Weekend Break | travel
Biarritz is now a Mecca for sport and fitness fans. Promenading a pooch beside the blonde beaches, the old port and tiny harbour is de rigueur in Biarritz and just my style. But lycra-clad joggers, whippet lean cyclists and fit surfers are constant reminders of the town’s modern alter-ego. Biarritz became Europe’s surfing capital after 1956 when Peter Viertel, actress Deborah Kerr’s husband, was so impressed by the waves at Biarritz that he sent for a surfboard from California. Since then it’s been attracting surfers from all around the world and is home to some major surfing competitions. As a spectator sport it’s captivating, and from dawn until dusk I watch people of all ages pitting their wits, strength and balance against the wild and unpredictable Atlantic. Biarritz has everything from golf and horse riding to rugby and tennis to entertain sporting aficionados. But any native Basque will confirm that food, as well as sport, is imprinted on their DNA. Two brothers who own the popular Los Dos Hermanos restaurant in Biarritz tell me that Basque people work-out to work-off the vast amount of food they consume. With a menu featuring locally-sourced ingredients including fresh sea food and charcuterie (and a couple of televisions showing rugby games) this rustically atmospheric restaurant is just one of many in and around Biarritz proud to serve their unique Basque cuisine. From the charm of nearby Saint-Jean-de-Luz to the elegant city of Saint Sebastian in Spain – famous for its tapas restaurants and a mere half-hour drive from Biarritz – this ravishing region is one of the most sought after destinations in Europe. As a jewel in the Basque Country crown, Biarritz exudes a distinctive personality forged over the centuries. And, thanks to Napoleon and Eugenie, the glamour and sophistication they brought to Biarritz lives on in the incomparable Hotel du Palais. D The Hotel du Palais is an Orient-Express Associate Hotel, +33 (0)5 59 41 64 00, hotel-du-palais.com / orient-express.com
february 2014 THE CITY 107