Biarritz Emerges as Summer Art and Culture Hotspot with New Gallery and Chanel Show

Biarritz, a charming coastal town in the Basque Country of southwestern France, is experiencing a cultural resurgence. In 2021, British gallerist Lucy Chadwick opened Champ Lacombe, the first contemporary art space in town, featuring pieces by artists like Gaetano Pesce and Tim Breuer. This spring, Italian artist Franco Mazzucchelli will display his distinctive inflatable sculptures at Champ Lacombe and other city venues, with a highlight event at Villa Natacha on April 28, coinciding with Chanel's cruise 2027 show. The town has also seen the rise of stylish boutique hotels like Regina Experimental Biarritz by Dorothée Meilichzon and Le Garage. New restaurants such as Les Enfants du Marché La Table, Chéri Bibi, and Bleach, founded by ex-pro skater Jon Monié and Stéphane Borgne, are drawing food lovers. Biarritz, famed as Europe's surf capital, features stunning beaches like Le Grande Plage and Plage Côte des Basques. Historically, it was a summer getaway for Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, later attracting icons like Frank Sinatra and Coco Chanel.