Bayonne Old Town & Cathedral
Grand Bayonne / Petit Bayonne
Half-timbered houses with coloured shutters along the Nive River and a Gothic cathedral. Known as the chocolate capital of France and the home of Bayonne ham, it is about 10 km from Biarritz.
Bayonne sits where the Nive and Adour rivers meet. Grand Bayonne has a 13th-century cathedral, Notre-Dame de Bayonne, which is part of the UNESCO-listed Camino de Santiago, along with a cloister, and its streets are lined with historic chocolate shops and ham dealers. Petit Bayonne, on the opposite bank, is home to the Basque Museum and bars. The red and green shuttered houses along the banks of the Nive are a classic view. The Fêtes de Bayonne at the end of July see the whole city dressed in white and wearing red neckerchiefs. A bus from Biarritz takes about 20 minutes.
Opening hours
Open all day (cathedral about 08:00–18:00)
Nearby sights
- Musée Basque et de l'Histoire de Bayonne
- Anglet Beaches – Chambre d'Amour
- Biarritz Lighthouse
- Chapelle Impériale
- Russian Orthodox Church of Biarritz
- Hôtel du Palais
- Grande Plage de Biarritz
- Les Halles de Biarritz