Biarritz

Since its embryonic days as a tourist resort back in the 1850s, when Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie built their exclusive holiday palace right on the beach, Biarritz has metamorphosed into one of the most famous and glamorous resorts on the French coast. Today this upscale resort impresses holidaymakers with kilometres of golden sandy beach and a cornucopia of watersports. Biarritz, though, boasts far more than high end resort mainstays like good restaurants, fine beaches and myriad bars and cafés where al fresco drinking is de rigueur. During the last 50 years the resort has also become something of a Mecca for surfers, who flock here to ride the famous Basque coast waves. Away from its beaches, Biarritz rewards visitors with imposing fin de siècle architecture, a smattering of decent museums and luxurious spas, not to mention the 10 golf courses that are located nearby.

From late spring to autumn the majority of visitors to Biarritz are wealthy Western Europeans who flock to the upmarket hotels of this glitzy resort. Expansive beaches, challenging waves, museums, a smorgasbord of restaurants and Biarritz's close proximity to a wealth of world class golf courses means that the resort attracts everyone from surfers to holidaying families.

The Basque coast resort of Biarritz is situated in the southwest corner of France. It overlooks the Bay of Biscay and the main Grande Plage beach. The capital of the French Basque Country, Bayonne, is 8km (5 miles) to the east; St Jean de Luz is roughly 12km (8 miles) southwest. Biarritz is 3km (2 miles) from Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne Airport.

Biarritz boasts some of the best and busiest beaches on France's southwest coast. In summer holidaymakers might struggle to find their own patch of golden sand on the main Grande Plage beach, as this is the place to see and be seen. Hire a sun lounger, try the myriad watersports on offer or simply lie back and soak up the sun's rays. Surfers should head to the Côte des Basques beach, which in July every year hosts one of the world's biggest surf festivals.

Discover the resort's architectural treasures including the 12th century Church of St Martin (rue St-Martin) and the Russian Orthodox Church (8 avenue de l'imperatrice). Complete a stroll along the waterfront promenade, Quai de la Grande Plage, with a sneaky peak inside the palatial Hotel du Palais, or with an al fresco espresso in the attractive Place Ste Eugenie square. Biarritz's colourful old fishing port and the Rock of the Virgin are also worth seeking out.

Sandy beaches and resort hotels with children's pools and kids' playgrounds make Biarritz a good choice for families. Some hotels operate children's club and babysitting services. Away from the beach the 150 plus species of marine life, including sharks, at the Maritime Museum's aquarium (14 plateau de l'Atalaye) (website: www.museedelamer.com) enthral kids.

Affluent holidaymakers and their credit cards make a beeline for the chic boutiques around Place Clemenceau. Sophisticated delicatessens are the place to stock up on French wines and cheeses, with the resort's supermarkets the best place to snare cheap booze and cigarettes. For sweet take home treats plump for the shop at the resort's Chocolate Museum (14 avenue Beau Rivage) (website: www.lemuseeduchocolat.com). More run of the mill holiday souvenirs can be purchased alongside Basque handicrafts at gift shops throughout Biarritz.

  Biarritz after dark has something for everyone from mellow pavement cafes, to livelier bars and nightclubs. Holidaymakers can dance the night away with the in-crowd at Le Copa (24 avenue Edouard VII) (website: www.lecopa.fr) or play with the high rollers at the largest casino in southwest France, Casino Barrière de Biarritz (1 avenue Edouard VII) (website: www.lucienbarriere.com).

French food reigns supreme in Biarritz, with the resort's cafes and restaurants offering everything from informal snacks and boat-fresh seafood to regional specialities and nouvelle cuisine. Holidaymakers are drawn to the tourist-orientated eateries around the port, although the quality of the food if often better elsewhere; the restaurants on rue Victor Hugo near the market are good. For tapas Basque style Bar Jean (5 rue des Halles) is a good bet.

Biarritz is reasonably compact and many holidaymakers find that it is easiest explored on foot. The resort does have a fairly comprehensive local bus service, though, with the majority of routes picking up outside the Town Hall. Taxis are plentiful.

The nearby twin resort towns of Saint Jean De Luz and Cibourne boast a handful of attractive buildings, a working fishing port and a hard-to-beat river and seaside setting. After exploring Cibourne's Basque architecture or splashing about on Saint Jean De Luz's beach, join the holidaymakers and locals from Biarritz and Bayonne that flock to the resort's first-rate seafood restaurants.

Indulge yourself with a stress relieving massage or rejuvenating facial at the Hotel du Palais' Imperial Spa (1 avenue de l'imperatrice) (website: www.hotel-du-palais.com). Part and full day pampering packages are also available to complete an unforgettable holiday experience.

Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne Airport (BIQ)