Biarritz is one of the most famous and glamorous resorts on the French coast, with kilometres of golden sandy beach and a plethora of water sports. Biarritz came to fame in the mid 19th Century, when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) fell in love with this part of the Basque country and built a Palace on the beach at Biarritz (which is now the world class Hotel du Palais). Biarritz is a vibrant cosmopolitan town with magnificent beaches, golf courses and numerous sporting facilities, not forgetting the surf. Surfing started in France here in Biarritz and surfers come from all over the world to ride the waves. Biarritz boasts some of the best and busiest beaches on France's southwest coast. In summer holidaymakers might struggle to find their own patch of golden sand on the main Grande Plage beach, as this is the place to see and be seen.