Saturday, December 13, 2014

Biarritz, Shopping, Surfing, and Casino Gambling in Southern France

Biarritz, Beach Resort, Southern France

Biarritz is a resort community noted for surfing and casino gambling located on the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay where the Pyrenees mountains define the border between France and Spain. 

Biarritz is noted for surfing, casino gambling, 
and its Atlantic Ocean beach on the Bay of Biscay

The Romans, Vikings, British, and French along with the Basques from Spain have all influenced the food and architecture of the seaside village that was also once a whaling settlement.   (Reach Biarritz by train from Paris, See train schedules)


Two Casinos are located at beach side

 Since the mid fifties the strong waves rolling in from the bay have made Biarritz a surfing town.


 In the distance, the palace built by Napoleon III for his wife, 
Empress Eugenie

Biarritz gained fame as a resort and destination for the wealthy when Napoleon III had a beach side palace built in the 1850s for his wife, Empress Eugenie. 
 This palace is now the Hotel du Palais and has become the destination for royalty and for the wealthy and famous of Britain, Europe, and the USA.


Biarritz Casinos on the main beach

Biarritz also offers casino gambling at beach-side along with dining, golf, and a walkway the length of the beach and over the rocks along miles of shore. Along the walkway find the fishing port and seafood restaurants.

Follow the walkway to the fishing port and seafood restaurants

Sightseeing in Biarritz includes two casinos located on the main beach, an aquarium, an Asiatic museum, a museum of chocolate, the 12th century St-Martin's Church,  annual surfing competitions, and lookout points located along the shore walkway.  



Observation platforms above the surf are
located along the shore walkway


Biarritz and Bayonne figured in the Hemingway novel, The Sun Also Rises. In nearby San Sebastian, Spain, the characters Cohn and Lady Bret had their rendezvous.


Biarritz is one of France's most popular
 
surfing resorts


Biarritz is today one of France's premier shopping, surfing, and beach resorts.


Biarritz is noted for shopping and surfing.  This October photo
show surfers and shoppers walking a block from the shore.

TGV trains from Paris serve Biarritz, Bayonne and nearby Irun. Air service also reaches Biarritz/Bayonne. Local bus service is available in Biarritz and Bayonne.




Miles of shore walkway 

The fishing port offers seafood restaurants






Seafood restaurants along the shore near the casino 



Local buses reach Biarritz from the Bayonne 
Train station



A  lookout point is located at the top of the
 hill along the shore walkway

Casino Gambling at beach side 



Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Bayonne, Southern France

Bayonne Sightseeing In Southern France 




Bayonne is part of Southern France bordering Spain on the Atlantic Coast. 




The area was once a Roman site and then became a viking settlement and later was ruled by the English and then the French.

Inside the grounds of Sainte-Marie Cathedral

 The many influences including the influence of the Spanish Basque give the area of coastal Bayonne and Biarritz a unique flavor in its food architecture, and sightseeing.


Sainte-Marie Cathedral




Bayonne offers a busy rail link from Paris for tourists headed to the resort town, nearby Biarritz, and to Spain.  Paris trains

The train station in Bayonne offers routes to Paris


The rail link is prominent in Ernest Hemingway's, The Sun Also Rises, when several of the characters arrive in Bayonne en route to Biarritz and to Pamplona, Spain for the running of the bulls.
In nearby San Sebastian, Spain, the characters Cohn and Lady Bret have their rendezvous 






Bayonne and Petit Bayonne are divided by the Nive River and
 joined by bridges






Sainte-Marie Cathedral, constructed during the 12th and 
13th centuries





Google Map Bayonne France

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Dijon, Center For Culture and Recreation, A Day-Trip From Paris

Dijon can be a day trip from Paris because of the TGV, fast Trains, link from Gare De Lyon (Paris train station).
Dijon has much sightseeing and shopping to offer and could easily require several days of touring.          Reach Dijon   link
Hiking the Burgundy Canal from Dijon 



Dijon is noted for sightseeing and shopping.
Compare Hotels here









Veloroutes and voites vertes run through Dijon
for hiking and biking

The hiking and biking trail beside the Burgundy Canal 



Hiking and biking beside the Burgundy Canal



Hiking trails on the Burgundy Canal
The Burgundy Canal passe through Dijon on its north-south route through east central France. Book canal barge tours through Dijon

Barge Tours, Burgundy Canal

Veloroutes, Burgundy Valley