Extravagant ambience – The Hôtel du Palais Imperial in Biarritz / France

Biarritz, France. Contributed by Francois Jobard.

Truly cosy hotel atmosphere, we enjoyed Napoleons III. summer residence in Biarritz.

The Hôtel du Palais Imperial is an historic luxury hotel in the centre of Biarritz, overlooking a large stretch of beach on the Biarritz coastline and welcoming guests with a smile.

The 19th century residence of Napoleon III, has been all the time a symbol of prestige for Biarritz for more than a century. This 5-star hotel is located 24km from San Sebastian-Donosti Airport.

From the moment you get your key you feel a bit special.

You can enjoy exceptional cuisine at the Michelin-starred hotel restaurant, where the domed La Rotunde dining room evokes the opulence of the Belle Epoque era.

We enjoyed the luxury imperial spa.

It is an amazing moment to play a round of golf (pitch and put) at the hotel’s course.

We enjoyed to swim in the hotel pools and the fantastic breakfast.

The posh seaside town in southwest France is had already several renaissance. Once the reigning vacation spot for Europe’s noble and gentry classes, Biarritz’s golden shores are now shared by lets say, everyone from aristocrats, bronze beauties surfers in flip-flops, internationalal nomads and royal french people. Even the languages are mixed up. Walk into any of the town’s old bars, and the patrons might strike up a conservation by saying a few words in French, Spanish, English or even Basque, the local language that is in a class by itself. Biarritz is a tale of two beaches, acquainted with the Grande Plage, a curved stretch of golden sand dotted with brightly colored parasols. The Basque love pelote match, a game similar to handball that’s reputed to be the fastest sport in the world and is played in almost every village.

Later on you must pick up a gâteau Basque, a small cake filled with a delicious eggy custard or cherries (my choice) in the hotel or from the pâtisserie Loubère. Beautiful.

Then head down to the Côte des Basques, a plain beach with rowdy waves where Peter Viertel, a Hollywood screenwriter, introduced surfing to the stunned French more than 50 years ago.

Perhaps you can meet the Ducasse-trained chef Philippe Lafargue, a cuisine rock star. His restaurant, Chez Philippe serves some of the most exciting nouveau Basque cuisine in the region. Start with a sparkling wine from the Spanish Basque country, and then sample the degustation menu, which features delights like roasted pork loin and sea bass with herbs from the restaurant’s own garden.

After this delight we went back to the “The Palais”.

Its such a beautiful location, luxuriously and authentically furnished and @ the Imperial bar you will get a nice pastis and could enjoy live pianists. Looking out to the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy “la France”.

I love it.

Perhaps you can do a day trip to Bilbao and see Frank O. Gehry at Guggenheim Bilbao /Spain.