Hotel

Hotel du Palais is a spectacular national monument which has been welcoming guests since 1893. Originally built as the private residence of the Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie, it blends glamour and sophistication with Basque Country warmth.

Just steps from the bustling town centre of Biarritz, its surroundings are packed with activities to inspire and delight. There are great golf courses, beaches that sweep towards the Pyrenees and nearby Spain, and Basque villages to explore inland.

For dining, the main restaurant ‘La Rotonde’ serves a continental breakfast with full American breakfast on request. In the evening La Rotonde specialises in refined Basque cuisine with ocean views. ‘Villa Eugénie’ offers Michelin-grade dining with seafood specialities. For casual dining visit Hippocampe, to discover an array of seafood, salads and delicious deserts with the option of al fresco dining with views across the bay.

Hotel du Palais’ high quality leisure facilities feature a California-style salt-water pool overlooking the Grand Plage. The pool appears a natural extension of the Atlantic Ocean. The pool deck is ideal for sun bathing or to enjoy a cocktail while you watch the sun set over the sea.

Le Spa Imperial is a peaceful haven of wellbeing and luxury. Relax in the 15-metre indoor swimming pool, filled with natural light. You can also make use of the sauna, Turkish bath and Jacuzzi, as well as the solarium complete with stunning ocean views. The 200 m² fitness area is equipped with cardio and strength training equipment, a Pilates studio, a Power Plate and Technogym Kinesis station.

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Gallery

Hotel

Aerial View

Classic Room

Junior Suite

Restaurant La Rotonde

Restaurant Villa Eugenie

Hippocampe Restaurant Terrace

Le Spa Imperial

Gym

Sun Terrace

Beach View

Biarritz Coastline

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Hotel

Guest Rooms

Guest Rooms at Hotel du Palais feature a king-sized bed or 2 twins, a spacious bathroom, fresh flowers, minibar, TV and WIFI.

Rooms (20-28m²)

Classic Rooms – Choose the spectacular Basque architecture from a Classic Biarritz View Room or the more spacious Classic Beach View Room featuring uninterrupted views of the Grand Plage or the charming Biarritz lighthouse.

Prestige Rooms - Prestige Biarritz View Rooms offer more space than our Classic Rooms, with stunning vistas of the city and its domed Orthodox Church. The Prestige rooms are perfect for those looking for additional space and sweeping views of the Atlantic.

Suites (30-50m²)

Each suite is decorated in the purest Second Empire tradition with handcrafted furniture and fabrics.

Biarritz View Suites - Delightful views of Biarritz and the domed Orthodox Church are complemented by refined décor and modern amenities.

Junior Suites - Airy Junior Suites feature a separate sitting room where you can unwind and admire magnificent ocean vistas.

The Residential & Imperial (40-75m²)

The Residential & Imperial Suites can be made up of one, two or three bedrooms connecting with a spacious living room. Each room is uniquely furnished, with lavish touches like Burmese teak, Carrara marble and Italian glass mosaic. All offer spellbinding views of the untamed ocean.

Residential Suites - seamlessly blending timeless opulence with state-of-the-art amenities.

Imperial Suites - Named after prestigious former visitors like King Leopold II and Charlie Chaplin, Imperial Suites offer the most regal accommodation in the hotel.

Bar/Dining

La Rotonde - Savour refined Basque cuisine and breath taking ocean views at La Rotonde.

Villa Eugénie – This Michelin-star restaurant serves the freshest local seafood and varied regional delights.

Hippocampe – Enjoy an array of seafood, salads and delicious deserts. The summer lunch buffet is renowned for al fresco dining with views across the bay.

Local Area

History

The real invention of Biarritz can be credited to a pretty and young woman. In 1835, a nine-year-old girl, accompanied by her Spanish mother, La Comtesse de Montijo, spent her vacation on the Basque Coast. With her porcelain complexion, light eyes, and her golden hair inherited from Scottish ancestors, she became the darling of the local population. Her name was Eugénie.

In 1852, Eugenie met the Prince-President, who became Napoléon III a year later. He fell in love with and married her. Henceforth, she never missed the opportunity to persuade her husband to come along to her favorite vacation spot, the scene of her childhood games.

In 1854, the couple and their entourage took up summer residence in the Château de Grammont, in Biarritz. Napoléon was quickly won over by the charms of the coast. He was a man of action. Grammont was too small for the imperial court. He purchased a plot of land overlooking the sea and, without delay, he began constructing a summer palace.

This was to be “La Villa Eugénie”, which would later become the Hôtel du Palais.

For sixteen years, with the exception of only 1860 and 1869, the imperial couple never missed its rendezvous with Biarritz the most famous names of the era followed - Queen Isabelle of Spain, Léopold II of Belgium, Prince Albrecht of Bavaria and the illustrious Chancellor Bismarck.

From this time on, festivities followed one after another, a succession of balls, well-groomed picnics, sparkling receptions, fireworks, and boat excursions all punctuated by diplomatic meetings. At the Villa Eugenie, guests were entertained by charades and other courtly games.

Bought in 1880 by La Banque Parisienne, it was transformed into a casino, then in 1893, into the Hôtel du Palais.

Fine Dining

The elegant Hotel du Palais boasts three restaurants overseen by award-winning chef Jean-Marie Gautier in its stunning ocean-front setting in Biarritz. The Michelin-starred La Villa Eugenie is the crème de la crème of the three.

La Villa Eugenie serves rich and savoury cuisine mixing local seafood with regional produce. Specialities include sea bass with a Domaine Brana white wine cream or sautéed mullet filets, baby cuttlefish and creamy rice in an Espelette pepper and squid ink sauce. La Villa Eugenie’s cosy atmosphere is one of refined elegance with chandeliers illuminating white walls and gilded mouldings. Chef Jean-Marie Gautier was voted one of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (translated “One of the Best Craftsmen in France”) in 1991.

Other dining options at Hotel de Palais

Biarritz Le Phare

Par: 69 Length: 5402m Course designer: Willie Dunn

A semi links style course, Biarritz Le Phare is situated overlooking the town and bay of Biarritz. The course is an old established golf club, opened in 1887. The greens are usually fast and undulating. Not the longest of courses but accuracy is the key on the tight fairways.

Arcangues

Par: 72 Length: 6106m Course designer: Ronald Fream

The Arcangues course was built on rolling terrain surrounding the chateau and village of Arcangues. The attractive layout stretches out across 198 acres, much of which is lined with old oak trees, while there are great views of the Basque countryside and the Pyranees. Elevation changes, hollows and swales add to the challenge, while water hazards are the main features. The clubhouse is a renovated 15th Century farmhouse, which includes a large English bar. Arcangues golf club is located just 5kms from Biarritz.

Seignosse

Par: 72 Length: 6129m Course designer: Robert Von Hagge

Seignosse is a testing course that winds picturesquely through forests of mature pines and oaks. Water also features heavily on this spectacular layout which will challenge the best players. Seignosse was voted best course in France by the Association of British Tour Operators to France and 15th best course in Europe by Golf World magazine. Get ready for a modern championship challenge when you tee it up at Seignosse!

Golf de Moliets

Par: 72 Length: 6173m Course designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr Venue: European Tour Q School

Golf De Moliets is a Robert Trent Jones-designed links course 40kms north of Biarritz. Holes 13-16 are alongside the dunes, in classic links style, while other holes have tree-lined fairways. Golf de Moliets is voted consistently as one of the top 100 courses in Europe and has hosted the European Tour Q School – a real treat to play, and worth the drive north from Biarritz.