Between sea and mountains, exceptional villages
The Basque country has a large number of exceptional villages. Whether they are on the shores of the ocean, at the foot of the mountain or inland, they are all worth a visit. I will present to you some of them that I have chosen, each one having a particularity....
- St Jean de Luz/Ciboure
- Sare
- Ainhoa
- Espelette
- St Jean Pied de Port
- La Bastide Clairence
I could also have told you about Ascain, Itxassou, Bayonne, Bidart, St Pée sur Nivelle, Irouléguy, Urrugne, Biarritz, Cambo les Bains...and so many others... moreover for some of them I spoke about it in another article on the Basque Country. So we are going on a trip through the most beautiful villages of the Basque Country and we will not fail to take beautiful souvenir photos. Let's start with a small map to locate you
Our trip begins on the shores of the ocean, in the towns of Ciboure and St Jean de Luz, which are difficult to separate, as they are close together. These 2 towns are only separated by a bridge, but to tell the truth, they are above all united by a magnificent bay facing the ocean. South of the bay, Fort Socoa located in the town of Ciboure. It was redesigned by Vauban and served to protect the entrance to the port. Visit Ciboure, its narrow streets, its St Vincent church, its fountain built in 1676. Continue with the visit of St Jean de Luz. Why not admire the comings of the fishing boats leaving at dawn. Then stroll through the lively pedestrian streets of the city center, enter the church where Louis XIV got married in 1660, without forgetting to set foot on the fine sand of its large beach.
Let's take the direction of Ascain then Sare where we will make a short stop. Sare has the label "Most beautiful villages of France". The town is located 36km from the Spanish border Coming from Ascain, you will pass by the Sainte Ignace pass, the vegetation changes completely, you are at the foot of the Pyrenees. Sare was for a long time a village where smuggling was a "tradition" (alcohol, cigarettes, food...)...Hide and seek between smugglers and customs officers :) You will find beautiful Basque villas, a pediment where we play Basque pelota, and even a copy of Picasso's painting representing "Guernica" Take the time to visit this village whose motto is "Saran Astia" which means "Sare we have time"
We hit the road again... 15 minutes from Sare, the town of Ainhoa is waiting for us. This town is also classified as "Most beautiful villages in France". Ainhoa is a 12th century bastide-street which has become a place of passage and welcome for pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela. The village is lined with "Lambourdin" style houses. If you are curious, look at the lintels above the doors, you will see there the date of construction of the house. A tip for a walk if you like beautiful panoramas... Mount Atsulaï culminates at 389m. A short visit is essential, you will need 1 hour of walking on a slightly steep path. Arrive at the top, a chapel, 3 large crosses with Christ and graves scattered below. Admire Ainhoa in the valley, in the distance the Rhune and why not in good weather the ocean... The panorama will make you forget your efforts during the climb :)
Let's move away from Ainhoa and the Pyrenees to head towards Espelette...I'm sure this name means something to you...And yes!! chilli cultivation. Espelette is famous mainly for its cultivation of peppers. Moreover, you will find shops and producers in these alleys. A piece of advice, taste the chocolate with Espelette pepper...surprising!! But where does this pepper come from? If it is sure that it comes from Mexico, the story does not say how it arrived in Espelette... What we do know is that it appeared in 1650 to replace pepper that was too expensive in the time. I advise you to come at the end of summer to see the peppers drying in bunches on the facades of the houses before being crushed and reduced to powder for the greatest pleasure of gourmets.
Let's take a big leap to discover Saint Jean Pied de Port about forty kilometers from Espelette. Saint Jean Pied de Port was part of the kingdom of Navarre, the city was founded in the 12th century. It is bordered on one side by the Spanish border and on the other by the valley of St Etienne de Baïgorry. It is a region of mountains, a paradise for canyoning and caving. A citadel city, it sees nearly 60,000 pilgrims from Santiago de Compostela and the GR10 (crossing the Pyrenees) pass through it every year. Stroll through these cobbled streets and let yourself be carried away by its historic heart to another era when Charlemagne came to fight in these mountains. Do not hesitate to taste the specialties of this country (wines of Irouléguy, cheeses, cider, honey, jams...)
We will end our short walk through the most beautiful villages of the Basque Country by the town of La Bastide-Clairence in the north of Lower Navarre. La Bastide -Clairence was founded in 1312 in order to allow Navarre to have a port, the ships borrowed the Adour to join the Ocean. This village between Basque Country and Gascony allows us to admire the Labourdin style houses with these half-timberings painted in green and red and the Navarrin style houses where the stone dominates. Strolling through the narrow streets of the village, you will discover the 14th century church and its courtyard cemetery which surrounds the church. Further on you can also admire the oldest trinquet in France dating from 1512. A little advice, go to the Trinquet at the end of the afternoon to play a game of Pala
I hope I have made you want to visit these small villages that make the charm of the Basque Country...As I told you at the beginning of my article, there are many other villages to discover...so n do not hesitate to browse this beautiful country in search of these villages classified for the most part "Most beautiful villages of France" I wish you a beautiful trip and beautiful photos