Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Inland, up in the lush hills, little one-street villages and green valleys traversed by
hiking trails fan out from the walled town of St-Jean Pied de Port, an age-old stop
for pilgrims heading over the Spanish border to Santiago de Compostela.
Bayonne
POP 44,200
Surrounded by sturdy fortifications and splashed in red and white paint, Bayonne
(Baiona in Basque), capital of the French Basque Country, is one of the most at-
tractive towns in southwest France. Its perfectly preserved old town (until 1907 it
was actually forbidden to build outside the town's fortifications) and shoals of river-
side restaurants are an absolute delight to explore.
In addition to its chocolates, which you'll see sold throughout France, Bayonne is
famous for its prime cured ham and for the
baïonnette
(bayonet), developed here in
1640 on rue des Faures ('Blacksmiths' Street').
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