Construction of the first casino 1856-1858 (≈ 1857)
Work by Benito R. de Monfort
1929
Construction of the current casino
Construction of the current casino 1929 (≈ 1929)
Art Deco style by Alfred Laulhé
1992
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 1992 (≈ 1992)
Protection of facades and interiors
2014
Renovation by the Barrière Group
Renovation by the Barrière Group 2014 (≈ 2014)
€5.3 million investment
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façades and roofs and all ironworks; access vestibule and its window; main access gallery (Box BA 1): registration by order of 7 October 1992
Key figures
Alfred Laulhé - Casino architect
Manufacturer of the building in 1929
Benito R. de Monfort - Initiator of the first casino
Construction between 1856 and 1858
Édouard Niermans - Collaborating architect
Trained Alfred Laulhé
Origin and history
The Biarritz Municipal Casino, built in 1929 by architect Alfred Laulhé, embodies the Art Deco style of Entre-Deux-Guerres. Located on the Grande Plage, it includes games rooms, a theatre, a swimming pool and an outdoor gallery-promenade with ocean views. Its reinforced concrete structure, coated to accentuate its whiteness, evokes a tropical character. Despite partial renovations in the 1990s, its original interior plan remains legible. The facades, roofs, ironworks, vestibule and main gallery have been protected since 1992.
A first casino, built between 1856 and 1858 under the leadership of Benito R. de Monfort, preceded the current building. The latter, designed by Alfred Laulhé, a native of Biarritz, marks the culmination of his career. Trained in Paris and collaborator of Édouard Niermans for the reconstruction of the Hôtel du Palais, Laulhé became a major figure in local architecture. The casino, a communal property, was operated by Groupe Barrière after a major renovation in 2014 (€5.3 million invested).
The building is distinguished by its urban integration: it occupies a central location, facing the ocean, and symbolizes the golden age of Biarritz as a seaside resort. Its architecture reflects the tropical influences and luxury of the 1920s, while meeting the expectations of an affluent clientele. Decorative elements, such as ironwork, and interior spaces (vestibulum, gallery) illustrate Art Deco know-how. Today, it remains a major cultural and playful place, combining heritage and modernity.
