Maybe I'll visit Biarritz one day. In a way I don't want to because I'm afraid it won't be as magical as what I imagine from these postcards. The city of Biarritz is on the south-western coast of France near the border with Spain. If you think Biarritz doesn't look like a French name, you would be right; it's Basque. Biarritz may be located in France, but it is also in the heart of Basque territory.
Biarritz was a whaling town as early as the 12th century, but it was recognized as a resort destination by the 18th century. In 1854, Empress Eugenie (Napoleon III's wife) built a palace here, which is now the
Hotel du Palais , where the nightly room rate ranges from about 400 Euros per night to 1,500. If I were going to spend that much money on a hotel room I would do it here. Over the years, Biarritz has attracted the rich and famous, including the British royal family (as in Victoria), exiled Russian royals, the Hapsburg family, and celebrities such as Coco Chanel, Charlie Chaplin, Pablo Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway. There is also a casino in Biarritz, which is the building shown on the postcard above.
I should also mention that Biarritz is a popular surfing destination. Actress Deborah Kerr's husband Peter Viertel is credited with bringing the first surfboard to France and introducing surfing to Europe. He was purportedly so impressed by the waves in Biarritz that he called for a surfboard to be sent to him from California. It must have been magical for him to have all of those waves to himself.
The card below shows the Cathedral of Saint Eugenie.
More cards of Biarritz tomorrow!
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