Nature and landscape
of the Basque Country
The Basque Country, at the heart of a beautiful natural environment, is well worth a visit. It is bounded to the north by the Bidassoa river and the Pyrenees Mountains, which separate it from the Spanish Basque Country.
The region is a magnet for lovers of the Basque way of life. From idleness to a wide range of activities, the coast offers a variety of leisure options: surfing, golf, rafting, cycling, sailing, hiking, etc.
For walking, there’s nothing better than the coastal path along the Corniche Basque from Bidart to Hendaye as far as Pasaia in Spain, or the cycle routes along the greenways of the Basque Country.
If you’re a seasoned outdoor sportsman, your playground will be the long hike (GR10) from Hendaye to St Jean Pied de Port, or the ascent to the summit of La Rhune (905m) with its breathtaking panorama, populated by free-roaming Basque ponies known as “pottok”.
Your holiday in the Basque Country will be full of surprises. Our Basque Country campsite in Hendaye will enable you to discover all the treasures of this region with its strong identity.
The Basque coast
Your A holiday in the Basque Country can become a real voyage of discovery along the Atlantic coast, with points of interest as exciting as each other: Saint Jean de Luz, home of the macaroon, and its fishing port opposite the House of the Infanta of Spain, the Académie Ravel (a must for music lovers in spring and September), Biarritz and the Rocher de la Vierge or Port-Vieux, Bayonne, its cathedral, its ramparts, Petit Bayonne, the chocolate workshop, not forgetting Biriatou, with its pediment and Basque village church near Hendaye, Ciboure and the Socoa fort, the beaches of Bidart and Guéthary, with their splendid views over the Bay of Biscay.
There’s so much to do in the Basque Country that you may well want to extend your vacation to enjoy the seaside from the campsite!
The Spanish Basque Country
Cross the Bidassoa, the border river between France and Spain! A boat trip on the “Marie-Louise” from the Hendaye marina takes you to Fontarrabie (Hondarribia), a picturesque fishing village and a must for Basque tourism.
The “topo ” (euskal tren) at Hendaye station takes you by train to San Sebastian (Donostia), European Capital of Culture 2016. Several Michelin-starred restaurants await gourmets. This large Basque city, nicknamed “the pearl of the Cantabrian Sea”, runs alongside a shell-shaped bay, which inspired the name of La Concha beach.
TheAquarium, Mount Igueldo and El Casco Viejo will fascinate holidaymakers of all ages. The festivities are legion: a giant jazz concert on the beach at the end of July, the semana grande in mid-August with its musical events, parades and, above all, a fireworks competition featuring pyrotechnicians from all over the world.
Finally, the International Film Festival in September is sure to bring film buffs back to our campsite near the Spanish Basque Country.
The San Fermin festivities and theencierro (bull run) in Pamplona at the beginning of July are also world-famous.
Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum are also major attractions on the Spanish Baque coast, as are the villages of Pasajes and Zumaia, and the beaches of Zarauz and Getaria.
Discover the inland Basque country, still alive with tradition (Basque song and dance) and colorful markets selling local produce (Ossau Valley ewe’s milk cheese, Bayonne ham, txistorra, cider, etc.).
If walking is your favorite pastime, enjoy the charm and tranquility of remote villages and valleys during your holiday in the Basque Country .
Sare and the Musée du Gâteau Basque, Zugarramurdi with its witches’ hamlet and cave, Ainhoa (one of France’s most beautiful villages), EspeletteThe city of chillies, hung in red garlands on the facades of houses, Itxassou and cherry specialities, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Portthe pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, with its Porte St Jacques, a Unesco World Heritage Site, or Ascain are just some of the destinations to discover.
You’ll find that each commune has its own fronton, the scene of games of pelota, the traditional local sport.
The Basque Country is a festive and gourmet region, with traditional festivals (Chipiron festival, tuna festival, Bayonne festival), ferias and bandas, and the temptation of the famous “pintxos”, miniature delicacies served in bars and restaurants.
