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Apologies for this 'old-fashioned' web page. We are in the process of updating this section of our website - Justin & Alex |
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French Basque Country
Alternative Aquitaine's
Destination Guide
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Sophistication, superb beaches & great cuisine
French Basque Country is where mountains meet ocean.
Where the
Silver Coast's endless beaches give way to rocky coves,
world-class surf and the Spanish border.
Stylish seaside resorts
and pretty villages clinging to the rolling green foothills.
The
home of the Basques; the ancient folk of Europe who preserve their
own language and traditions to this day.
We're finding that a number
of Côte d'Azur regulars are converting to la Côte Basque
- why not find discover why? |
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We've
picked out five 'must-dos' when on holiday in French Basque Country:
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Soak up café
life on the Grande Plage in Biarritz |
| 2 |
A
hike to the summit of la Rhune - and the panoramic views
from the top |
| 3 |
Watching
local kids playing chistera at the village fronton after
school |
| 4 |
A
fresh seafood supper at one of Ciboure's vibrant portside
restaurants |
5 |
A
cliff-top walk along the Route de Corniche between St
Jean & Hendaye |
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You
won't be short of things to do in French Basque Country but if you wan't to just mooch about on the beach
or at your villa, that is certainly possible too!
The truth is, though, that many visitors to this corner
of France have 'done' the Côte d'Azur
and are seeking a more discerning holiday experience.
Indeed, the rest of France look upon the
Basque Country with a degree of envy; its range
of sports, its mountains, oceans and seductive climate
all make it an extremely desirable location all year
round.
Beaches
Rocky & secluded coves
or long sandy beaches are on offer.
The most family-friendly beach of the region is in
St Jean de Luz (town beach - La Grande Plage) - the
others tend to pick up good surf. Take a look at Anthony
Peregrine's
Best Beaches in French Basque Country article from the Telegraph 01.08.08.
Surfing
From summer schools for
beginners to life-endagering winter reef Big Wave breaks for
semi-pros. The surf is reliable throughout the year and
the reefs off St-Jean-de-Luz are home to some of Europe's
Big Wave riders. For more info, take a look at our Surfers page. Windsurfing, diving and sailing are also popular particularly
in the bays at St-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye.
Golf
8 excellent courses including
the second oldest on the continent. You can buy a Biarritz Golf Pass which gives you 5 green fees for the price of 4. Compared
to the South of France the courses are quiet and less expensive
yet the standard is very high. For more info, take
a look at our Golfers page or call us - we have played all the courses.
Horse-trekking
you have a choice
of scenery whether its beach, countryside or mountain
foothills. There's a couple of organisations we can
recommend who specialise in treks through the Pyrénéan
foothills including overnight stays.
Hiking, Nature & the Mountains
Fresh air, nature and freedom
in the Pyrénées.
Guided or group walks are available - check with local
tourist information offices. The 25km coastal path
to Hendaye starts at Erretegia beach at Bidart. White-water
rafting, paragliding and bird-watching are other ways to enjoy
this natural haven. For nature-lovers there's also
the Izadia
Ecology Park in Anglet to visit.
Spa & thalassotherapy
If your bones
are aching or if you simply want a little pampering,
seawater cures are a regional speciality. There are
centres in the all the main coastal resorts.
Shopping
In Biarritz, St-Jean-de
-Luz & San Sebastian you'll have a selection of
fine boutiques to choose from. For less pressure on
your wallet there are duty free shopping posts at
several border crossings on the Pyrénées
such as the Col d'Ibardin.
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One of the best ways to experience this beautiful, distinctive land, is to join a half-day or full-day guided tour. Here's a good place to start for guided tours in the French Basque Country.
Biarritz
Unabashed seaside chic without the Côte
d'Azur's pretence. There are few places that can match
Biarritz's eclecticism, where surfers mix with 'les
riches'. Belle Époque Biarritz gained popularity
in the 19th century when Europe's rich and famous bathed
and rested here. Today it's vibrant once again, offers
exceptional beaches, top quality golf and surf, fine
shops, restaurants, museums and arts. Read Alternative Aquitaine's Biarritz Resort Report
St Jean de Luz
Vibrant fishing port and French Basque Country's culinary capital. St-Jean has long been in the shadow of its
more famous neighbour, Biarritz, but to many its understated
style makes it a firm favourite. The French and Spanish
have been drawn to this town for years but you'll hardly
notice a Brit here even in summer. It's a jewel. Read Alternative Aquitaine's St-Jean-de-Luz Resort Report
Bayonne
Culture, ramparts, museums - plus lots of
ham & chocolates! This vastly underrated
city is the capital of the French Basque Country. It's
just a few kms inland from Biarritz but picks up only
atrickle of tourists. However, it's a great place for
a day's culture and shopping including visits to the
12th century cathedral and the musées Bonnat
& Basque. In mid-August the city
goes mad - the Bayonne Festival is in full swing! Bayonne Tourist Office (external link)
Bidart/Guéthary
Traditional and picturesque
seaside villages hugging the Côte Basque cliffs.
A great place for spending time at the ocean and enjoying
a long lunch or dinner. You will be
spoilt for choice when it comes to events in Bidart throughout the summer; there are all
types of musical concerts, regional produce fairs, local
artists regularly displaying their work in the town
square. open air cinema, and, of course, Pelote. There
will be ample opportunity to experience Mutixko, the
vibrant Basque jig-type dance, which is performed in
pairs, lines or circles, often accompanied by traditional
Basque instruments.
Beautiful villages
Pelota, berets & beautiful
architecture. To really sample how most Basques live,
you need to get out in the country. The great thing
is, it's only a short drive from the coast to reach
hillside villages such as Sare and Ascain. Ainhoa is the best of all though and is voted one of France's
Top 50 prettiest villages. A stroll down its ancient
high street will tell you why.
La Rhune
The mythical Pyrénéan
peak overlooks the Basque Country and something of a
legend in these parts. It can be reached by La Petit
Train de La Rhune tourist train or on foot - the latter of course is all the more satisfying.
Spain
San Sebastian, Pamplona & Bilbao are on your doorstep. San Sebastian is the Spanish Basque
Country's equivalent to Biarritz - a wonderfully stylish
town, culinary haven and one of the finest town beaches
in Europe. Bilbao is worth a trip thanks to the Guggenheim.
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Where to Eat
St-Jean-de-Luz/Ciboure
bring in the fish which are rated amongst Europe's
finest (so says Rick Stein). The Basques love their fish soups (ttoro), stews (marmitako) in particular.
Restaurant recommendations - as provided by owners
and clients alike. There are many more provided in
our resort
guides.
La
Galupe - Urt - between Bayonne
and Peyrehorad just south of the Adour.
Tante
Ursule - Cambo-les-Bains - you
need to book in advance
Le
Bayonnais - 38, quai des Corsaires, Bayonne 05
59 25 61 19 . Traditional Baque food, terrace overlooking
the river. Recommended by Jo Valentine 2010 "Excellent
food"
Pimento
The staple ingredient in many
Basque dishes and it brings a little extra spice;
if you see the suffix "Basquaise" on a menu,
it will have been given the full tomato/pepper/garlic
treatment. In Autumn you can see red peppers hanging
out to dry across the region; if you're in the region
in October you can enjoy the Espelette
red pepper festival. BiPia is a goldmine of information about all things Basque
and spicy, and you can visit their museum in Larressore,
near Espelette.
Local Wines
Tthe principal wine of
the region is Irouleguy; the reds are good and very
hard to come by in the UK. Of course, hop over the
mountains and you are into Rioja country. To cool off, try the local (beer) brew, 'Oldarki'. It's pink.
It's deadly.
Pintxos
Being this close to Spain, tapas is easy to find.
The Basque Country - quelle surprise - has its own
version of tapas called pinchos or pintxos.
Chocolate
Another regional speciality.
In Bayonne you will find the nation's most reputed
chocolatiers - a hot chocolate on one of the side
streets is an essential part of any visit here. And
for the chocoholics, there's even a museum
of chocolate in Biarritz
Cheese
Try the mountain sheeps' cheese,
brebis - it's traditionally served with a blackcurrant
jelly.
Gateau Basque
Black cherries also feature in the waist-expanding
gâteau Basque, a slice of heaven to be found in all boulangeries. It's more of an 'almond-y biscuit than
a cake or at least that's how we justify their ongoing
consumption when we're there. Head to the Gateau
Basque Musuem in Sare - a gorgeous village too.
You'll also find all the staples of south west France,
notably duck and goose in all of its formats. |
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