieter, more residential setting favoured by families for its calm and its schools. These different facets make Biarritz a compact yet varied city, where the character changes from one street to the next.

Living in central Biarritz

Situated on the Bay of Biscay, less than 25 kilometres from the Spanish border and close to the Pyrenees, Biarritz enjoys a mild climate all year round. The train station, airport and public transport network provide exceptional connectivity for a resort of this size.

Daily life in the centre revolves around getting about on foot. The whole area can be crossed in just a few minutes, from the Halles to the beaches, from Rue Gambetta to the Port-Vieux. Every summer, from late June to late August, the city centre and the seafront become fully pedestrianised, from Place Clemenceau all the way to the Côte des Basques.

Outside the summer season, several underground car parks serve the centre, including Halles-Clemenceau and Bellevue. The Iraty park-and-ride, which is free, is linked to the centre by a shuttle bus that runs all year round.

Over 6,000 students attend the Biarritz university campus, alongside a diverse fabric of businesses and reputable schools. The city centre never truly empties, whether you come for a week’s holiday or have lived here for ten years.

The property market in the centre

The Biarritz property market remains dominated by apartments, with prices varying considerably by location. A seafront apartment can reach 15,000 euros per square metre. Prices in the very heart of town have followed a sustained upward trend for several years.

A chronic shortage of available properties fuels this price pressure. New neighbourhoods such as Kleber have been developed around the historic centre to meet demand. These new-build programmes cater to buyers seeking a contemporary property close to amenities.

A house with garden and pool located a few minutes’ walk from the beaches commands valuations comparable to those of seafront apartments. The scarcity of such properties in the very centre makes this one of the most contested segments of the Biarritz market.

For investors, the seaside setting and sustained tourist demand make the centre prime territory for holiday rentals in Biarritz. Well-located apartments find tenants year-round, with peaks in summer and during major sporting events. Holidaymakers enjoy the ideal setup, with everything accessible on foot from their rental, from the seafront terraces to the Halles.

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Looking for a dream residence, a rental investment or a base for your next holiday? Contact your BARNES estate agency in Biarritz to learn more about the market and discover the most exclusive properties.