I won’t try to pull the wool over your eyes and claim I’m a seasoned globetrotter, but I think I’ve seen a few spots on this beautiful planet, and I’ve particularly explored quite a few regions of France. There are places I love, spots I am particularly fond of, and I won’t hide from you any longer that I have truly fallen in love with the Basque Country.
I had passed through quite quickly during the year I lived in Bordeaux, but I had clearly missed out on the soul and charm of this region. So, I gladly accepted the invitation from the Terre & Côte Basques tourist office to get a fresh perspective on the matter. For the record, I was totally charmed by this trip (short, but rich and intense), which brought me absolutely everything I expect from a journey in a region I don’t know well. Discovering the customs and traditions of the Basque people, the local gastronomy (which will be the subject of another article), the cultural richness, and the legends deeply rooted in the daily lives of the inhabitants of this territory.
Obviously, I didn’t visit the entirety of the Basque Country, so my tips will be limited to the Terre et Côte Basques area, which includes 10 municipalities and extends from Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Hendaye. However, it should be known that this Basque territory is larger and also includes the municipalities of the Southern Basque Country, i.e., located in the north of Spain, which shares the Basque language with their neighbors in the Northern Basque Country, located in the south of France—a fun little detail. If you are staying in the region, here is my small selection (not exhaustive, of course) of activities and visits to do in the vicinity of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
_
Table of Contents
Guided tour of Saint-Jean-de-Luz with the Tourist Office
Quite essential in my opinion, because wandering through a city to soak up its atmosphere is one thing, but understanding its history, developments, and key moments is another. The city’s tourist office offers City Heart guided tours with a guide every Thursday at 10 AM during school holidays.
If you want to be a bit freer, you can also opt for a tour with an audio guide (4€) which can also be picked up at the Tourist Office. In any case, generally speaking, stopping by the Tourist Office remains a must-do when you arrive in a city you don’t know well, if only to pick up a city map and some advice on how to explore the surroundings.
_
Visit to the Sare Caves
These caves, located in the town of Sare, very close to the Spanish border, are visited in groups, accompanied by a guide, and to the rhythm of a light and sound show that is sometimes a bit mechanical and stereotypical.
Other than that, the labyrinth in the cavities of the caves, the encounter with our bat friends, and the geological phenomena are definitely worth the detour.
_
Visit to the Basque Cake Museum
This museum, located in Sare, was closed during my visit (apparently it is really only open during the summer period). However, as a big foodie, I think this visit must be very pleasant. Something to discover on a future trip!
_
Visit to the Lartigue 1910 Basque Linen workshop
This house, founded by the Lartigue family in 1910, is one of the last to still produce traditional Basque household linen, on-site and in an artisanal way. I highly recommend that you go to the weaving workshop in Ascain (in the Larre Lore industrial zone), very close to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, to enjoy a short guided tour of the workshops with the discovery of house manufacturing secrets and also the boutique to do some shopping, because the products are truly high quality!
_
Visit to Abbadia Castle
The Abbadia Observatory Castle, a listed Historical Monument, is truly an incredible building that you absolutely must visit if you pass through Hendaye. This neo-gothic inspired building (and for good reason, it is the work of Viollet-le-Duc) was commissioned by Antoine d’Abbadie, who wanted to carve into the stone and decorations of his home the memories of his life and travels, which gives the whole an eclectic and exotic style that is quite unique.
I highly recommend visiting the castle, whether on a guided tour if you want to learn more about the life and work of the owner or on a self-guided tour if you have less time.
_
Short hike and big riddles
It was originally the reason for my presence in the Basque Country, to discover this new local tourism offer, combining a walk in the magnificent landscapes, both urban and rural, around the Basque villages and riddles allowing hikers to discover local myths and legends.
The first edition took place on the 23rd and 24th of October in Ascain and Hendaye. Indeed, these riddle hikes are held over two days, always with one day dedicated to a village inland and another to a coastal village. The next editions of this free event (you just need to register in advance on the Terre & côte basques website or directly on-site on the day of the hike) will be held twice a year, during the Easter and All Saints’ school holidays. For my part, I did the small circuit (the choice between 2 circuits, one long and one shorter, is given each time) in Ascain on the theme of the laminak (Basque mythological creatures).
_
Where to stay in the Basque Country
I don’t have a very exhaustive list to provide you on that side, but we were hosted at the charming Grand Hôtel de la Poste in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which I can recommend without any problem, especially since it has just been renovated and it is housed in a historic building, a former 18th-century coaching inn on the road to Spain.
The Good Tip: Terre et Côte Basques has set up free WIFI access in its territory to surf the web freely, all the info here.
All that remains is for me to thank once again Terre & côte basques, which welcomed us with a perfectly organized program and especially with a lot of human warmth, which made this stay particularly successful, and frankly, I’ll come back anytime! And our small group was also very nice, and I invite you to take a look at the articles on this trip by my fellow blogger Intelligently Fashionable.
Find below all my articles on the Basque Country (in France and Spain):
⇒ All my articles on the Basque Country
⇒ All my articles on Nouvelle-Aquitaine
MY ARTICLES ON THE BASQUE COUNTRY
⇒ My favorite addresses in the Basque Country
⇒ My top picks in the Basque Country
⇒ The Ossau-Iraty PDO
⇒ San Sebastian (Spain)
⇒ My Basque restaurants in Paris
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization is required before any use
