Château de Biarritz

The building known in Biarritz as the Château de Biarritz is better known by its own name, the Château Javalquinto, and it stands in the centre of the resort, near the town hall, at the Square d'Ixelles. It is a neo-Gothic villa built in the late nineteenth century for a Spanish nobleman, the Duke of Osuna, who held among his titles that of Marquis of Javalquinto, and it is a reminder of the Spanish aristocrats who made Biarritz their summer home alongside the French and British. Today the villa is the home of the Biarritz tourist information office, so it is a useful stop at the beginning of a visit.

Biarritz owes its fashionable status to the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, who was Spanish by birth and began to spend her summers here in the 1850s, bringing the court with her. The imperial villa, now the Hôtel du Palais, stands on the beach, and following the emperor's visits, Spanish grandees, Russian princes and English royalty came to build villas and enjoy the sea-bathing. The Château Javalquinto belongs to that period of rapid growth, when the town was dotted with fanciful buildings in different historical styles, from half-timbered Basque chalets to Moorish fantasies and Gothic castles. The Gothic Revival style, which had been popular in Britain and France since the middle of the century, was favoured for romantic country residences, and the Javalquinto, with its towers, pointed windows and stone facade, makes a picturesque landmark in the middle of the town.

The exterior can be admired freely from the square and the surrounding streets, and visitors often take photographs of the turrets and the carved details. Inside, access is mostly limited to the tourist office, where staff provide maps, itineraries, brochures and advice on beaches, museums, surf schools, restaurants and excursions to the Basque coast and the inland villages. The office is easy to reach, and it can book guided tours and give information on events, such as the surf competitions and festivals of the summer.

From the château, the main sights of Biarritz are within walking distance. The Grande Plage and the Rocher de la Vierge, a rock reached by a footbridge, are a few minutes away, and the Côte des Basques, the Plage du Miramar and the Phare de Biarritz can be reached on foot along the coast. The Musée Basque et de l'Histoire de Biarritz, the Église Saint-Esprit and the Parc Municipal are close.

The building suits visitors who like architectural curiosities and those who need local information. A visit takes about twenty minutes.