Biarritz, from whaling to Napoleon.

A seaside resort and tourist destination par excellence, Biarritz has not one, but two ports: the Port Vieux and the Port des Pêcheurs. Indeed, the beach of the Port Vieux is a magical place in the city. More cove than beach, in the heart of the city, the place resembles a little paradise. On the right, stands the Rocher de la Vierge, connected to the land by a footbridge, a work by Gustave Eiffel, which replaced the wooden one wanted by Napoleon. On the left, we admire the cliffs that lead to the beach of the Côte des Basques, a remarkable site on the coast, overlooked by the majestic villa Le Goëland.

In the 19th century, with the advent of sea bathing, Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie made Biarritz their holiday resort. Indeed, with its four kilometres of seafront and its mild weather, the town has major assets. It was also under the impetus of Napoleon III, who had great ambitions for Biarritz, that the small port that had existed since 1780 a few hundred metres from the Old Port was enlarged and became the Fishermen's Port. Inaugurated in 1865, it would never reach the size that the Emperor wanted. And this is what gives it all its charm today, where time seems to stand still. Lined with around sixty fishermen's houses, the famous "crampottes" with their colourful shutters, the Fishermen's Port is an enchanting place to stroll.