Bayonne Travel Guide

Bayonne

43.49338, -1.47574

Share
Share post

City Map

Gallery

City Introduction

Bayonne is a city located in southwestern France close to the Atlantic Ocean and the Spanish border. Its history goes back at least to a fortified settlement in the first century. There was a similar military presence in Roman times before an actual settlement developed. By the 11th century, Bayonne had grown to become the capital of the province of Labourd, and in the following century, the first city was built at the river Adour, enabling new growth.

Richard the Lionheart gained dominion over Bayonne and the area in 1177, and trade with England increased thereafter. The coastal region remained English until after the Hundred Years’ War, and Bayonne became French in 1451. During this period, the city’s important trade declined as the Adour sanded up. Growth came back in the 16th century, when the course of the river was excavated, and in the 17th century, the military engineer Vauban constructed defenses around Bayonne. Today, Bayonne is a developed metropolitan area together with the nearby seaside resort of Biarritz.

There are quite a few sights in Bayonne, whose old center is divided by the river Nive into Grand Bayonne to the west and Petit Bayonne to the east. This part of the city is cozy and suitable for wonderful strolls in the streets or along the promenades along the Nive. The architecture along the river is harmonious, and you can look at the typical half-timbered houses. You can also see these houses in the Place Morlesin-Carreau on the west bank of the river, and in this square, you might visit the Halles de Bayonne market building.

In Grand Bayonne, you can visit the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie as well, which is the city’s cathedral, that was mainly built during the 13th and 17th centuries, with the later completion of the church’s two spiers. The cathedral is on one of the pilgrimage routes on the way to Santiago de Compostela, and you can see a Gothic high altar and fine stained-glass windows in the cathedral. Bayonne’s town hall is also located in this part of the city, while in Petit Bayonne you will find the Musée Basque, which is an interesting museum focusing on the Basque Country in France through a fine historical and ethnographic collection.

Bayonne is a city with large green areas laid out like in a belt around the old parts of the city. These areas previously formed Vauban’s fortifications that protected the city, and north of the Adour Vauban’s work continues in the form of the city’s great citadel. You can start a tour on the ramparts and bastions at Château Vieux in the western part of Grande Bayonne. Château Vieux was the seat of the governors of the city.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

Biarritz

Biarritz is an elegant and well-visited seaside resort located on the French Atlantic coast close to the border with Spain. Its history as a resort began with the 19th century’s increasing tourism to popular towns along the water, and in 1840 the Biarritz town council took the initiative to attract tourists to the well-located town.

The city became particularly well-known when Empress Eugénie of France built a summer palace on the coast from 1854. The palace and the presence of the imperial family spurred the construction of fashionable hotels, casinos and luxury shops, and the summer palace itself was also converted into a hotel and casino after it was sold in 1880.

Eugénie’s castle burned down in 1903, but was only lavishly rebuilt, and today it stands as the Hôtel du Palais in the first row to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the water are lovely beaches, and the beaches, the sea and the waves made Biarritz the first place in Europe where surfing took place.

In Biarritz you can enjoy the view of the sea, the beautiful hotels and also take a look at the center of the cozy town. There are also several activities and museums such as the Aquarium de Biarritz, located in an art deco building from 1933, the Cité de l’Océan and the Musée Asiatica, which is a museum of Asian art. There are also several beautiful viewpoints on the cliffs by the town. For example, you can go to the Rocher de la Vierge or the area by the Phare de Biarritz lighthouse.

San Sebastián

San Sebastián is a city in the Basque Country in northern Spain, and it is also known as Donostia–San Sebastián. Humans have lived in the area for thousands of years, but settlements were founded by the Romans in the first centuries AD in the area that today forms the old town. However, San Sebastián did not formally became a city before 1181. It developed but burned down almost completely in 1489 and was then rebuilt with stone houses. France occupied San Sebastián from 1719-1721 and again in 1813. In 1863, the city walls were demolished, making way for many new districts and thereby a larger city.

More about San Sebastián

Pau

Pau is a city located in southwestern France close to the border with Spain. Pau is in the Béarn area, which from 1464 was an independent principality with Pau as its capital. However, the city is known from sources as early as the 12th century, when the city arose at a castle that was built at a strategically important ford. It was Béarn’s then viscount who built the castle. After gaining the status of capital in 1464, Pau became the seat of Pamplona’s kings in 1512. It got this status when Castile conquered Pamplona, whereby the monarchs moved to the area north of the Pyrenees.

More about Pau

Geolocation

In short

Bayonne, France[/caption]

Overview of Bayonne

Richard the Lionheart gained dominion over the city and the area in 1177, and trade with England increased thereafter. The coastal region remained English until after the Hundred Years’ War, and Bayonne became French in 1451. During this period, the city’s important trade declined as the Adour sanded up. Growth came back in the 16th century, when the course of the river was excavated, and in the 17th century, the military engineer Vauban constructed defenses around Bayonne. Today, Bayonne is a developed metropolitan area together with the nearby seaside resort of Biarritz.

There are quite a few sights in the city, whose old center is divided by the river Nive into Grand Bayonne to the west and Petit Bayonne to the east. This part of the city is cozy and suitable for wonderful strolls in the streets or along the promenades along the Nive. The architecture along the river is harmonious, and you can look at the typical half-timbered houses. You can also see these houses in the Place Morlesin-Carreau on the west bank of the river, and in this square, you might visit the Halles de Bayonne market building.

About the Bayonne travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English

About the travel guide

The Bayonne travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the French city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Bayonne is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.