Bidart and Guéthary, addresses for connoisseurs

Located between the very popular Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bidart and Guéthary are charming seaside resorts which have retained their picturesque character.

Secret but iconic addresses on the seafront, these two communes are used to seeing the popularity of their illustrious neighbours rub off on their shores. Well-known to local residents who come for weekend outings, Bidart and Guéthary are increasingly visited and acclaimed by many fans of the Basque coast who decide to acquire holiday homes here, or even move in permanently. With their village centres at the edge of the ocean, these two little communes are not, however, twins. They each have their own character and intrinsic qualities. “Nicknamed “the little Saint-Tropez”, Guéthary has retained its uppercrust elegance dating back to the 19th century, when Parisian aristocrats built second residences here,” explains Chantal Marthan, manageress of Guéthary Immobilier, the only estate agency on the commune. The first holiday homes bearing names such as Bon Air, Miramar and L’Hermitage were then built in front of the ocean, around a casino now transformed into luxury apartments. The former whaling port has preserved all its charm, still drawing personalities, some of whom have paid several million euros to acquire villas here. A market full of contrasts, Guéthary is split into two zones separated by the RN10. “The immediate environment around the beaches and trendy neighbourhoods is very highly-prized, and the scarcity of available properties explains the high prices and a margin for bargaining which is virtually non-existent,” says Chantal Marthan. By way of example, she mentions a new residence consisting of 23 apartments proposed at 5,000 € per sq. metre (in charming old buildings, prices can attain 6,500 € per sqm.). “They were snapped up like hot cakes. We have just sold the last one.” Properties closer to noise from the road naturally struggle more to find takers. Since the start of spring, activity has resumed the pace usually seen in better weather after the traditional winter truce. Buyers from Paris and Bordeaux, ex-pats returning to France and a few north Europeans contact the agency in the hope of finding their dream homes.

Neighbouring on Guéthary, Bidart with its old fishing harbour on a 12-km strip of the coast proposes a more casual, family-oriented atmosphere and slightly lower property prices. Cut into strips running north-south by the RN10, the railway line from Bordeaux-Saint-Jean to Irun, and the A63 motorway, some of its neighbourhoods suffer from a certain amount of noise, explaining price differences depending on a property’s location. “With its golf-course running along the sea, the most sought-after neighbourhood is Ilbarritz,” says Daniel Iribarren, manager of the BTZ Immobilier - Bliss & Foch agency in Biarritz. “It is becoming harder to find properties meeting each demand, due to such constant enthusiasm and buyers with high expectations in terms of both quality and the performance/price ratio. Mainly looking for second homes, our clients want houses with a country atmosphere, between sea and nature.” Here, luxury apartments such as one example with 2 bedrooms in a residence of character, benefiting from a private pool and conciergerie service, are priced around 750,000 €. Others with more authentic charm are on offer at about 450,000 €.

Based in Biarritz for the past seven years, the independent First agency proposes many charming properties in Bidart, ranging from small pieds-à-terre to old farmhouses surrounded by natural greenery. “Our portfolio caters for both locals and clients from Bordeaux, Toulouse or Paris, drawn by Bidart and hoping to acquire holiday homes there,” says Olivier Bricaut, the agency’s co-manager. “Bidart is often the address that has been chosen, though it is also a fall-back market for clients with budgets of 500,000 to 750,000 €, who have only found properties requiring large-scale renovation in Biarritz. We therefore introduce them to nearby communes and they are often attracted by Bidart, where they have a wider choice of homes corresponding to the sums they want to invest. In this town, numerous properties are available at prices 15 to 20 % lower than in Biarritz for the same amenities.” Another asset offered by Bidart is building land. Here, the agencies Guéthary Immobilier, First, and BTZ Immobilier - Bliss & Foch all have generously-sized plots for sale, whereas they are non-existent in the small territory occupied by Guéthary. Currently, one needs 750,000 € to acquire a plot of 2,600 m2 on a hillside, with a glimpse of the sea. Whatever the surface area, a property in a highly-prized part of Bidart or Guéthary is a sound investment and an address guaranteeing personal enjoyment on a coast which still appeals widely to a

clientele of all ages.