This former French railway station is located in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on the Biarritz-la-Négresse to Biarritz-Ville line. The station was put into service in 1911 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi and closed to railway service in 1980. Its former passenger building was designed by architect Adolphe Dervaux. The station formed part of a branch line opened on 10 August 1903 between gare de la Négresse and the new Biarritz-Ville station. The line included a 400-meter curved tunnel between La Négresse and Lac Marion, and the station was located on the Montloris plateau. In the years of service, it received trains including the Sud-Express, the Côte basque, and shuttle services. The former passenger building was transformed into an art and leisure center inaugurated in 1990, became the Palais des Festivals in 1992, and was later renamed Gare du Midi.

◎ Nearby Objects

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  Casino municipal 500 m away
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  Église Sainte-Eugénie 650 m away
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  Le Musée de la mer 850 m away

From Railway Station to Cultural Venue

The former train station in Biarritz was part of the railway line between Biarritz-la-Negresse and Biarritz-Ville, in Biarritz, Pyrnees-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It was put into service in 1911 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi and remained in railway use until its closure in 1980. The former passenger building was designed by architect Adolphe Dervaux. After its railway function ended, the building was transformed into an art and leisure center, inaugurated in 1990. It became the Palais des Festivals in 1992 and has since been renamed Gare du Midi.

Planning and Opening of Biarritz-Ville Station

A law dated 1891 granted the line from gare de la Negresse to Biarritz-Ville. In 1892, Historique entrusted engineers from the Etat's chemin de fer d'interet general to study the route. This was followed by unofficial talks with the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi in 1893 to agree on the terminus location. Negotiations continued in 1896, when several possible locations were proposed, and at the beginning of 1902 the engineers presented two location options to the Compagnie. Historique then requested a study of these two proposals, and an agreement on the terminus location was reached in 1902, making it possible to begin ground studies and prepare a preliminary project. The new Biarritz-Ville station opened on August 10, 1903, together with a 750 meter branch line from gare de la Negresse. This branch included a 400 meter curved tunnel between La Negresse and Lac Marion, and the station was located on the Montloris plateau. The station received trains including the Sud-Express, the Cote basque, and shuttle services. During the 1960s, it also saw significant autocoach train activity. The Biarritz-Ville branch was closed on June 13, 1980, when the autocoach yard was transferred to gare de La Negresse.

Adaptive Reuse of Biarritz-Ville Station

Patrimoine ferroviaire restored the building-voyageurs of Biarritz-Ville and included it in a real estate complex for shows and congresses. Since 1998, the building has housed the center chorégraphique national de Biarritz. Patrimoine ferroviaire associated this dance center with choreographer Thierry Malandain, linking the former station building to a contemporary cultural use.