French Basque Food Tour: Bayonne Biarritz and Saint-Jean de Luz from Biarritz
Biarritz, France
Trip Type: Half-day Tours
Duration: 9 hours 30 minutes
Discover Bayonne, the iconic French Basque capital, with its charming, typical architecture. Enjoy an exciting program for this special morning: Bayonne ham, Basque pelota games, local sheep-milk cheese, colorful houses and delicious chocolate. Get a full Basque experience with a view of Saint-Jean-de-Luz – the typical fishing village- and Biarritz – the trendy beach resort and benefit from an insider’s view to fully explore these two jewels of the Basque coast.
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Discover Bayonne, the iconic French Basque capital, with its charming, typical architecture. Enjoy an exciting program for this special morning: Bayonne ham, Basque pelota games, local sheep-milk cheese, colorful houses and delicious chocolate. Get a full Basque experience with a view of Saint-Jean-de-Luz – the typical fishing village- and Biarritz – the trendy beach resort and benefit from an insider’s view to fully explore these two jewels of the Basque coast.Take a few-minute-drive by minivan from Biarritz to Bayonne, before you start exploring by foot all the charms of this picturesque city. Discover a place full of treasures and hidden corners.
First step: the pedestrian historical center called Grand Bayonne, just next to Sainte-Marie Cathedral and its Cloister. One of the best places in town for Jambon de Bayonne is just round the corner. Second step: find out about the best artisan chocolate-maker in town.
Did you know that Bayonne used to be the French capital city for chocolate in the 19th century? The owners of the place will offer you to taste and compare different kinds of chocolate: some dark, some bitter, some with high cocoa content... A real treat to your senses.
In between these delightful stops at local producers, your guide will give you tons of information about the city of Bayonne and its history.
Now, cross the Nive - one of the two rivers that go through Bayonne - and stroll along the narrow picturesque streets that will take you to your 3rd fun and tasty stop in the district called Petit Bayonne. You are now facing Trinquet Saint André, a genuine enclosed court built back in the 18th Century to play Jeu de paume, a game which then transformed into today's Basque Pelota. A special place in all the townspeople's hearts, this trinquet is the oldest Pelota court in France. It is now your turn to feel like a true local. You may get a chance to watch a game in progress...or even better: learn how to play Pelota with your guide and challenge anyone in your group.
Back to Biarritz and enjoy a quick picnic lunch.
Off to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the corsairs’ town, for a journey into history and local gastronomy. Take a good look at the main square, Place Louis XIV, and the elegant Spanish infante’s mansion where King Louis XIV stayed for his wedding. Then take a stroll around typical charming narrow alleys, before a nice stopover and gourmet break, where you will meet one of the best producers of the region and enjoy Basque food specialties.
Off to Biarritz now, for a unique visit of this imperial town. Your guide will share his passion for the “Queen of the beaches and the beach of Kings”. Walk through the town, its beaches, discover its most stylish villas which still show Biarritz’s prestigious past. Climb to the iconic lighthouse that marks the limit between Landes sandy beaches and Basque rocky coast.
Take a stroll around the picturesque Fishermen’s Harbour (Port des pêcheurs), The Virgin on the Rock (Rocher de la Vierge), and Port Vieux, the Old Harbor. Feel the unique atmosphere of the town, wandering around its many charming little streets. Before the end of the tour, share with your group a friendly and tasty aperitif with typical local Basque products: seafood, charcuterie and cheese.
Around 7pm, you will back to Biarritz.
First step: the pedestrian historical center called Grand Bayonne, just next to Sainte-Marie Cathedral and its Cloister. One of the best places in town for Jambon de Bayonne is just round the corner. Second step: find out about the best artisan chocolate-maker in town.
Did you know that Bayonne used to be the French capital city for chocolate in the 19th century? The owners of the place will offer you to taste and compare different kinds of chocolate: some dark, some bitter, some with high cocoa content... A real treat to your senses.
In between these delightful stops at local producers, your guide will give you tons of information about the city of Bayonne and its history.
Now, cross the Nive - one of the two rivers that go through Bayonne - and stroll along the narrow picturesque streets that will take you to your 3rd fun and tasty stop in the district called Petit Bayonne. You are now facing Trinquet Saint André, a genuine enclosed court built back in the 18th Century to play Jeu de paume, a game which then transformed into today's Basque Pelota. A special place in all the townspeople's hearts, this trinquet is the oldest Pelota court in France. It is now your turn to feel like a true local. You may get a chance to watch a game in progress...or even better: learn how to play Pelota with your guide and challenge anyone in your group.
Back to Biarritz and enjoy a quick picnic lunch.
Off to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the corsairs’ town, for a journey into history and local gastronomy. Take a good look at the main square, Place Louis XIV, and the elegant Spanish infante’s mansion where King Louis XIV stayed for his wedding. Then take a stroll around typical charming narrow alleys, before a nice stopover and gourmet break, where you will meet one of the best producers of the region and enjoy Basque food specialties.
Off to Biarritz now, for a unique visit of this imperial town. Your guide will share his passion for the “Queen of the beaches and the beach of Kings”. Walk through the town, its beaches, discover its most stylish villas which still show Biarritz’s prestigious past. Climb to the iconic lighthouse that marks the limit between Landes sandy beaches and Basque rocky coast.
Take a stroll around the picturesque Fishermen’s Harbour (Port des pêcheurs), The Virgin on the Rock (Rocher de la Vierge), and Port Vieux, the Old Harbor. Feel the unique atmosphere of the town, wandering around its many charming little streets. Before the end of the tour, share with your group a friendly and tasty aperitif with typical local Basque products: seafood, charcuterie and cheese.
Around 7pm, you will back to Biarritz.
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