053 - Batzari  St-Jean-de-Luz 5 km

In our opinion

What makes Batzari a great holiday rental

The location will be a popular one as so many people ask us for a villa with private pool near the coast, just far enough away for a bit of peace and quiet but close enough to make regular trips to the beach. Also, the French Basque Country is a unique destination and any chance we have to grow our portfolio there is very welcome.

Aside from the location, the villa is spacious, bright and tasteful, and has a superb pool and terrace. And the views from the terrace and sejour really are outstanding.

The other great benefit to Batzari is that it's almost two houses in one: the lower level accommodation is self-contained including 2 of the bedrooms with its own kitchen and living area. This makes the property ideal for sharing with another family.

Best for:
Families who want beach, peace and comfort - there is plenty of space and the villa is ideally configured for two families sharing: the additional living room and kitchen make it possible to feel independent. Off season this is great golfing territory. Also, groups of friends/couples who want to experience the Basque Country culture will find Batzari to be an excellent base.  

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - pool protected by cover, garden space too, and St Jean de Luz has a perfect sheltered beach for little ones. Cot, high chair & baby bath at the villa
• Teenagers - quiet location but coastal resorts are close by
• Reduced mobility - too many steps and slopes

Anything to watch out for?
Not really. Just to highlight we are not positioning this rental as a "luxury" villa; but it's certainly a hgh quality rental nonetheless, and the views are quite stunning.

Why St Jean de Luz?
One of our favourites. A colourful and proudly Basque fishing port and holiday resort. A superb & safe town beach, excellent for the 'little ones'.

Accommodation

Spacious & highly private hillside villa with swimming pool, terrace and superb open views

Constructed in 1975 and renovated in 2010, Batzari is available for rentals for the first time. With 5 bedrooms and 4 inside bathrooms, two living rooms and two kitchens, there is plenty of space to accommodate two families. And with 5000m2 of land, there is much to enjoy outside too, not least the fabulous pool and views of the Pyrenees foothills.

The house is below road level (very quiet lane with room only for one car at a time) and is set in a beautiful sloping garden with amazing views of the hills, farms and distant mountains.

Inside:

To get a sense of the layout of the house, from the entrance hall the accommodation is configured as follows:

• Take first door right and down a few stairs to the 'independent unit': open-plan kitchen and lounge, from where you access two of the bedrooms (both en-suite) and one separate WC
• Take the second door right to a short flight of steps up to the remaining three bedrooms (one en-suite), bathroom and separate WC
• Take the door left and this leads to the large country-style kitchen and the utility room
• Carry straight-on into the open-plan lounge and dining room

Downstairs level: the independent unit

The big advantage to this downstairs area is that extended families or friends sharing the property can have a bit of privacy and time apart in their independent areas. Great for those with children who wake early!

On taking the steps downstairs you walk into an independent unit with its own fully equipped kitchen and lounge. As with the whole house, everything is new due to its full renovation in 2010. The area downstairs is very modern and bright.

The open plan corner kitchen is 'clean' and practical with plenty of worktop space, grey floor tiles and a small breakfast bar with two low stools. The cooker, microwave and extractor fan are all modern chrome and there is a black glass hob (4 rings). Additionally there is a fridge freezer, coffee machine, kettle and toaster.

From the corner kitchen you walk under an arch into the lounge. This is a reasonable size and is bright due to the large windows. Patio doors lead onto a terrace and provide beautiful views of the hills and mountains and overlook the swimming pool.

In the lounge there is a cream leather double sofa, two modern wicker armchairs, wicker coffee table and several window-sill cushions.

The independent unit also contains two bedrooms each with ensuite shower room, and an independent toilet with basin.

Bedroom 1 is painted white and has a double bed (convertible to twin), built-in double wardrobe with hanging and shelf space and a built-in desk with two chairs. There are narrow double glass doors which open onto the terrace. The shower room is integrated within the bedroom, separated by a ¾ wall. The en-suite features an Italian shower and large cream rustic-style tiles.

Bedroom 2 is also a double that can be divided into two singles. It is a spacious room with two small bedside tables and built in wardrobes. A door leads into the en-suite with an Italian shower, sink unit and WC. 

Ground level:

Turning left from the entrance hallway takes you through to the utility room, handy 'boot room' and the main, country-style kitchen. The kitchen is in traditional French style featuring a large oak dresser along one wall. In the centre of the kitchen is a large oak table which would seat 8. This kitchen includes fridge-freezer, oven, microwave, coffee maker, kettle, toaster and also houses the dishwasher.

Leading straight-on from the entrance hallway is the main lounge and dining room. This is a very modern room, freshly painted with exposed painted beams in the pitched roof. Attractive modern art paintings give the room some extra colour. The room is filled with light due to the four sets of patio doors. Terrace access is direct from the lounge, from where the views are fantastic.

At one end of the room is a long wooden dining table, attractively decorated with large stones and slates in the centre. The table has 8 wicker style chairs. The lounge area of the room features an open fireplace, flatscreen TV, a large modern leather sofa, various armchairs and modern metal seats dotted around a glass coffee table.

Upper level:

From the entrance hallway, take the handful of stairs to the upper level where the three further bedrooms are found, plus a bathroom and separate WC. There is laminate flooring throughout this upper level. 

Bedroom 3 features a large double bed which again can be split into two singles. The furnishings are more 'country-antique' style including a dark wood dresser. The window provides lovely views of the hills and mountains.

Bedroom 4 is more modern and 'roomy', with double glass doors to a large balcony again with brilliant views of the swimming pool, hills and mountains. The bedroom offers built-in wardrobes, glass desk, and bedside tables. Double bed convertible to twin beds.

Bedroom 5 is smaller but still of a good size and has a modern ensuite (shower, sink, WC). There are built-in modern wardrobes and an antique dark wood dresser. Double bed convertible to twin beds.

The upper level also includes a large family bathroom (bath and shower) and separate WC. The bathroom decor is 'traditional French' but it's in very good condition. 

All of the beds in the house feature good-quality divans.

Outdoors:
Large electric gates lead into the property and when these are closed you can only see the roof of the house from the road. As the gates open you see the house nestled into the slope. There is a freshly tarmaced drive which leads to the villa, painted white with traditional Basque-red shutters. 

The swimming pool is a good size - longer than usual at 12m. The depth is 1.55m throughout but there are Roman steps into the shallow end. The pool is heated and has an electric cover.

The back of the house is where most time is spent: balconies and terraces on different levels take in the views. Steps lead down to the swimming pool which also provides another terrace area to enjoy the sun. There is also a pool house which provides a small room for changing, shower and WC. It is possible that the pool house can be prepared for 2 guests; it would actually make a really good studio for an older teenager or single adult. 

There are ample garden chairs, loungers and tables for each terrace.

There are attractive plants and bushes throughout the plot, the generous-size garden is lawned throughout and provides beautiful views of rolling fields and mountains…the only onlookers being some sheep!

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (43.34830705934182, -1.670597791671753)

We endeavour to be as accurate as possible using Google maps but some error is possible.

Things to Do & See

Nearby Activities
Surfing · Kitesurfing · Windsurfing · Sailing · Water-skiing · Jet-skiing · Kayaking · Golf · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Spa & thalassotherapy · Pelote Basque · Wine-tasting · Hiking · Mountain biking · Mountain sports · Skiing & winter sports ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Tour Basque Country villages: Ascain, Ainhoa, Sare, Espelette
• Visit Bayonne, the under-rated ‘capital’ of the Pays Basque
• Cross the border into Spain - San Sebastian, Pamplona & the Guggenheim
• Explore the Pyreneees National Park for its wildlife, walks & scenery
• Taste the glitz & glamour of 'Belle-Epoque' Biarritz

Our Personal Highlights

• An evening stroll of St Jean de Luz's bustling streets, before drinks & supper!
• Sampling the pintxos - Basque tapas - in St Jean de Luz or Ciboure old town
• Catching a game of Basque pelote at one of the village frontons
• A visit to Ainhoa or Sare - both 'picture perfect' Basque Country villages
• 18 holes at gorgeous Golf de Chantaco - then lunch in the clubhouse
• A day's hiking in the western Pyrenees, uncluding an auberge lunch-stop

The Local Area: St-Jean-de-Luz 5 km

Urrugne & Ascain
The local town of Urrugne is a Basque delight. Half-timbered homes line the main street, their ox blood red frames typifying the local architecture. From the village, a steep road leads to the village chapel, Notre-Dame-de-Socorri. The chapel itself is unremarkable but the views from the summit are wonderful. The three Western Pyrénéan peaks of la Rhune, Jaozkibel and Les Trois Couronnes are all visible, rising above the rolling green foothills. Take a picnic and relax here for a few hours with a bottle of Irouleguy, the local vin. Urrugne also offers basic shops for your stay - butcher, baker, pharmacy, etc. 

There are a couple of local châteaux worth a visit. Château d'Uturbie, on the edge of Urrugne, was the home of medieval viscounts and dates back to the mid 14th century. Wellington used it as a base during his rampage through south west France. Today there are fine collections of antique furnishings and tapestries.

The protected area of rocky coastline known as the Domaine d'Abbadie, is well worth a visit for walk and picinic. In fact, the rugged coastline between Hendaye and St Jean de Luz (Route de Corniche) is a reminder of Cornwall's north coast, with its pounding seas and sandy coves. Thankfully it's a bit warmer here. The cliffside 19th century Château d'Abbadie is an enjoyable stop. The château was built by an Irish-Basque explorer with a fondness for astrology. The château contains some interesting and very fine furnishings and has its own observatory.

The beautiful Florenia Floral Gardens near Urrugne is another good option for spending a pleasant half-day (the parc covers 45 acres).

The pretty Basque village of Ascain is 7kms inland. There are good restaurants and traditional shops here - it's a great place for an evening meal. Of historic interest is the 16thC church and the three-arched medieval bridge crossing the Nive. Ascain is also a good base for hikers and there are many excellent routes to enjoy with incredible views of the mountains and ocean on the French and Spanish side. A special treat for walkers is to try one of the 'bentas' (little auberges) that offer snacks and lunches. Also from Ascain you can catching the funicular train to the summit of La Rhune.

St Jean de Luz
Whether its beaches, boutiques, culture, restaurants or festivals you are looking for, this town is hard to beat. Stylish but without the pretence of the Riviera, St Jean is an authentic and colourful seaside town and working fishing port. It has plenty to offer discerning visitors of all ages. In particular, this is a great place to eat out - St Jean de Luz is recognised as the capital of Basque cuisine and is noted for its seafood (it is one of Rick Stein’s favourite places).

Hendaye Plage
Sitting at the foot of the Pyrénées bordering Spain and the Atlantic ocean, Hendaye boasts an enviable and spectacular location, dominated by a 3kms stretch of sandy beach. The ocean location means there are all sorts of watersports to be sampled here...surfing, kite-surfing, wind-surfing, sailing, kayaking as well as diving in some of the quieter coves along the coast. Also, situated at the marina, is Serge Blanco's thalassotherapy centre and Hendaye casino.

Try the old town (Béhobie) for a more authentically 'Basque' experience, whether it be a pintxos bar or a game of pelote.

Boat trips run up and down the Bidassoa river, including trips to the Spanish side of the Bay. A visit to the village of Hondarrabia (Fuentarrabia) is a must. Famous for its tapas restaurants and bars, it's amazing to sense the immediate cultural change of being in Spain.

Customer Reviews

“I regret not having responded sooner, but I'm very busy. The house is wonderful. The owners, lovely. The truth is that we had a sensational week and everything was perfect: the kitchen, living room, rooms, garden, swimming pool ... and the views. They were like a picture. Spectacular. ”

Mr J Munoz-Baroja, stayed in 2011

“It was fantastic. The owners were superb. ”

Mr D Townsend, stayed in 2011

“A beautiful location with fantastic heated pool.”

Mr Williams, stayed in 2011

Mr Mannion, stayed in 2011