Biscarrosse
Biscarrosse is a town and beach resort in the Landes region of Southwestern France.
Understand
Biscarrosse is divided in three separate districts:
- Biscarrosse-Ville is the administrative and commercial centre. It has a population of about 10,000.
- About 9 km west, Biscarrosse-Plage is at the end of the line of dunes, right on the coast. A well-known seaside resort, it is mostly active during summer yet is also popular in winter for walks along the sea front.
- Alongside the North Lake, Biscarrosse-Lac comprises some residential areas and the harbours of Maguide and Navarosse.
Get in
By car
From Bordeaux, there are two possible routes:
The first one is toll-free: drive down the autoroute A63, then the A660, and take exit number 1 marked Mios and Biscarrosse. Follow signs for Biscarrosse. The trip takes around 1h30. A big downside is that the road between the highway and Biscarrosse-Ville is usually very congested during summer.
The second one is to stay on autoroute A63 until exit 17 marked Parentis-en-Born and Biscarrosse.
From Arcachon, drive down the D 218 road which runs parallel to the coast.
By train
There is no railway station in Biscarrosse.
The closest railway station is in Ychoux (15 km east from Biscarrosse-Ville). Ychoux is served only by regional trains running between Bordeaux and the south of the region. Long-distance trains (such as TGVs) usually don't stop at Ychoux. There is a bus route between Ychoux station and Biscarrosse-Ville (XL'R bus route 11).
Other railway stations are in Arcachon and Bordeaux.
By plane
Biscarrosse has a small landing strip.
The closest international airport is Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD IATA) (60 km (37 mi) north-east of Biscarrosse-Ville, 1h30 by car, no direct public transportation route.)
Domestic flights link it to Paris Orly & CDG, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpelier, Nice and Strasbourg. International destinations include Amsterdam Schiphol, Barcelona El Prat, Basel, Berlin, Bristol, Brussels, Budapest, Casablanca, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Lisbon, London (Gatwick, Luton & Stansted), Madrid Barajas, Milan, Prague, Rome, Tunis and Venice.
Get around
The districts of Biscarrosse are relatively compact and can be easily explored by foot. However, moving between districts may require motorized transportation means of some sort.
Biscarrosse-Ville and Biscarrosse-Plage are connected by road D 146 and by several well-maintained bike paths.
Public transportation is quite limited as the region is sparsely populated. Local bus routes are operated by Regie des Transports Landais (RDTL) under the name XL'R.
A municipal shuttle called Bisca'Bus runs during summer between Biscarrosse-Plage and Biscarrosse-Ville.
See
Do
- Surf. Many surf shops near the beach allow you to rent surfs or body boards for one day or more.
- Musée de l'Hydraviation (Seaplane museum), ☏ +33558780065.
- Musée des Traditions et de l'Histoire.
- Saint-Martin church, Biscarrosse-Ville.
Buy
Most shops are concentrated along the main pedestrian street of Biscarrosse-Plage. However their offerings are quite modest and limited to what can be typically found in a beach resort (souvenirs, take-away food, clothes, sports gear, etc.)
Small shopping malls and gas stations can be found in the outskirts of Biscarrosse-Ville.
Drink
- Casino, Boulevard des Sables, Biscarrosse-Plage.
- Océana, Rue du Grand Vivier, Biscarrosse-Plage. night club
Sleep
- Camping Campéole Le Vivier, Rue du Tit, ☏ +33 558782576. Check-out: 12:00. Pleasant campsite located 800m from the beach. However this camping targets families and does not accept groups with more than four people. From €27 by night.
- Camping Campéole Plage Sud, Biscarosse plage, ☏ +33 558782124. Nice campsite located very close to the center of Biscarosse Plage.