Biarritz Marine Museum is situated by the seashore, on top of the Rocher de la Vierge which dominates the waves. From the terrace of the Marine Museum you can watch this part of the coast, a wonderful landscape of the coast ripped by plenty of reefs and rocks.
From North to South, you can have a look on the Pointe Saint Martin where the lighthouse is located.
In front of the beach Miramar, West side, you can have a look on the Roche Ronde, with a Hole that goes through the rock it like a tunnel. South of the Palais, by the open sea, the Roche Plate. South of the Grande plage and near the Bellevue, La Roche des Enfants or “Rock of the Infants”. Then you can look at the refuge of the Port des Pecheurs, called the Basta because in the past it was covered by thorny plants, furzes and heathers. North-West of this very well known rock in Biarritz, a bridge links the coast road with a rock called Artillerie, because of its likeness to a Canon’s carriage.
In front of the Marine Museum, on Curculong Rock, the Virgo statue stands up it is considered to be the guardian of the seamen (sailors). To the right of the bridge, the Loge de Theatre, a real window into the rocky block, where la “Surprise” crashed into it on November 20th 1893. On this rock, an iron cross has been raised.
On South West of the Rocher de la Verge, le Bouclé or Petite Embouchure. which were linked with the coast in XV century. The Port Vieux provides with a beach surrounded by high Cliffs. The Villa Belza is set up on a Cachaou.
On South of the Villa Belza, the rocks have nearly disappeared. Nevertheless we meet from time to time down the cliff of Beau-Rivage, la Mouclariette or mussels’ rock, which appears in high tide.
When we are in the Marine Museum, we can easily imagine being in a boat, this feeling is enhanced by the strong waves and the sea flood. |
