France > France travel > Aquitaine > Bayonne
Bayonne France tourist information
Bayonne is 6km from the Atlantic Ocean, on the confluence of the Rivers Adour and Nive. It is the capital of the Pays-Basque in south-western France, and has a Basque feel to it, in terms of the architecture (traditional red and green shutters for example).
The Nive divides Bayonne into Grand Bayonne and Petit Bayonne, with five bridges between the two, both quarters still backed by Vauban's walls. Indeed the Nive is more like a main street, with many restaurants, squares and the covered market on its quays. The houses lining the Nive are picturesque examples of Basque architecture, with half-timbering and shutters in the national colours of red and green. The much wider Adour is to the north. The Pont St-Esprit connects Petit Bayonne with the Quartier St-Esprit across the Adour, where the massive Citadelle and the railway station are located.
Grand Bayonne is the commercial and civic hub, with small pedestrianised streets packed with shops, plus the cathedral and Hôtel de Ville. The Cathédrale Ste-Marie is an imposing, elegant Gothic building, rising over the houses, glimpsed along the narrow streets. It was constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. The south tower was completed in the 16th century but the cathedral was only completed in the 19th century with the north tower. The cathedral is noted for its charming cloisters. There are other details and sculptures of note, although much was destroyed in the Revolution. Nearby is the Château-Vieux, some of which dates back to the 12th century, where the governors of the city were based, including the English Black Prince.
Petit Bayonne is lively with Basque bars and restaurants more reminiscent of cities the other side of the Pyrenees. There are two important museums here. The Musée Basque is the finest ethnographic museum of the entire Basque Country. It opened in 1922 but has been closed for a decade recently for refurbishment. It now has special exhibitions on Basque agriculture, seafaring and pelota, handicrafts and Basque history and way of life. The Musée Bonnat began with a large collection bequeathed by the local-born painter Léon Bonnat. The museum is one of the best galleries in south west France and has paintings by Degas, El Greco, Botticelli and Goya among others. At the back of Petit-Bayonne is the Château-Neuf, among the ramparts. Now an exhibition space, it was started by the newly-arrived French in 1460 to control the city. The walls nearby have been opened to visitors. They are important for plantlife now and Bayonne's botanic gardens adjoin the walls on both sides of the Nive.
(Text is copyright)
Bayonne tourist information, map, places to visit and Bayonne gites
|
|
Visit Bayonne, France
|
|
Map of Bayonne, France |
Travel, hotels and holiday gites, Bayonne
See the Visit Bayonne section above for gites and hotels local to the area. For more general French travel options, see the Gites in France listings, or French holidays for other holidays, and Travel to France for ferries, Bayonne car-hire, eurotunnel, cheap flights etc.
Places to visit - Bayonne
- Ainhoa Most beautiful village
- Bayonne Place
- Ciboure Place
- La-Bastide-Clairence Most beautiful village
- Rhune mountain Basque mountain
- Sare Most beautiful village
- St Jean de Luz Coastal town
- Soorts-Hossegor Atlantic surfing centre and beach
- Biarritz Atlantic resort and surf capital
Any places listed above are within about 20-25 km (as the crow flies)
Information and photos of Bayonne, France
This Bayonne tourism guide, has information and holidays and photos when available. If you have any photos or relevant information please send them to us! Full credit will be given if they are used.
Comments
You can help? Post a relevant comment for visitors to this page!
