Don’t miss out on this amazing tour where we’ll cross the border into France to explore two cities that’ll steal your heart: Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. We’ll also visit Hondarribia, a breathtaking medieval coastal town.
What better way to kick off our tour than by checking out Biarritz, famous for being Europe’s surf capital and a vacation hotspot for the 19th and 20th-century European aristocracy. This city (the chicest in southwestern France) is nestled along the Bay of Biscay, where glamour and surf vibes go hand in hand. With mild winters and pleasant summers, Biarritz has become a must-visit destination for surf enthusiasts.
Glamour and Surf
Our first stop will be the lighthouse esplanade, and from there, on a lovely stroll, we’ll introduce the beautiful city (with its Hotel de Palais, Hotel Regina, and Golf, and the Casino) and some of the seven beaches the city boasts. Coco Chanel, Gary Cooper, Charles Chaplin, and Alfonso XIII, among others, found a discreet retreat in Biarritz.
We’ll take the Avenue de l’Impératrice to head towards the Grande Plage area, where we’ll wander along the coast and visit the fishing village, Saint Eugenie Church, the Rock of the Virgin, and the Old Port beach.
We can’t leave this gorgeous city without stopping by its fresh produce market. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of products to suit every taste, making it a truly special gourmet haven.
The Dreaded Corsairs
Saint-Jean-de-Luz will be our next destination. This city was home to one of France’s most important ports, known as the “Vipers’ Nest,” and flourished due to corsair activity from the 16th to the 19th centuries. We’ll wander its streets, visit its fishing port, and step inside its beautiful church. This is where the wedding of Louis XIV the “Sun King” and Maria Theresa of Austria took place, a key event that ended 30 years of war between France and Spain.
Hondarribia: Pure History Comes to Life!
Taking the scenic coastal road known as the Corniche, we’ll head over to Hondarribia (and trust me, you won’t want to take your eyes off the breathtaking views of the steep cliffs and the sea). This charming medieval town is home to a picturesque fishermen’s quarter called the Marina. Its lovely houses and friendly balconies add a splash of color to this quaint seaside neighborhood.
Once there, you can dig into a traditional Basque menu at any of its restaurants or get a taste of Basque pintxos. These miniature delights, which are at the heart of the local culinary culture, are bound to blow you away. It’s a one-of-a-kind food experience where tradition and modernity mix and mingle.
We’ll take a stroll through the medieval old town, checking out the stately homes from the 16th and 17th centuries and the most iconic spots, until we reach the walls that remind us Hondarribia was once under siege by French troops on multiple occasions.
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