casino

The first casino was officially opened on August 10, 1901. Benefitting from the famous name of Biarritz and its theatre, the casino Bellevue placed gaming in the spotlight. Its Manager, Emile Catelain, applied for permission to allow women to enter the casino, a privilege that had, until then, been granted only to the municipal casino.
Following endless discussions, an agreement was finally reached between the casino leaseholders, who decided to grant the Bellevue casino owner an 18-year lease.
After the war, exiles and survivors of the atrocities were ready to bury the past in the whirlwind of the roaring twenties. Instead of the facelift it was to receive pending its relocation to new premises, the casino was rebuilt from scratch.
The casino re-opened its doors on August 1, 1929 with architect Laulhe having waved the Art Deco wand. Manager Broussan and the orchestra conducted by Razigade put together a musical programme with French and international stars galore. Among the famous names serenading the Biarritz nightlife were Edith Piaf, Yves Montand and Charles Trenet.
In 1991, having asked the citizens of Biarritz for their opinion, Mayor of Biarritz, Didier Borotra, decided to refurbish the casino. Architect François Lombard was chosen from the prospective candidates for his respect for the Art Deco style. Key features were to be kept from the 1929 casino and complemented with new furnishings to attract tourists.
On July 23, 1994, the casino was inaugurated by Didier Borotra with Diane Barrière-Desseigne and her husband, co-presidents of the Groupe Lucien Barrière.
After investing 10 million euros in the refurbishment of the building and the Casino Barrière de Biarritz in 1994, Groupe Lucien Barrière spent another 3 million euros on more renovation work eight years later. These renovations are part of the group's policy of controlled development.