The local area
Biarritz,
and the whole Pays Basque is an incredible area to be active in - miles
of fantastic beach, with some of the best surf in the world, mountains
rising out of the sea, giving excellent walking in summer, superb ski
resorts in winter, rafting, cycling, climbing and many other sports.
Read more about
activities
here.
Between
the beaches and the high mountains of the
Pyrénées, lies the fertile countryside of the
Pays Basque interior. Nestled amongst rolling hills and misty valleys,
one finds small farms and authentic villages, often centred round 15th
century churches and the "fronton" - the local pelota wall.
The
beaches of the Atlantic coast are very clean, it's always possible
to find somewhere deserted, even in August, and of course, they have
great waves. There are beaches without surf that are ideal for
children, and most beaches are supervised during July and August.
If
you like your food (and who doesn't!) the area is an absolute
heaven. The NY Times recently pronounced the Pays Basque as the leading
region in world cuisine - you will find many of the top restaurants of
the world here, but also many reasonable priced, local places serving
excellent, fresh, regional specialities.
Of
course, if you are staying with us, you will have a modern, well
equipped kitchen at your disposal. Why not take a tour of the market,
buying fresh, local produce from the artisans who have produced it and
enjoy a meal on your terrace, a drink in your hand, watching the sun go
down!
One
of the most amazing things to watch, and to participate in, are the
local festivals. The "Fetes de Bayonne" run for 5 days at the start of
August and involve 300,000 people per day, basically partying and
enjoying themselves, on the streets of Bayonne, night and day! There is
an incredibly friendly atmosphere, with a specific children's day, a
huge funfair, and visitors are welcome.
The local village fetes are also excellent - a big party and a good way
to meet the locals!
Culturally,
there are many things to see and do in the area. The
Guggenheim museum in Bilbao is an easy day trip, there is a
"Musée Bonnat" in Bayonne, several excellent private art and
sculpture galleries, and interesting cathedrals in both Bayonne and St.
Sebastian.
There
are many chateaux to explore in the surrounding countryside and
some of the local villages are called "bastides" i.e. fortified - we
have one of the most beautiful villages in France next door - "La
Bastide Clairence". At Bidache, we have a splendid ruined
chateau, that is fun to visit.
A
special mention must go to the birdlife here in the Pays Basque. A
combination of unique habitat, lack of pesticides on crops and
migratory routes lead to an amazing amount of species. Birds of prey
abound - griffon vultures nest locally, the owners have seen a pair of
very rare Lammergeiers and buzzards are seen almost every day.
As much as we can try to explain our passion for the area - the only
way to really understand why we believe it is one of the best places in
the world, is to visit. So, check our availabilty, book your flight,
send us an e-mail and come and stay!
Local
area
Activities
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