After picking you up at your accommodation, we will take the freeway directly to the charming medieval town of Bayonne where over 1500 years of history await you.
From its creation by the Romans to its reconfiguration by Vauban, not forgetting its golden age under the English regency, we'll cover a wide range of topics on this walk through the magnificent cobbled pedestrian streets of “Vieux Bayonne”, lined with 18th-century houses.
We'll then head for the Biarritz lighthouse, located on a hill overlooking the town. Here, your guide will explain the geological wealth of the Pyrenees, the history of the origins of the Basque country and the love affair between Emperor Napoleon III and his young wife.
We'll quickly reach the center of Biarritz and discover its history through its must-see places such as the Grand Plage, the Hôtel du Palais, the Orthodox Church, the fishing port and the Virgin Rock. This magnificent stroll will allow you to take splendid photos while understanding Biarritz's international renown and its aura in the world of fashion.
We’ll continue with a remarkable view of the famous “côte des basques” beach, where surfing arrived thanks to an American screenwriter who came to make an adaptation of a Hemingway novel.
We'll then move on to the neighboring village of Bidart, the perfect representation of the typical Basque village, with its church, pediment and town hall, giving your guide the opportunity to explain Basque social organization and the peculiarities of our churches. A captivating view of the coast will also delight lovers of wide open spaces!
The Saint Jean de Luz stage will be approached with a walk on a hill overlooking this magnificent bay and offering breathtaking views. If walking isn't for you, you'll have easy access to a viewpoint.
The tour of the town center includes the beach, pedestrian and shopping streets, the fishing port and sumptuous 17th-century shipowners' houses. Your guide will reveal many themes: whaling, wealthy shipowners, the privateering era, the marriage of Louis XIV, the reclamation of the town by Naploéon III, the development of tourism and Art Deco treasures.
The tour can be complemented by a “food tour” to discover the region's gastronomic riches, including the famous Bayonne ham, ewe's milk cheese, Basque cakes and chocolate!
