Ainhoa
One of the most beautiful villages in France, with 17th-century Basque timber-framed houses in white along a single main street, close to the Spanish border.
Ainhoa was a waystation on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Most of the houses lining the main street date from the 17th century. They have white walls with red or green timber framing and shutters, and their lintels are carved with the construction dates and the owners' names. The church has Basque-style wooden galleries, and its graveyard features disc-shaped headstones. The village is small and can be explored in half an hour. You can also hike up the hill behind the village to the Notre-Dame d'Aratz chapel for views. The drive from Espelette takes about 10 minutes.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Espelette
- Grottes de Sare
- Villa Arnaga
- La Rhune Rack Railway
- Guéthary
- Cité de l'Océan
- Plage de la Côte des Basques
- Saint-Jean-de-Luz