When you think of the Basque Countryis usually the mind turns towards San Sebastian, Bilbao and other places more or less known from Spanish region of the same name. In fact even France has its own portion of the Basque region, which includes beautiful resorts such as Biarritz, Hendaye , Bayonne and Saint Jean de Luz.
Biarritz
Town oceanic aristocratic and elegant, Biarritz is the place to get your fill of the Atlantic, with its endless beaches and the long- type waves of California. And the ocean characterizes the attractions not to be missed: the Cité de l’ Océan New York architect Sten Holl, a modern building in the shape of a wave where were reconstructed environments that explain the formation of the waves and interpret the geological phenomena of the seabed; the Musée de la Mer, dedicated to the Gulf Stream and housed in an Art Deco Esplanade du Rocher de la Vierg , the thalassotherapy centers , to discover the beneficial effects of the tides.
Wandering through these coasts you will also have the chance – much appreciated – to stumble upon the movie celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Vincent Cassel and Gwyneth Paltrow. Definitely the tastiest and enticed the proposals of the largest covered market called Halle Main, with hams and sausages, chocolate (which is also a dedicated museum) and cheese. Do not disdain even a taste of tapas, perhaps accompanied by the wine of these lands.
Among the events not to be missed there are the marchés nocturnes, night markets held every Wednesday evening (18.30 to 24:00) in the rue des Halles and Place Sobradiel. Near the Grande Plage there is the Municipal, built in Art Deco style from which you can admire, in the summer, the big fireworks in August the 15th.
Hendaye
Located halfway between the aristocratic Biarritz and the cheerful San Sebastian, Hendaye is a small town of the French Basque country which has less than 15,000 inhabitants. Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees Hendaye coast it boasts a truly spectacular view, with towering cliffs and crags. The old part of the village is situated high on the hill, which dominates the Bay of Chingoudy and the estuary of the River Bidassoa.
The beach of Hendaye is formed by a narrow peninsula between the ocean and the river, opposite the modern part of the town and its marina, where many boats and dock is where you start diving, sailing, rides and various water sports. Not far from Hendaye seems thatit merits a visit to the Abbey Castle, a neo-Gothic structure built in the second half of the 800 surrounded by a natural park that reaches the ocean.
S. Jean de Luz
It is located right on the ocean, which is not ashamed to show the power and the energy it has with storm surges, tides and dangerous waves. A fascinating spectacle that can be observed along the coastal footpath that winds for 25 km, reachable in 7 hours, admiring the cliffs and the mountains of Labourd. Built at the foot of the Rhune, the Basque mountains Saint Jean de Luz are overlooking a beautiful bay protected from winds which is proposed as the best Basque seaside resorts.
A town of ancient origin – here were married here in 1660 Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Austria, S. Jean has been destroyed several times by storms, but always rebuilt. One of the attractions of the area, excluding the obvious activities related to the ocean, is the rack railway (85 years old ) reaches 905 meters of the Rhune, giving a unique and panoramic view of the French Basque country.
By Alba V
Photos: amcadweb, RomainPhoto, caminanteK
