Villa,
Cottage & Apartment Holidays in South West France
La Côte Basque Tourism Guide
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The Basque coast. Where mountains meet ocean. Where the
Côte d'Argent's long sandy 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 out why?
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Fly
to Biarritz, Pau, Bilbao or Vittoria - check our Travel
page
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You
won't be short of things to do on La Côte Basque
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 most visitors to this corner of France
have done the Brittany and Côte d'Azur thing and
are seeking a more discerning holiday experience. Indeed,
the rest of France look upon La Côte Basque's
residents with a degree of envy; it's range of sports,
it's mountains, oceans and seductive climate all make
it an extremely desirable location all year round. There
are many ways to enjoy this beautiful coastline - here's
just a sample...
Beaches - rocky & secluded coves or long sandy beaches, la Cote Basque offers both. 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 The Best Beaches in Basque Country article from the Telegraph 01.08.08
Surfing - from summer schools for beginners
to life-endagering winter reef breaks for 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 inexpensive
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 - fresh air, nature and freedom
in the Pyrénées. 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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GALLERY |
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CÔTE
BASQUE
OUR PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS |
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Café
life on the Grande Plage in Biarritz |
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A
hike to the summit of la Rhune - and the panoramic views
from the top |
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Watching
the kids playing chistera at the village fronton after
school |
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A
fresh seafood supper at one of Ciboure's vibrant portside
restaurants |
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A
cliff-top walk along the Route de Corniche between St
Jean & Hendaye |
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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 agai, offers
exceptional beaches, top quality golf and surf, fine
shops, restaurants, museums and arts.
St-Jean-de-Luz
- vibrant fishing port & capital of Basque seafood
cuisine. 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.
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!
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.
Country 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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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.
Pimento is the staple ingredient in many Basque
dishes and it brings a little extra spice; if you see
the suffix "Basquais" 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.
To cool off, try the local brew, 'Oldarki'. It's pink.
It's deadly. For a more refined dégustation experience,
the 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
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 is 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
If delicious, 'almond-y' biscuit treats are more your thing, then head to the Gateau Basque Musuem in Sare - a gorgeous village - it's well worth it!
Try the mountain sheeps' cheese, brebis
- it's traditionally served with a blackcurrant jelly.
Black cherries also feature in the waist-expanding gâteaux
Basque; it's more of a biscuit than a cake or at least
that's how we justify their ongoing consumption when
we're here.
You'll also find all the staples of south west France,
notably duck and goose in all of its formats.
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
Bon appétit. |
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