Plage du Miramar

The Plage du Miramar is a small beach in Biarritz, on the Basque Coast of the Atlantic, adjoining the Grande Plage and sheltered from the larger crowds by its smaller size. It is one of the less crowded places to swim and walk in the middle of the resort, and its calm character suits visitors who want a quieter corner of the sand than the main beach, which fills quickly in summer. The setting is typical of Biarritz, with the grand hotels and villas on the cliffs behind the beach, the ocean in front and, on a clear day, a view up the coast to the Pyrenees.

Biarritz owes its fame to the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, who began to spend her summers here in the 1850s, and to the sea-bathing fashion of the nineteenth century. The beaches along the town, from the Côte des Basques to the Grande Plage and its neighbours, were built up with bathing establishments, promenades and casinos, and the place became one of the most elegant seaside resorts in Europe. Miramar, like its neighbours, is part of that long history of bathing and promenading on the Atlantic shore, and the architecture above it, with villas and hotels of the Belle Époque, still shows the scale of the resort's ambition.

The practical points deserve attention. The tides on this coast are significant, and the beach can become very narrow, or even disappear, at high tide, particularly when the tides are strong, so check the tide times before you go and keep an eye on the water if you settle on the sand. Currents can be strong, and visitors are advised to bathe only in the supervised areas marked by flags, when lifeguards are on duty in the season. The beach is not suitable for surfing or bodyboarding, and those activities are better practised at the beaches designed for them, such as the Côte des Basques, or at the edge of the marked swimming zone.

Access is free, and there are no opening hours, but the facilities are more limited than at the Grande Plage, so bring water and sun protection. The beach is a good place for a walk along the shore, to watch the waves and the changing light.

It suits swimmers who prefer calm, couples and families looking for a quiet spot, and those who like to look at the sea. From here the Rocher de la Vierge, the Phare de Biarritz, the Château de Biarritz and the Musée Basque et de l'Histoire de Biarritz are close, and the Église Saint-Esprit and the Parc Municipal are short walks away.