ANGLET
Reputed for its surfing spots, the Anglet coast has no less than 11 beaches! Naturists are welcome at the Dunes beach.
A beautiful 4½-km promenade runs along the stretches of sand to the delight of joggers and walkers. Two-wheelers can ride along the Boulevard des Plages. The legendary beach known as Chambre d’Amour is the venue for La Littorale — Biennale Internationale d’Art Contemporain, from late August to early November. A special feature of this major event in Anglet is that it exhibits work produced on site.
When the sea is calm, there are still plenty of places of interest! You can choose from three conifer forests: Pignada, Lazaret and Chiberta. Facilities such green lanes, health circuits and treetop adventure trails provide a great way to get some fresh air!
Find out about local biodiversity in wetlands in the Parc Izadia, a nature reserve, at the mouth of the river Adour.
The Basque coast is reputed for its golf courses. Anglet has two. The Impératrice golf course — a 9-hole course which is flat but presents technical challenges — and the Chiberta golf course — one of the most beautiful on the coast, with links between the sea and pine forest.
There’s a lovely market too, at the Halles des Cinq cantons, selling local and traditional specialities. And on every fourth Saturday, the biggest flea market is held on Place Quintaou for those who love hunting down bargains!
Bayonne is a real hub of Basque culture. It has everything: architecture, including the traditional timber-framed houses, gastronomy with ham and chocolate, sport with rugby and pelota, traditional dances, festivals, including the famous Fêtes de Bayonne, three museums presenting fine arts, Basque history and natural history, and bullfighting in the arenas!
Around the marketplace, a relaxed urban atmosphere fills the bars and restaurants, spilling out onto the streets. Tapas and traditional dishes can be enjoyed on the terraces. Take on the waves at one of the four beaches in this seaside city, then walk through the streets to discover a rich variety of architecture.
Bidart is a charming town with a variety of activities on offer. Laze about on one of the six beaches, take a walk along the Coastal Trail or allow yourself a moment of contemplation from a high lookout point over the sea, the mountains and the sunset. Would you like to learn to play golf? Visit the Ilbarritz International Training Centre.
A food-lover’s town, with a Chocolate Museum and a Gateau Basque festival.
It has a rich heritage, as evident in Villa Arnaga, the former residence of writer Cyrano de Bergerac, which is now a museum. Enjoy peace and simplicity at the heart of this inland town.
This town’s location between the sea, the mountains and the Spanish border allows you to combine several different activities in one day: the beach, a walk and an evening of tapas. The picturesque view over the bays from the cliffs is unforgettable. The strata of sedimentary rock in the cliffs are well worth a look.
A charming fishing harbour, a beach sheltered from the waves, a pedestrian town centre with lovely boutiques, botanical gardens on the Archilua cliff, located on the Coastal Trail, and architectural heritage tours. All of this awaits you in this renowned seaside town.