Saint-Palais travel guide
Visit Saint-Palais (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France)
Photo Gallery Book a visitSaint-Palais is a small town to the south-west of Sauveterre-de-Béarn, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of south-west France. The town is in the historic region called Navarre and has been the capital of the region since the early 16th century.
Explore Saint-Palais
France This Way review: Saint-Palais is perhaps not a big highlight for visitors to the region, but the town centre is pleasant and there are nice views along the river so a pause for lunch and a stroll is worthwhile if you are nearby
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The town centre in Sant-Palais is around a large open square called the Place du Foirail. Around the square you will find cafes and restaurants, a few shops, and houses and apartments in the basque style (although most are recent rather than historic buildings).
The main hotel in the town - the Hotel de la Paix - is also in this square.
If you leave from the bottom of the square and turn left you reach the Saint-Palais tourist information office, and then the Bidouze river. There is a nice view along the river and across a weir from the bridge: we enjoyed watching a heron fishing in the river but I can't promise he will still be there when you visit!
The main church in Saint-Palais is the Church of Saint-Marie Madeleine, built in the 19th century and very typical of churches from that period.
Of greater historic interest is the Church of Saint-Paul, a small church on the Rue du Palais de Justice that was a temple in the 16th century when Jeanne d'Albret was Queen of Navarre.
The house opposite this church is one of the most important in the town, called the Maison noble D'Erdoy-Oyhenart. Also built before the 16th century, the house belonged to an important nobleman.
On the facade of this house you can see several reliefs of important personnages of the time including Henry II, Henry III and Jeanne d'Albret (although these are rather high on the facade and hard to see clearly).
You have now seen most of the sights of interest in Saint-Palais and can complete your circuit by following the main road from the bridge into the town, which has several more houses in the basque style to return to the main square and tak a coffee break in one of the cafes...
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Attractions nearby
The town of Sauveterre-de-Béarn is interesting to visit, because of the church and the views along the river, and further north you will also enjoy a visit to Salies-de-Béarn to see the houses along the sides of the river.
Explore elsewhere in the Béarn. You can find more travel ideas in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques guide and the Aquitaine guide.
Photos of Saint-Palais
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Hotels in Saint-Palais
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Map of Saint-Palais and places nearby
Visit near Saint-Palais with France This Way reviews
Sauveterre church of Saint-André
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Sauveterre church of Saint-André guide
Sauveterre-de-Bearn
The view from the terrace in front of the church in Sauveterre-de-Béarn is one of our favourites in the Basque Pyrenees region
Sauveterre-de-Bearn guide
Laas
Laas is a pretty village with a castle and roman style church in the gave d'Oloron valley
Laas guide
Salies-de-Bearn
The small town of Salies-de-Bearn is a pleasure to explore, and a nice place to visit when you are passing through the region
Salies-de-Bearn guide
La Bastide-Clairence
Labastide-Clairence is another of the most picturesque villages in the Basque region
La Bastide-Clairence guide
Navarrenx
Navarrenx is a traditional fortified French bastide town in the western pyrenees
Navarrenx guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Pyrenees-Atlantiques
Address: Saint-Palais, Bayonne, Aquitaine, 64120, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 43.3292, longitude -1.0325
Plan your visit to Saint-Palais, Pyrenees-Atlantiques
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- La Bastide-Clairence: most beautiful village (21 km)
- Sorde l'Abbaye - abbaye St Jean (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (22 km)
- Eglise St Blaise (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (23 km)
- Porte St Jacques - St Jean Pied-de-Port (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (25 km)
- Jardins de la villa Arnaga: remarkable garden (30 km)
- Forêt d'Iraty: site of natural beauty (37 km)
- Oloron-Sainte-Marie: town of art and history (37 km)
- Gorges d'Holzarté: site of natural beauty (37 km)
- Eglise, Oloron-Sainte-Marie (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (37 km)
- Ainhoa: most beautiful village (38 km)
- Bayonne cathédrale de Sainte-Marie (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (40 km)
- Bayonne: secteur sauvegarde (40 km)
Market days in Saint-Palais, France
Regular market(s) are held in Saint-Palais each Friday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Saint-Palais (Francais)