La Bastide-Clairence travel guide
Visit La Bastide-Clairence (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France)
Photo Gallery Book a visitLa Bastide-Clairence is a picturesque village in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, listed as one of the most beautiful villages of France.
This bastide was founded in the XIV century by Louis I of Navarre, the future Louis X of France, at which time both Basques and Gascons came to live in the town.
Explore La Bastide-Clairence
La Bastide Clairence is a bastide town with a definite Basque flavour. The houses are painted white and all have shutters painted in the deep red colour, or occasionally in green, both colours typical of the shutters in the region.
We found the village to be charming and lovely to amble around. Most of the shops in the town are owned by local artisans, generally producing good quality rather than tourist quality goods. If you are looking for some unusual presents this is a good place to head for.
The church is more ornate on the outside than most in the area. Inside it has the wooden galleries around the edge which are often found in Basque churches and give them a warm, welcoming feel. Next to the church is a Jewish cemetery.
When you’ve had a good wander around the village you should go to the little shop at the top of the town on Rue Notre Dame which sells macaroons. These come in lots of flavours including chilli pepper using the famous Espelette piments. Delicious! Take your bag to the little garden behind La Bastide-Clairece tourist office and enjoy.
If you are visiting La Bastide-Clairence in September the village hosts a pottery fair which welcomes over 50 potters who come here from across Europe.
Attractions nearby
Close to La Bastide Clairence you can visit Abbaye de Belloc whose monks make a famous sheep’s milk cheese. South-east of the village at Saint Martin d'Arberoue you can vist the caves of Isturitz and Oxocelhaya, the former featuring prehistoric relics and the other with impressive rock formations such as stalactites.
At Hastingues, just off the A64 north-east of La Bastide-Clairence, Arthous Abbey was active from the 12th to the 17th centuries, and is now restored and open to the public. It also houses a museum of heritage targetted at children and the'Landes region Departmental Centre of Heritage.
Two more 'most beautiful villages' can be visited nearby at Sare and Ainhoa.
Explore elsewhere in the Pays Basque. You can find more travel ideas in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques guide and the Aquitaine guide.
Photos of La Bastide-Clairence
Click any picture to start the gallery
Arrange a visit to La Bastide-Clairence
Hotels in La Bastide-Clairence
Booking.com: best prices
For great prices on car hire throughout France and Corsica please visit our recommended partner at RentalCars.com
Map of La Bastide-Clairence and places nearby
Visit near La Bastide-Clairence with France This Way reviews
Cambo-les-Bains
Cambo-les-Bains is a small pleasant town, best known for its thermal waters and the gardens of the Villa Arnaga
Cambo-les-Bains guide
Itxassou
Less visited than some of the traditional Basque villages here, Itxassou is very pleasant to explore
Itxassou guide
Espelette
Home of red hot chillies, Espelette is a very traditional basque village in the western Pyrenees
Espelette guide
Bayonne
Bayonne is a lovely historic city with a cathedral, a substantial old town and a charming riverside promenade
Bayonne guide
Bayonne cathedral
Bayonne cathedral is an imposing gothic style cathedral with a beautifully restored apse and an impressive cloister
Bayonne cathedral guide
Saint-Palais
Saint-Palais is a small town on the Bidouze river in the historic Navarre region of south-west France
Saint-Palais guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Pyrenees-Atlantiques
Tourist classifications for La Bastide-Clairence
La Bastide-Clairence is classified as a one of the most beautiful village in France (plus beau villages)
Address: Bastide-Clairence, Bayonne, Aquitaine, 64240, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 43.428, longitude -1.255
Plan your visit to La Bastide-Clairence, Pyrenees-Atlantiques
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Jardins de la villa Arnaga: remarkable garden (14 km)
- Bayonne: secteur sauvegarde (19 km)
- Bayonne cathédrale de Sainte-Marie (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (19 km)
- Sorde l'Abbaye - abbaye St Jean (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (20 km)
- Anglet: ville fleurie 4* (22 km)
- Marais d'Orx: site of natural beauty (22 km)
- Ainhoa: most beautiful village (24 km)
- Sare: most beautiful village (29 km)
- Porte St Jacques - St Jean Pied-de-Port (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (29 km)
- Parc du Sarrat: remarkable garden (35 km)
- Vallée des Aldudes: site of natural beauty (38 km)
- Eglise St Blaise (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (44 km)
The French version of this page is at La Bastide-Clairence (Francais)