With its strong identity, the Basque Country is a favorite destination for summer vacationers. And they are right! The pearl of the South-West has an exceptional heritage that it has preserved by perpetuating its traditions. And what better way to realize this than to visit the towns and villages of the region when the August ferias begin. For a first approach of the Basque Country, you should start by discovering Biarritz, this mythical seaside resort that has been renowned for decades. Before setting off to attack the coast..
Biarritz, the jewel of the region
Welcoming and elegant, Biarritz is the temple of luxury, good taste and mythical Basque-style waves. Located on the French Basque coast, Biarritz (its Basque name is "Miarritze") has become in recent years the most Californian of European cities where surfing and lifestyle remain at the heart of the rhythm of life. This refined seaside city has large sandy beaches: the famous Côte des Basques, a surfer's paradise, and the Grande Plage at the foot of the city. In 1957, during the shooting of the film The Sun Also Rises, based on a novel by Ernest Hemingway, the people of Biarritz discovered the surfboard used in some scenes. Some of them became interested in it and started to play with the waves. This is how the place earned its reputation, becoming "the queen of beaches, the beach of kings". The whole city breathes the history of a lively and refined city. In the middle of the 19th century, Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie began to spend their summer vacations here, bringing with them a court of noblemen and bourgeois from all over Europe. From this period was born the development of the Rock of the Virgin, where a statue was installed in a rock. From the top of the rock, you can admire the whole coast, from the Landes to the tip of Spain. Near the Grande Plage, the Hôtel du Palais, a building built for the imperial couple to spend their vacations, is now a luxury hotel. Among the jewels to be admired in Biarritz are also the Art Deco casino, the 19th century lighthouse of Cape Saint-Martin, one of the most visible from the sea in the Bay of Biscay, or the villa Belza, built between 1880 and 1895 by the architect Alphonse Bertrand on the rock of Cachaous. And in front, the blue of the ocean and the green of the trees and hills form a dream landscape that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Stroll along the coast
But Biarritz in high season is unfortunately not for everyone. For those on a tight budget, head south to the popular seaside resort of Bidart. This typical Basque village has preserved its charm and authenticity. Here, the coastline is lined with traditional red and green half-timbered houses. On the village square, markets of local products and games of Basque pelota enliven weekends and summer days. Facing the Atlantic Ocean with its six beaches stretching over 5 km, Bidart is a favorite of many beachgoers and surfers, especially with its famous "Parlementia" wave, known by the best surfers in the world. But Bidart is also the starting point of the coastal path, a 25 km walk that will allow you to follow the ocean all the way to the Spanish border, in Hendaye. More than a simple seaside resort, Bidart offers other activities, such as horse riding, golf, hiking... In short, nothing to get bored of!
Continuing to go down south, we arrive in Guéthary, one of the Basque jewels with a magnificent view of the Bay of Biscay. Coming from the Latin "Cetaria" which means salting place, Guéthary is an old fishermen village with a unique charm. Its port was first a whaling port, but also a tuna and sardine port, before becoming a very popular seaside resort. Its beach and surf spots make the city very attractive. And this little corner of paradise also lives to the rhythm of Basque traditions: pelota, chistera, surfing, etc...
Then, you will have to put your bags down 6 km away, still going down towards Spain, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. This authentic seaside town has a unique historical past, notably because it hosted the marriage of Louis XIV to the Infanta Maria Theresa of Austria in 1660. This short passage in French history earned Saint-Jean-de-Luz the nickname "royal city", a nickname it still holds today. With its ideal maritime location, Saint-Jean-de-Luz has made fishing its flagship activity: its renowned port dates from the 12th century! It is very pleasant to stroll around, the brightly colored boats and trawlers have kept a picturesque aspect. The city of Corsairs was built around a bay. Well protected from the overflowing waves by its three dikes built by Vauban, the city offers an exceptional panorama on the ocean and the Pyrenees. La Rhune, a 905 meter high mountain, overlooks the city. And since 1912, Saint-Jean-de-Luz has been classified as a seaside and climatic resort.
Finally, on the coast, about fifteen kilometers southwest of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, near the Spanish border, Hendaye offers picturesque natural landscapes and several exceptional sites. Surrounded by the Jaizkibel, Trois Couronnes and La Rhune mountains, Hendaye offers a window with a view of the Atlantic. And then it forms with its Iberian neighbors Irun and Fontarrabie on the other side of the Bidasoa a particular trio where cultures and gastronomies merge. For the record, Hendaye was wiped off the map in the spring of 1793 by a bombardment, then burned to the ground in 1813 by an Anglo-Spanish coalition. As a border town, it has suffered the upheavals of history, notably in 1936 when Irun was bombed by Franco's regime. Thousands of refugees crossed the river to find asylum there. Even today, nearly a third of the population is Spanish. Hendaye is therefore a city of two peoples who speak each other in three languages, French, Spanish and Basque. It is also a unique opportunity to dive into the heart of the Basque Country.
A renowned culinary destination
But visiting the region also means discovering its gastronomy, especially in the villages that are not on the coast. About 15 kilometers from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the village of Sare, in addition to its five prehistoric caves (the most important in the northern Basque Country), is home to the Basque cake museum. A perfect opportunity to taste this traditional dessert. Continuing eastward, you should also stop in Espelette, famous throughout the world for its PDO pepper. This spice can be found in many Basque recipes: piperade, axoa, Basque chicken... But the most famous regional specialty is certainly the Bayonne ham. Go to the 17th century citadel and the ramparts built by Vauban to taste this speciality of the Adour basin. And then, while we're at it, why not make a detour to the famous Atelier du Chocolat and its museum of old-fashioned chocolate-making machines? What a way to end this initiatory journey in the Basque Country.
You want to know more about the Basque Country? Discover our Top 15 of the most beautiful villages in the Basque Country !
Useful information
When is the season ? The tourist season starts at the end of April-beginning of May and ends at the end of September. However, the rest of the year, Biarritz offers a peaceful setting where the landscapes, often windswept, can be superb.
Getting there. By plane, train or car, of course everything is possible.
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Useful. To prepare your stay on the Basque Coast.
BIARRITZ TOURIST OFFICE - More information on the website
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