Town (pop., 1999: 30,005), southwestern France.
It lies on the Gulf of Gascogne (Bay of Biscay ) near Bayonne, 11 mi (18 km) from Spain. Once a small fishing village, Biarritz became a fashionable summer resort after 1854 with the visits of Napoleon III ; visited also by British royalty, it grew additionally as a winter residence. Its mild climate and variety of beaches, and the folklore and traditions of the local Basques , continue to draw an international clientele.