Plage du port Vieux, Biarritz, Cove beach in Biarritz, France.

Plage du Port Vieux is a small sandy beach at the foot of a concrete retaining wall in Biarritz, flanked by rocky cliffs and open to the sea. A long low concrete structure with a row of arches runs along the back of the sand, bearing the inscription "PLAGE DU PORT VIEUX", and a stone staircase with a metal railing descends to the beach from the right.

The site began as a fishing harbor where boats sought shelter from Atlantic storms using a stone ramp to haul vessels ashore. During the 1800s this working port became integrated into the new leisure and bathing culture that defined the emerging seaside resort.

The beach's name, Port Vieux (Old Port), recalls the fishing harbour that occupied this cove before it became a bathing spot. Boats were hauled up a stone ramp here to shelter from Atlantic storms, and the harbour's working role was gradually shared with swimmers as Biarritz grew into a resort.

Lifeguards watch over swimmers during summer months, and free identification bracelets are available for children at rescue stations. The small size and rocky sections mean it fills up quickly on weekends, so visiting on weekdays or early morning offers a more comfortable experience.

The beach is one of six in Biarritz and sits within the town centre, so bathers swim in a small pool-like inlet rather than open ocean surf. Look for the "PLAGE DU PORT VIEUX" inscription above the arcaded concrete wall at the back of the sand, reached by a stone stair with a metal railing on the right.