xposed to the sea breeze, nestling in the Bay of Biscay, Biarritz is an ocean town… The ocean has always demonstrated its force with its omnipresent western swell. With its huge beaches, powerful waves and mild climate all year round, Biarritz was the natural choice in 1957 to welcome the first surfers on the European continent and to become Europe's historical surfing capital. It is also thanks to the legendary mildness of the local climate that thalassotherapy and year-round golf have developed so well.

The English aristocrats whose ancestors had discovered the place at the beginning of the century during the Napoleonic wars, came here in the wake of the Prince of Wales, future Edward VII, who spent five seasons in the former imperial residence, transformed into a hotel in 1893, the Hotel du Palais. It was the English who gave Biarritz its first golf course, the Golf du Phare, and its first horseriding competitions. As for the beautiful Elisabeth of Austria, known as "Sissi", she found consolation here in her suffering. At the turn of the century, the brand new Casino Municipal and the Casino Bellevue attracted stars from the entertainments world, as well as big-time gamblers.

Sarah Bernhardt and Lucien Guitry, father of Sacha, entertained there. Once the show was over they danced all night. The distinguished society entertainment of the previous century was replaced by the wild nights of the new Parisian night owls. Here, people danced the brand new charleston in the 1920s, and the owners of the big villas held dances for their friends in their parks. Including the palace of Queen Nathalie of Serbia, which became "le Pavillon Royal". The parties continued in full swing in the 1960s, perhaps more discreetly but no less brilliantly. In the 70s and 80s, Biarritz added new activities to the nightlife - diurnal ones this time, designed to appeal to the busiest people..