Bayonne is a town and a city in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the
South-West of France.
Nestled between the ocean and the first
foothills of the Pyrenean massif, at the confluence of the Nive and
the Adour, its 45,000 inhabitants make it the second city of the
department behind Pau. It is at the heart of a vast agglomeration
which also includes the cities of Anglet and Biarritz, the most
important in the south of Aquitaine.
Located on the border of
the Basque Country and Gascony, it is only a few tens of kilometers
away from Spain. A city of art and history, it is rich in a
centuries-old monumental heritage as well as a gastronomic tradition
whose best ambassadors are ham, chili pepper and chocolate.
Every year at the very end of July, the city, invaded by thousands
of festayres, vibrates to the sound of txirulak (fifes) and
ttun-ttun (tambourines) during the famous "Bayonne Festivals".
Established on the borders of the great Landes plain (Gascony)
and the first Labourdine heights (Basque Country), Bayonne has
always been influenced by these two cultures which complement rather
than oppose each other. City of confluence (Adour and Nive come
together there), position which has ensured its prosperity and its
status as a leading commercial place over the centuries, it is now a
major economic and academic center, which concentrates industries
and tertiary activities, as well as an important commercial port
(the 9th of the country) which radiates over a large part of the
region.
With a population of 45,000, it is at the center of a
vast urban area with 285,000 inhabitants and a "eurocity" with
630,000 inhabitants and extending over almost 50 kilometers, on both
sides of the Spanish border. A city of art and history, it is formed
by three main districts: Grand Bayonne, Petit Bayonne and
Saint-Esprit, each with its own personality that is reflected in its
architecture and in an "atmosphere" that sometimes differs
significantly.
The city of Bayonne is located both in the
continental fringe of the Silver Coast (long stretch of straight
sand that stretches for almost 250 kilometers, from the tip of
Grave, near Royan, to the mouth of the Adour) and in that of the
Basque Coast (succession of beaches and cliffs), which then takes
over. The nearest beaches are only about ten kilometers away
(Biarritz and Anglet). Paradise for bathers, but also for surfers,
who come to "taste the waves" at the first opportunity.
The
landscapes of the Bayonne region are of great variety: green hills
with soft undulations, emerald-colored pastures, but also moors and
forests form a characteristic ensemble of this transitional country,
also marked by the proximity of the first foothills (certainly of a
modest altitude: 905 meters at the Rhune, 543 meters at the
Jaizkibel) of the Pyrenees. Not far from Bayonne, the Chiberta
forest is one of the "green lungs" of the surroundings: lulled by
the murmur of the ocean, it shelters several species of pines, holm
oaks and cork oaks. It is connected to the immense forest of the
Gascony Landes, which begins at the gates of the agglomeration.
Corresponding to the historic heart of the city, the Grand-Bayonne district is classified as a "protected sector" and is largely pedestrianized. Its streets, alleys and small cobbled squares are lined with old half-timbered houses of medieval origin (many were redone in the seventeenth and eighteenth century). See in particular the Rue du Port-Neuf, lined with beautiful arcaded houses and shops offering typical products of the region (chocolate, chestnuts, hams or cheeses), the rue d'Espagne, with half-timbered houses painted in red-ochre, where there are many cafes, the Place des cinq cantons, at the crossroads of five medieval streets, the quays of Nive (many old houses) and the halls, as well as the cathedral of Saint-Marie. The district is surrounded by fortifications of medieval origin redesigned by Vauban in the seventeenth century. Several bridges thrown over the Nive (Mayou bridge, Marengo bridge, Pannecau bridge, Engineering Bridge) give access to the Petit Bayonne district. The Saint-Esprit bridge, on the Adour, gives access to the Saint-Esprit district.
Guided tours of the Grand Bayonne, + 33 820 42 64 64 Logo indicating
prices from 6 €. – The tourist office offers guided tours of the Grand
Bayonne (historical center of the city) in the company of a
guide-lecturer including a discovery of the medieval streets and old
houses, the ramparts and the Sainte-Marie cathedral and its cloister.
Guided tours of the Protected Area, + 33 820 42 64 64 From 6 €. -
Visit of the part of the city classified as a "Protected Sector" and of
some buildings representative of the restorations and rehabilitations
started for several years.
These squares that make up the city, + 33
820 42 64 64 From 6 €. - Discovery of the squares and public spaces of
the Grand Bayonne, from the origins to the present day. Visit in the
company of a guide-lecturer.
Treasure hunt with the family, + 33 820
42 64 64 From 6 €. – A fun route through the streets of the city:
treasure hunt to better understand the history of the city.
Bayonne,
capital of chocolate, + 33 820 42 64 64 From 6 €. - Visit Bayonne from a
different angle, to discover the chocolate history of the city: visit
emblematic places and artisan shops perpetuating this centuries-old
tradition. The tasting of an artisanal hot chocolate comes to close the
visit.
1 Sainte-Marie Cathedral Place Pasteur/Place de l'évêché (Historic
center) Logo indicating times Outside the hours of worship (masses from
7 a.m. - 9 a.m., every day of the week, Sunday mass at 11 a.m.). Free
access. - Built from the thirteenth century on the site of an old
sanctuary destroyed by fire, St. Mary's Cathedral is characteristic of
the radiant Gothic style. It was completed only in the nineteenth
century with the construction of the north tower, the rehabilitation of
the south tower and their crowning by neo-Gothic spires culminating at
70 meters. The impressive dimensions of the building bring it closer to
the great cathedrals of the north of France. Its total length is around
80 meters for a height under the vault of 26.50 meters (almost as much
as Notre-Dame de Paris). The interior preserves a set of stained-glass
windows with shimmering colors dating from the sixteenth century,
including the stained-glass window of "The prayer of the Canaanite"
(1531), particularly remarkable. See also the keystones, where the
French lilies succeed the Anglo-Aquitaine leopards, testifying to the
capture of the city by the French during construction (1451). The
cathedral has been classified as a Historical Monument since 1862 and
has been classified as a World Heritage Site for Humanity under the
Paths of Saint-Jacques de Compostela since 1998. At the foot of the
cathedral, Place Pasteur, see the Pillory fountain.
2 St. Mary's
Cloister Access by the "Passage of the Last Judgment" below the chapter
house, Place Pasteur (in front of the old courthouse) until 17 h. Free
access. - Pure radiant Gothic style like the neighboring cathedral, it
dates from the fourteenth century and is among the largest in France.
Notice the presence of funerary slabs and enfeus dating for the most
part from the Middle Ages. The north gallery disappeared in the
nineteenth century during the development of the Saint-Léon chapel. From
the cloister galleries, an overview of the cathedral and its two spires.
3 Place du Réduit – This small square is located at the exit of the
Saint-Esprit bridge, a stone's throw from the town hall. It takes its
name from the "reduced" which was the refuge that made it possible to
beat the port with a cannon even if part of the fortifications fell.
From the redoubt razed to the ground in the nineteenth century, only a
guardhouse remains, but one can see one of the seven gates, with the
king's arms, at the Postern. Notice the presence of a monumental statue
of Cardinal Charles Martial Lavigerie, a native of the city, founder of
the Society of Missionaries of Africa (better known as the "White
Fathers")
4 Moulis House - This large bourgeois house is one of the
most remarkable half-timbered houses in the city. Typical of the civil
architecture of the Renaissance, it dates from the sixteenth century and
retains beautiful mullioned windows. It is restored in the nineteenth
century.
5 Plachotte - Square, located at the old gate of the
castrum, departure of way towards Labourd (province of the Basque
Country)
6 Place and rue Montaut – In the heart of the historic
center, rue Montaut owes its name to a family of Bayonne notables. The
latter built a house in 1529. Retaining many old houses, it leads to the
Place Montaut, where stands the sober chapel of the Daughters of the
Cross, built in 1860 thanks to the efforts of the abbot of Quevedo and a
subscription, as well as the Sainte-Victoire barracks. The square also
houses a modest monument to the victims of the "Glorious Three" (July
27, 28 and 29, 1830) where the following maxim is inscribed: "Just
revolutions are the punishment of bad kings". Notice the
contemporary-style building that fits into the old urban fabric, the
work of the architects Xavier Leibar and Jean-Marie Seigneurin.
7
Porte d'Espagne - Protected by a bastion, the redoubt of the Porte
d'Espagne defended the western gate of the City. On the Rue d'Espagne
side, the rooms of the guard corps and the granting remain. A second
bastion allowed access to the west glacis through the door of Marshal de
Lautrec. It was through this door that Louis XIV and his young wife
Marie-Thérèse of Austria entered the city in 1660, as did the Duke of
Angoulême at the head of his regiments during the victorious campaign of
1823 aimed at restoring King Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne.
8
Lautrec Gate – The Lautrec gate commanded access to the west glacis.
Adorned with military trophies, it retains the mechanism of the
drawbridge.
9 Lachepaillet Rampart - The Lachepaillet rampart
envelops the fortifications of the Roman castrum of which the
sub-basements of the walls integrated into the residential houses and
various towers taken over in the Middle Ages remain.
10 Rempart Tour
de Sault – The south rampart is formed by a long curtain that connects
the redoubt of the Porte d'Espagne to the redoubt of the Tour-de-Sault
which defended the Engineering bridge. Supported on a strong
counter-escarpment, the wide roundabout allowed a rapid movement of
troops between the two redoubts. Two medieval towers are embedded in the
neighboring buildings. One of them bears the name of "Tower of the
Executioner" because it was here that the "maistre de haute-justice" in
charge of the execution of the condemned was housed. The second is
called the "Tower of the Two Sisters".
11 Old Castle Can not be
visited. - Built from the tenth century by Bertrand Raymond, Viscount of
Labourd and lord of Bayonne, on the site of Roman fortifications, the
Château-Vieux is an essential component of the fortifications of the
city during the Anglo-Aquitaine period. It welcomes famous guests such
as Don Alfonso the Battler, King of Navarre, Edward of Woodstock (the
"Black Prince"), Du Guesclin, Don Perdro the Cruel, King of Castile,
King Louis XI or King Louis XIV. The castle takes its current name in
the fifteenth century, when a new fortress was built in the
Petit-Bayonne district, then in full expansion. Rehabilitated in the
seventeenth century, it is deeply redesigned and integrated into the
defensive system designed by Vauban. Considered of no strategic
interest, it misses to be demolished by order of Napoleon (the decree,
signed by the emperor, has not been applied). Classified as a historical
monument in 1931, it hosts the "Mess Circle" of the 1st RPIMa.
12
Postern – The Postern is a simple door, pierced in the nineteenth
century, at the foot of the Old Castle. It is protected by the
Lachepaillet redoubt which dominates it to the south and the bastion
which houses the botanical garden. In 2010, the reconstruction of one of
the seven gates of the Reduced, destroys the austere ordering of the
ramparts.
Founded in the Middle Ages on ancient palustrine areas at the confluence of the Adour and the Nive, Petit-Bayonne faces directly the Grand-Bayonne. A popular, mixed-race and student district par excellence, with its population coming from all walks of life, it concentrates a large number of small shops, restaurants and a number of bars and bodegas where the local youth vibrates every evening. Many old houses line the picturesque quays of Nive and the streets leading to the Château-Neuf, the university pole (IUT and campus of the Nive: Resto'U and university library) and the Saint-André church which faces it. Petit-Bayonne is also home to the Basque museum and the remains of the fortifications built by Vauban in the seventeenth century.
Guided tours of the Petit Bayonne, + 33 820 42 64 64 , From €6. – A discovery of Petit-Bayonne, this old "New Town" founded in the Middle Ages, and its picturesque streets in the company of a guide-lecturer.
13 Saint-André Church Place Paul Bert, Free access. - Built on the
site of a medieval church thanks to a bequest from a parishioner, Mr
Lormand, this vast neo-Gothic building is the work of the architects
Hippolyte Guichenné and Hippolyte Durand. Its construction begins in
1856 and ends in 1869. Its somewhat massive facade is freely inspired by
the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The interior, very bright, is
illuminated by three rosettes inspired by the radiant Gothic and by
large ogival bays. Do not miss to contemplate the imperial organ "Wenner
& Götty" dating from 1862 (35 stops), classified as a historical
monument since 2002. On Sundays, Mass is celebrated in Basque.
14
Royal Bastion – On the other side of the Nive the Royal Redoubt
protected the barracks of the Engineers, now disappeared. From its
influence remain the barracks which house the premises of the general
council and technical buildings which house the lecture halls of the
Institute of the Pays de l'Adour around the old courtyard which has
become Mail Chao-Pelletier. In 2013, a renovation project including the
development of a promenade on the old walking paths is implemented by
the city as part of the European project "Poctefa".
15 Château-Neuf
- This fortified complex today bears the mark of Marshal Vauban, who
adapts it to the military progress of the seventeenth century and makes
it the housing of the garrison responsible for defending the Eastern
road (Urcuit, Urt, Guiche, etc.). However, its origin is much older and
dates back to the fifteenth century and the capture of the city by the
French. This "New Castle" (as opposed to the "Old Castle" of the
Viscounts of Labourd located a little further away) was started under
Charles VII. His successor Charles VIII made it a powerful fortress with
defensive towers and curtain walls pierced with embrasures. The building
is now occupied by the IUT of Bayonne.
16 Mousserolles Gate – The
Mousserolles gate of the redoubt East of the Adour is preserved
practically as is, with a powder casemate and a guardhouse. It retains
part of the mechanism of the old drawbridge. It keeps the memory of the
dowager Queen of Spain Marie-Anne of Neubourg, a refugee in Bayonne
since 1706, who made her solemn farewell to the City Council in 1738
after having been allowed to return to her country of origin. Nearby, in
the old moat, a wooded promenade and playgrounds for children have been
set up.
17 Maison Dagourette, 37 quai des Corsaires, + 33 5 59 59 08
98, 6,5 € ( full price), 4 € (reduced rate), free for children under 26
years old. – This house of character dating from the sixteenth century
(classified as a historical monument in 1991) was converted into a
"Basque museum and the history of Bayonne" in 1924. The museum houses an
important ethnographic collection dedicated to Basque culture and people
(everyday objects, works of art) from prehistory to the present day. The
visitor thus learns the history of the makila, both shepherd's staff and
weapon, or of the etxe, the Basque house so different from one province
to another and loaded with so many symbols. He immerses himself in
Basque legends and traditions, such as that of Ama Lur, mother earth.
The museum also traces the history of Bayonne, a city occupying a
particular situation on the borders of Gascony and the Basque Country.
The Basque museum has been labeled "Museum of France" since 2003. Its
attendance exceeds 40,000 visitors per year.
18 Bonnat-Helleu Museum,
5 rue Jacques Laffitte (Petit-Bayonne), + 33 5 59 46 63 60, Closed for
works until 2016 or 2017. - The Bonnat-Helleu Museum - Bayonne Museum of
Fine Arts is one of the main cultural spaces in the city. Its
collections include rich works (paintings, sculptures, graphic arts)
from legacies and donations since 1891. Visitors can admire masterpieces
(German, English, Spanish, Flemish, Dutch, French and Italian schools)
of the greatest masters, such as Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Delacroix,
Murillo, Goya... The museum has been under construction since 2011 and
should open again in 2016 or 2017.
Separated from the rest of the city by the Adour, this district was for a time an independent commune called "Saint-Esprit-lès-Bayonne" which depended on the department of Landes. The commune was dissolved and attached to Bayonne in 1857. The main suburb of the city for centuries, it welcomes many Sephardic Navarrese, Castilian and Portuguese Jews expelled from Spain by the Catholic monarchs (1492) and then from Portugal by King Manuel I (1496). They founded an important community there (at that time, they were required to reside "outside the walls", that is to say outside the city limits) and soon introduced a new drink brought back from the Americas: chocolate, which remains today one of the great specialties of Bayonne. The neighborhood is still home to the synagogue and an Israelite cemetery. Dominated by the mass of the citadel, it is the "entry point" for visitors arriving in Bayonne by train, the station being installed there. See the Saint-Esprit Church, a former collegiate church, and the quays which offer an interesting view of the historic center.
Guided tours of the Holy Spirit, + 33 820 42 64 64 , From €6. – The tourist office offers a guided tour: "Saint-Esprit: a district open to the Adour" to discover this ancient suburb of Bayonne, strongly tinged with Jewish, Spanish and Portuguese influences.
19 Georges-Bergé Citadel - Occupying a privileged site overlooking
the entire city and the banks of the Adour, the citadel is one of the
many works of art built by Marshal Vauban to protect the city, the last
stronghold before the Spanish border. Built from 1685 under the
leadership of François Ferry, general engineer of the fortifications of
the Guyenne, it is protected by horned bastions, half-moons, ditches and
curtains which make it a particularly impregnable defensive site. In
1814, under the command of General Maucomble, she stood up to the
invading troops of Wellington. The already considerable fortifications
were further strengthened under Louis XVIII and Louis-Philippe.
Transformed into a barracks (instruction and training center for the
commandos of the 1 ° RPIMa), it cannot be visited. It can be observed
from afar, from the quay of the avenue du Maréchal Leclerc (near the
town hall) or from the Lesseps quay.
20 Saint-Esprit Bridge - The
Saint-Esprit bridge connects the district of the same name to that of
Grand-Bayonne. The main bridge of the city, it spans the Adour. He is
the heir of a medieval structure built in 1149 to facilitate access to
the Bayonne fairs for merchants from the Landes, broken by a strong
flood in 1701 and rebuilt several times afterwards (1720, 1770, 1791).
As the appropriations ran out during the revolutionary period, a bridge
consisting of boats linked to each other was put in place until 1812.
The current bridge was built from 1845 to 1849 and measures 259 meters.
21 Holy Spirit Church - Founded in the twelfth century by the monks of
the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, this church was then reduced to a
modest oratory dependent on a priory welcoming the sick, the reprobates
and pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela: the priory of San
Espirit dau Cap do Punt. Converted into a collegiate church by King
Louis XI in 1483, it was heavily remodeled a few years later. The
current church dates back to the beginning of the sixteenth century, but
retains older elements (thirteenth century bedside). It was enlarged
once again in the nineteenth century, under the supervision of the
architect Émile Loupot, who added the porch, inspired by the Landes
churches, and the south collateral. Inside, notice a wooden group
representing the "flight to Egypt" (fifteenth century). The three bays
of the bedside are today blind, because houses have been built against
the church.
22 Synagogue of Bayonne – The presence of the synagogue
of the Saint-Esprit district testifies to the strong implantation of the
Jewish community in these places since the fifteenth century and their
expulsion from the Iberian peninsula. Built on the site of a previous
private place of worship established in the apartments of a figure of
the community, Rebekah Louis Nounès, it is the work of the architect
Capdeville. The first stone was laid on May 25, 1836: it was inaugurated
a little more than a year later, on September 26, 1837. In neo-classical
style, its very sober facade hides an interior of great harmony. See the
Holy Arch (eighteenth century), Louis XVI style, from the old oratory,
and the wooden coffered ceiling. The synagogue has been classified as a
historical monument since 2012.
23 Israelite Cemetery - One of the
oldest Jewish cemeteries in France (XV° c.)
The city of Bayonne is one of the "greenest" in the region and has no
less than 180 hectares of parks, public gardens and playgrounds.
24 Public Garden Avenue Léon Bonnat (Grand Bayonne) From October 1st
to April 30th: from 8:30 a.m. - 18 p.m. From May 1st to September 30th:
from 8:30 a.m. - 20:30 p.m. Free entrance. - Very appreciated by the
Bayonese for the freshness it provides in summer, the public garden is
actually composed of two distinct spaces: the René Cassin park and the
Leon Bonnat park. The first is an English-style garden forming a bucolic
setting where plants with various colors flourish. It houses various
plant species (cedars, pines, magnolias) and a small fish pond. The
second is a French garden, focused on symmetry, around a large fountain.
25 Botanical Garden Alley of Tarrides (Grand Bayonne) From Tuesday to
Saturday from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 14 p.m. - 18 p.m. Free admission. –
Covering an area of 3,000 square meters, the botanical garden has been
set up in the old fortifications of Vauban. It brings together nearly a
thousand species, some very rare such as the katsura or "caramel tree"
divided into nine thematic sectors (Undergrowth, A touch of exoticism,
bamboo grove, Azure atmosphere, Lightness-Light-Movement, Ground cover,
Red palette, Asian Fragrance and Shades of yellow).
26 Caradoc Park
24 avenue du 14 avril (Hauts de Bayonne) Free admission. - Established
on a hillside overlooking the Saint-Esprit district, it was originally a
private park belonging to Lord Caradoc, an aristocrat and British
officer who settled in the region at the beginning of the nineteenth
century. Arranged "in the English style", it offers the visitor to
contemplate centenary trees among which cedars, beeches, maples,
sequoias and a remarkable magnolia "grandiflora". From the park, the
view leads to the Pyrenees.
27 Mousserolles Park Mousserolles path
(Small Bayonne) Free admission. – This vast green expanse is one of the
appointments of the Bayonese who come to walk there on weekends or have
a picnic there when the sunny days arrive. A playground has been set up
for children (from 3 to 12 years old).
28 Plaine d'ansot Avenue
Raoul Follereau (Exit south of Bayonne), + 33 5 59 42 22 61, email:
museum@bayonne.fr , Free admission. - Located at the gates of the city
center of Bayonne, the Ansot plain is one of the great "green lungs" of
the agglomeration at the same time as a remarkable conservatory for its
exceptional biodiversity. Covering no less than 100 hectares of
"barthes" (wetlands along the river), this protected natural area is
integrated into the Natura 2000 network (European Union sites of great
heritage value). Themed trails and observatories make it possible to
better understand this particular ecosystem and the species that evolve
there: mammals, birds, insects, etc. Picnic areas have been set up
("wild" picnic prohibited). Note that the Bayonne Natural history Museum
is located on the site.
Bayonne Festivals (Little and Big Bayonne) – Counting among the
highlights of the year, the Bayonne festivals take place from the last
weekend of July and spread over five days. Very popular throughout the
South-West of France - and even beyond — they bring together nearly one
and a half million "festayres" wearing the traditional outfit (white
shirt and trousers — or skirt —, scarf and red belt) who come to cheer
up in the streets of the old town to the sound of traditional bandas and
orchestras. Under the eyes of the "king Leon" (mascot of the Bayonne
festivals) who opens the ban every noon from the top of the balcony of
the town hall, the festivities range from cow races to bullfights,
through concerts, balls and the "toros de fuego". Created in 1932, they
are in line with the Sanfermines of Pamplona which took place a few
weeks earlier.
Bayonne Carnival - The Bayonne Carnival takes place
every year in March and lasts for two days. Strolls, cavalcades,
orchestras and workshops for children punctuate this event which
invariably ends with the judgment of San Pansar — mythical character
known for his irrepressible penchant for gluttony — which earns him to
be thrown into a big bonfire under the applause and laughter of the
little ones!
Ham Fair (Halles de Bayonne) - Heir to the great
medieval fairs, the ham fair is an opportunity to honor this famous
Basco-Bearnese specialty. It is traditionally held from Maundy Thursday
to Easter Sunday. Tastings, sales and musical events.
1 Bayonne Bullfights, + 33 811 80 64 64 Places from 19 €. - The city of Bayonne prides itself on being the oldest bullfighting place in France: cow and bull races are already reported as a "tradition" in 1289, which suggests an even older practice. Arenas were built in several districts of the city over the centuries, before new permanent infrastructures were put in place at their current location in 1893. In Spanish-Moorish style, the new arenas can accommodate almost 10,000 people: they are the largest in the South-West of France, also counting among the largest in the country. The biggest names in bullfighting have met in this huge "plaza de toros": El Cordobés, Antoñete, El Viti, Antonio Ordoñez, Paco Camino, José Tomas, El Juli, Castella, Manzanares... Nowadays, bullfighting remains alive. The temporada runs from July to September.
Stadiums
2 Jean-Dauger Stadium, 1 avenue André-Grimard (City
center), + 33 5 59 63 60 06 – Counting among the main sports
infrastructures of the city, it is the stadium where aviron bayonnais
rugby (rugby union club) plays. Its capacity is close to 20,000 seats
since its modernization in 2010.
3 Didier-Deschamps Stadium 1 avenue
Plantoun (North exit from Bayonne) - Formerly "Grand-Basque stadium", it
was renamed in 2000. Its capacity is 3500 seats.
4 Florida Stadium,
Avenue Raoul Follereau (Near Maïté Barnetche alley), + 33 5 59 31 94 04
– The Florida Stadium is at the center of a sports complex that also
includes a weight room, a sports hall, a dojo and a basketball court.
Swimming Pools
5 Lauga Swimming Pool 29 Paul Pras avenue, + 33 5
59 57 09 19 , Monday and Tuesday: from 12:15 - 13:45 and 18:30 - 20 h.
On Wednesday from 12:15 - 16 h. On Thursday from 12:15 - 13:45. On
Friday from 12:15 - 13:45 and 18:30 - 20 h., € 2.45. - The Lauga
swimming pool consists of a large pool of 25 meters by 10 meters
(divided into four corridors) and a paddling pool for children. The
swimming pool is covered but its roof is retractable.
6 Aquatic
Center of Hauts-de-Bayonne 5 avenue André Malraux, + 33 5 59 93 93 23 3
€. – The aquatic center includes a large pool of 510 square meters
divided into 8 corridors, a "play lagoon" for children, a sports hall
and a solarium.
Basque pelota
The national sport of the
Basque Country, the pelota (euskal pilota) comes from the Jeu de Paume.
Combining strength and skill, it actually covers about twenty
"specialties": bare hand, grand chistera (or cesta punta), joko garbi,
xare, frontenis, paleta, pasaka... In general, the goal is to send the
ball (directly or after a rebound) against a wall (called frontis) so
that it falls back into the playing area (called cancha). Basque pelota
is played on a pediment or in a trinquet. Note that the headquarters of
the French Basque Pelota Federation is located in Bayonne.
7
Trinquet moderne, 60 avenue Dubrocq, + 33 5 59 59 05 22 – The modern
trinquet is a Basque pelota room with three glass walls. It also hosts a
restaurant.
8 Trinquet Saint-André 4 rue du Jeu de Paume, + 33 5 59
25 76 81 , email: contact@snbayonne.fr – In an old palm game room
attested since the seventeenth century, this trinket allows the
pilotaris (players) to compete in different specialties
9 Fronton of
the Bayonne Rail Rue Tombeloli, + 33 5 59 55 17 63 – The pediment of the
Saint-Esprit district. During the Bayonne Festivals, it hosts the Open
Rive Droite.
Tennis
10 Aviron Bayonnais - Tennis, Avenue André
Grimard, + 33 5 59 63 33 13 – Heir to the "Tennis-Raquet Club of Bayonne
and Biarritz" founded in 1912, the club became the "tennis" section of
the Bayonne omnisport Rowing in 1930. Several tennis courts are located
under the ramparts, and a covered room is also available to club
members.
Water sports
Due to the proximity of the beaches of
the Silver Coast and the Basque Coast, Bayonne is naturally positioned
as a mecca for surfing. The main spots are in Anglet and Biarritz, the
French capital of this extremely popular sport throughout the region.
The city of Bayonne hosts one of the four centers of excellence in this
discipline.
11 France Surf Pole of Bayonne, 2 rue de Lasseguette,
+33 5 59 58 42 00 – The France Surf center in Bayonne is one of the main
sectors of excellence of this sport at the national level. It is part of
the high-level sector of the French Surfing Federation, and aims to
train future French champions. It is one of the four poles of excellence
recognized by the National Commission for high-level sport along with
those of Brittany, Guadeloupe and Reunion.
12 Oceania Club, Arena Gallery - Avenue of the Czech Legion, +33 5 59
59 14 14 , From 9 a.m. - 21:30 p.m. – Fitness club offering a weight
room, fitness classes and an aqua aerobics area.
13 Lafitte Gym, 9
avenue of the Leclerc division, +33 6 83 48 54 43 , email:
lafitte.lasalledesport@gmail.com , From 9 a.m. - 20:30 p.m. - Gym
offering bodybuilding, fitness, cardiotraining and sports coaching
equipment. Relaxation area.
Located a short distance from the ocean, the city of Bayonne is also relatively close to the main winter sports resorts of the department: Iraty is thus only 75 kilometers from the city center (about 1 h 50 by road) and 95 kilometers from Issarbe (about 2 h 15 by road).
By car
The geographical location of the city makes it one of the
main road nodes in the south of the Aquitaine region. The A63 motorway
(known as the "Basque Coast motorway") which bypasses it from the East
connects it to Bordeaux to the north (and beyond, by the A10 motorway,
to Paris) and Irun, on the Spanish border, to the south. Its extension
into Spanish territory is the AP1 motorway, which joins San Sebastián.
Three road interchanges (exits 5: Bayonne-Sud, 5-1: Bayonne-Mousserolles
and 6: Bayonne-Nord) make it possible to reach the city center.
The D1, which can be reached at the height of Saint-Pierre-d'irube,
extends after a few kilometers by the A64 motorway (called "The
Pyrenean") which allows to reach Pau, Tarbes and Toulouse. The D810 is
an old national road that has now been decommissioned. Often presenting
a linear character, it is a free alternative to the motorway (but is
subject to stricter speed limits). It provides access to the neighboring
town of Dax, in the Landes department.
At the southern exit of
the city, the D810 leads to the Spanish border while serving the
municipalities of Bidart, Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye. This
axis, which preserves beautiful views, is however particularly crowded
during the summer season. The D817 leads to Pau and Tarbes and the D932,
to the tourist village of Espelette.
By train
Bayonne has a
SNCF train station located in the Saint-Esprit district (a 10-minute
walk from the city center). It hosts TGV, mainline trains (Intercités)
and trains of the TER Aquitaine network. It has the "Access Plus"
service for people with reduced mobility. Former station of the
Compagnie du Midi on the Paris-Bordeaux-Irun line, it offers the visitor
a monumental facade with clock tower inspired by the Lyon station in
Paris.
1 Place Pereire SNCF Station - Bayonne station is open
every day from 5 a.m. to 23:30 p.m. (from 5 a.m. to 0:45 a.m. on Friday
and from 6 a.m. to 0:30 a.m. on Sunday). It offers a large lobby for
travelers, a point of sale and a buffet restaurant.
By plane
The agglomeration has a regional-level airport, partly located in the
municipalities of Anglet and Biarritz. Radiating over the
Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Landes departments, it has the particularity of
being managed by a mixed trade union comprising both the Bayonne-Basque
Country chamber of commerce and industry, the Basque Coast-Adour
agglomeration, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, the Landes
department and the municipality of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Its traffic (1.084
million passengers in 2012) makes it the 19th French airport in terms of
attendance. Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne Airport is complemented by San
Sebastián Airport, located about thirty kilometers further south.
2 Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne Airport , 7 Esplanade de l'Europe, 64600
Anglet, by phone + 33 5 59 43 83 83 , email:
informations@biarritz.aeroport.fr - The Bayonne agglomeration airport
connects the city and the peripheral municipalities to several major
cities in France and Europe (Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, London, Dublin,
Stockholm, etc.)
By bus
The coaches of the departmental
intercity network "Transports 64" allow you to reach the main cities of
the Basque Country (Hendaye, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Saint-Palais,
Cambo-les-Bains, etc.) as well as the surrounding villages. In addition,
given Bayonne's close proximity to the Landes department, the city is
also served by the XL'R departmental network and is thus connected to
the Landes seaside resorts such as Capbreton). Finally, the city
welcomes the "FlixBus" coaches which make it possible to travel
throughout Europe. The stop point is located at 22 Quai de Lesseps, near
the SNCF train station.
On foot
Bayonne is located on the
Soulac way of the Camino de Compostela, an itinerary starting from the
pointe de Grave (in Verdon-sur-Mer, opposite Royan) passing through
Soulac-sur-Mer and crossing all the Landes of Gascony.
Paths to
Santiago de Compostela - Three routes start from Bayonne: the
Roncesvalles way, the Baztan way and the coast way. The rocky paths of
the past have been replaced by pleasant paths combined with bicycle
paths from which cars are banned as far as possible.
Traffic in Bayonne is generally quite fluid, outside office hours and
during the summer period - especially during the "Bayonne Festivals" -
when congestion is often very high. Many parking areas are located in
the immediate vicinity of the city center (which is pedestrianized) and
are most often paid and subject to pricing that differs depending on
whether you live, work or are simply passing through Bayonne. In 2014,
prices thus vary from € 15 to € 30 / month for residents, € 30 to € 36 /
month for people working in the municipality and from € 1.2 / hour to €
7.5 / hour for visitors. Packages at 75 € / month are also offered. The
car parks are sometimes on the surface, sometimes covered. The most
important are: Vauban, Pedros, Charles-de-Gaulle, Glacis, Paulmy,
Champ-de-Foire, Lautrec, Porte d'Espagne, The Tennis courts, Sault
Tower, Owen Roe, Swimming, Glain, Sainte-Claire, Boufflers, Train
Station and Belfort. On the road, the price of time stamps ranges from €
0.5 for half an hour to € 6 for 4 hours.
Urban transport
The
Chronoplus urban transport network serves many districts of Bayonne as
well as the municipalities of the agglomeration (Anglet, Biarritz,
Bidart, Boucau, Tarnos, etc.). It is composed of regular bus lines,
on-demand transport lines (Creabus) and summer lines. A specific line,
called "Noctoplus", takes over in the evening and runs until midnight.
Note the implementation of a "Citypass" intended more specifically for
visitors, which allows you to accumulate unlimited trips on public
transport, admission to museums and discounts at certain merchants.
Prices (in 2014): for adults, 1-day pass for € 12, 3 days for € 16 and 7
days for € 20. For children: 1 day pass for € 4, 3 days for € 6 and 7
days for € 9.
Chronoplus From 6 a.m. to 21:30 p.m. (from 20:45
p.m. to midnight for the Night-time ones). Logo indicating prices Single
ticket (valid for 1 hour): 1 €. 24-hour ticket (unlimited traffic for 24
hours): 2 €. Ticket 10 trips: 8 €. 7 Days ticket: 11 €. Monthly
subscription: 30 € (16 € for under 25s and students). Annual
subscription: 300 €. – The buses of the network circulate throughout the
agglomeration of Bayonne (Anglet, Biarritz, Boucau, Bidart, Tarnos,
etc.). They make it possible to avoid traffic jams at peak times and
facilitate access to the beaches, the car parks often being saturated
during the summer period.
The city center is served by a network
of totally free electric shuttles. These 6 shuttles, with a capacity of
22 people, run all year round. Also worth noting is the presence of a
shuttle connecting the (free) Florida parking lot to the hospital
center.
The Bayonne shuttles Logo indicating a link to the
website From 7:30 a.m. - 19:30 p.m. (downtown). From 7 a.m. to 19 p.m.
(hospital center). Logo indicating Free rates. - The Bayonne shuttles
allow you to connect the car parks near the hyper-center and the
historic center.
Following the example of the Parisian "Vélib'",
the city has signed a partnership with the company "Cyclocom" in order
to offer residents and visitors a free bike loan service.
Cyclocom, Logo indicating a phone number + 33 6 98 08 89 91 , email:
contact@cyclocom.france
Sainte-Claire car parks, Sault Tower, Train
station and Paulmy: from 7:30 a.m. - 19 p.m. Tourist Office and House of
associations: from 9 a.m. - 18 p.m.
Available at several points
in the city of Bayonne (Tourist office, House of associations, Youth
information office, Communal Center for social action and car parks
Paulmy, Train station, Sainte-Claire and Sault Tower) but also in
Anglet, they can be borrowed for the day, but must imperatively be
returned in the evening where they were borrowed. This service is open
to people over the age of 18 (tolerance for young people aged 15 to 18
if accompanied by an adult), with or without a subscription. Without a
subscription, you must fill out a loan agreement before any use, present
a valid identity document and pay a deposit of € 150. Subscribing to a
subscription is a formality to facilitate the borrowing of bicycles.
This subscription is free and can be subscribed to the services of the
town hall (provide an identity photo and a deposit check of € 150).
Taxis
Several taxi companies offer their services throughout the
agglomeration. You can easily find them in front of the SNCF train
station, opposite the town hall and near the airport.
The historic center (Grand and Petit Bayonne) concentrates a large
number of shops, distributed according to pedestrian streets such as rue
d'Espagne, rue Port-Neuf or rue Victor-Hugo. There are the most diverse
shops, from the most specialized to the most "general public". Near the
quays of Nive, the halls host the main market of the city every day
(Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. - 13:30 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. - 13:30
p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. - 13:30 p.m.). The other markets are held on
place de la République (Friday from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m.), rue
Sainte-Catherine (Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon), place du Polo (Friday
from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m.), place du Marquisat (Friday from 8 a.m. to 13
p.m.) and place des Gascons (Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m. and
Saturday from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m.).
Large supermarkets are located
on the outskirts or in neighboring municipalities: thus, Anglet is home
to one of the most important shopping centers in Aquitaine, called "BAB
2" (Carrefour hypermarket of 13,000 square meters and shopping arcade of
90 shops, i.e. 41,000 square meters of sales area in total).
In
addition, the proximity to the border (about 30 km) allows access to
Spanish shopping centers in a short time. The prices of certain
foodstuffs, alcohol, tobacco and cosmetics are generally much lower
there than in France. The same is true for gasoline, which is about 15%
cheaper there.
1 Pierre Ibaialde, 41 rue des Cordeliers (Small Bayonne), + 33 5 59
25 65 30, email: pierre.ibaialde@wanadoo.fr - Pierre Ibaialde's workshop
welcomes visitors and makes them discover the techniques for making
traditional Bayonne ham and foie gras from the region. The visit of the
workshop continues with that of the salt room, the dryer and by a small
free tasting. Adjoining shop.
2 Makilas Leoncini 37 rue
Vieille-Boucherie (Grand Bayonne), + 33 5 59 59 18 20, email:
pierre.ibaialde@wanadoo.fr - The makila is a characteristic object of
the Basque Country. Both cane and weapon, it is traditionally made of
medlar wood. The Leoncini workshop is one of the last three to realize
this object according to ancestral techniques.
3 Lorblanc - The
cheese house 47 rue d'Espagne (Grand Bayonne), + 33 5 64 11 56 26 –
Delicatessen offering raw milk cheeses from the Basque Country and
traditional products from the region.
4 The chocolate workshop, 7
allée de Gibéléou (Holy Spirit), + 33 5 59 50 10 10, email:
contact@atelierduchocolat.fr - Specialized shop offering chocolate-based
products prepared according to traditional methods.
5 E.Leclerc Bayonne 90 avenue Henri de Navarre (Exit north of
Bayonne), + 33 5 59 50 30 50 , 8 30 - 20:30. - Shopping center
consisting of a hypermarket and a shopping arcade.
6 Intermarché
Bayonne Grand Basque Roundabout (North Bayonne exit), + 33 5 59 55 39 55
– Supermarket.
7 Monoprix 8 rue Orbe (Grand-Bayonne), + 33 5 59 59 00
33 From Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 20 p.m. - Shopping center
located in the city center. Supermarket (food, fashion, clothing,
leisure, etc.)
8 Carrefour Market 22 chemin d'arancette (Exit south
of Bayonne), + 33 5 59 52 03 03 – Shopping center.
9 Lidl Bayonne
Vainsot Street (North Bayonne exit) From Mon.- sat. : 8:30 - 19:30. -
Supermarket (hard-discount). One of the six points of sale of the "Lidl"
group present in the Bayonne agglomeration with those of Anglet,
Capbreton, Bidart, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Urrugne.
10 Aldi Place des
Gascons (Exit north of Bayonne) From Mon.- sat. : 8:30 - 19:30. Sunday
from 9 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. - Supermarket (hard-discount). One of the three
points of sale in the agglomeration.
11 Chronodrive Rue de
Chalibardon (Exit north of Bayonne), + 33 5 59 59 87 66 – Concept of
"drive" stores.
12 Guyenne and Gascony 60 avenue du capitaine
Resplandy (Near the north exit of Bayonne), + 33 5 59 44 55 00 –
Supermarket.
13 Petit Casino Port-Neuf 36 rue port-Neuf (Grand
Bayonne), + 33 5 59 59 01 53 – Local supermarket.
14 Small Casino
Spain 30 rue d'Espagne (Grand Bayonne), + 33 5 59 59 03 92 – Local
supermarket.
15 Small Casino Czech Legion 39 avenue of the Czech
Legion (Near arenas), + 33 5 59 59 23 29 – Local supermarket.
16
Petit Casino Beyris Avenue de Beyris (South exit of Bayonne), + 33 5 59
63 21 09 – Local supermarket.
17 Vival Esplanade Jouandin (Hauts de
Bayonne), + 33 5 59 59 10 92 – Local supermarket.
Basque gastronomy has its roots in local products: meat from pigs
traditionally fed with acorns (bellotas), meat from calves and lambs fed
"under the mother" in the green pastures of the neighboring mountains,
fish and seafood caught in the waters of the Bay of Biscay or in the
nearby Bearnais streams, not to mention the "sun" vegetables that
flourish naturally in this region with a mild climate: tomatoes, peppers
and of course peppers, the most famous of which are the peppers produced
in the village of Espelette. The proximity of Spain is felt in the
tradition of pintxos (Basque version of tapas) that we taste before
dinner.
Among the emblematic dishes of the Basque Country are
axoa (veal stew simmered with onions, peppers and spices), Bayonne ham,
pantxeta (veal pudding), tripotxa (mutton pudding), lukinke (Basque dry
sausage), zikiro (spicy lamb grill served with white beans and peppers)
or tripota (onion pudding). The specialties based on seafood are
marmitako (bonito stew with potatoes, onions, peppers and tomatoes),
ttoro (fish soup, Basque cousin of bouillabaisse), hake "koxkera" (hake
served with clams and mussels) or txangurro terrine (made with sea
spider, leeks, tomatoes and white wine).
The Basque Country is
also famous for its many cheeses made from sheep's milk, cow's milk or a
mixture of both (ardi-gasna, ossau-irraty, roncal, crabotin, esbareich,
idiazabal) which can be enjoyed plain, with bread or with black cherry
jam from Itxassou. Another cheese specialty, gaztanbera is a fresh
cheese close to Corsican brocciu. Dessert lovers will be able to taste
the Basque cake or etxeko biskotxa (filled with black cherry jam),
intxaursaltza (sweet walnut soup), turroi (nougat) and of course many
chocolate-based specialties, of which Bayonne prides itself on being the
capital.
Basque gastronomy would not be what it is without the
traditional wines and liqueurs that sublimate its dishes: iroulégy (red,
rosé and white wines), arabako errioxa (wine produced across the border)
or txacoli (white wine), not to mention sagarnoa (Basque cider), izarra
(liqueur made from armagnac, spices, prunes and nut brou) or patxaran
(aniseed liqueur made from sloes).
The human occupation of the Bayonne region is very old: traces of
neanderthal habitats dating from the Middle Paleolithic have thus been
discovered a few kilometers from the city center, in the town of
Saint-Pierre d'irube. However, it is not until antiquity that we find
mention of a first castrum, located on a nipple overlooking the marshy
plain that extends between Nive and Adour: Lapurdum (which will give its
name to the province of Labourd). It is then the territory of the
Aquitaine people of the Tarbelli, whose capital is Aquae Tarbellicae
(Dax).
Over the following centuries, the small city grew in
importance and covered an area of 8 to 10 hectares. It is then a
garrison post on the steps of Spain, belonging to the province of
Novempopulania. Around 830, it becomes a bishopric and asserts its power
over the surrounding region. In 892, it suffered a violent attack by the
Vikings, who plundered and burned it. In 1023, the King of Navarre
Sancho III the Great created the Viscountcy of Labourd. The dynasty of
the lords-viscounts of Labourd begins with Loup Sanche, who makes
Bayonne his capital. He and his heirs are striving to modernize the
city, strengthen its defenses and begin the construction of what is
today the Old Castle. In the twelfth century, the growth of the
population is such that several suburbs are built "outside the walls". A
"Borc Nau" (Bourg-Neuf, in Gascon) – the current district of Petit
Bayonne - was first established on the marshy lands located on the
opposite bank of the Nive. The houses are built on stilts, and we go
there by "galupes" (traditional gabarres) or by "tilholle" (rudimentary
boat used to transport goods). This new district is soon joined by
another, named "San Espirit dau Cap do Punt" (Holy
Spirit-at-the-end-of-the-Bridge), on the other side of the Adour. The
prosperity of the city made envious people among its neighbors and in
1130, the King of Aragon Alfonso I the Battler besieged it, without
success.
Another event will have important repercussions on the
city and even much beyond: in 1152, the Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine,
whose marriage with the King of France has been canceled, marries in
second marriage the Count of Anjou Henri Plantagenet. In 1154, when he
accedes to the throne of England, it is the whole of Aquitaine which
passes under English influence. The city derives great prosperity from
it. The port of Bayonne exports the products of the hinterland (wines,
resin, pastel) to the British Isles. The king-duke leaves to his
continental possessions a great autonomy in terms of governance and
taxation. A few years later, a revolt of the local barons, foremost
among them Arnaud Bertrand, Viscount of Bayonne, is put down by Richard
the Lionheart. As a reprisal, Bayonne is removed from the authority of
the Viscounts of Labourd. The administration is entrusted to a
"provost-mayor" (for the city itself) and a "bailiff" (for the suburbs).
In 1206, a new crisis broke out when King Alfonso VIII of Castile
came to lay siege to the city, which he claimed in the name of his wife
Eleanor of England. The population holds on and, as a reward, a communal
charter is granted to Bayonne by John without Land in 1215. The "city
body" is therefore composed of a "mayre" (mayor) and a hundred peers
(aldermen, councillors). In 1258, a terrible fire ravages the cathedral.
Funds were raised and a splendid building inspired by Champagne Gothic
was erected, almost incongruous in these southern lands.
Throughout the Hundred Years' War, jealous of its prerogatives and aware
of its interests, Bayonne remained faithful to the English king-dukes.
In 1451, while the Anglo-Aquitaine armies were suffering defeat after
defeat and the French were encamped at the gates of the city, it took
all the ingenuity of the bishop to resolve the situation by evoking a
"miracle": a cross and fleurs-de-lis would have appeared in the sky, a
"divine sign" in favor of the French (the fleurs-de-lis being the symbol
of the Capetian monarchy). The Bayonese then opened the gates of the
city wide to the armies of Dunois on August 20th. This new situation
does not go without causing gnashing of teeth. The King of France
returns to the privileges of the city and, somewhat suspicious, has a
new fortress erected in the Petit Bayonne district: the Château-Neuf.
Nature is in charge of creating new difficulties: the course of the
Adour, a capricious river, is changing and the port is gradually silting
up. Little by little, the business perishes. The solution found is
radical and in 1575, the engineer Louis de Foix begins major works
(dykes, canals) and "fixes" for good the mouth of the Adour. Prosperity
is returning. The sixteenth century also marks the introduction to
Bayonne, by Spanish and Portuguese Jews refugees in France, of a drink
called for a great future: chocolate, from the New World.
In the
seventeenth century, King Louis XIV consolidated the borders of his
kingdom and made Bayonne an impregnable stronghold. Vauban is in charge
of imagining a series of fortifications including ramparts, bastions,
ditches, half-moons, all crowned by a citadel camped on the heights of
Saint-Esprit. In the following century, the city experienced a new
golden age marked by trade with the colonies, cod or whale fishing and
the development of shipyards. The port exports Bordeaux wines and
imports grains and wool from the rest of Europe. A commercial stock
exchange was created in 1726. In 1792, the revolution separated
Saint-Esprit from the rest of Bayonne. The city is integrated into the
department of the Basses-Pyrénées, Saint-Esprit, erected as a commune,
in the department of Landes.
In 1808, it is in Bayonne that the
act of abdication of the King of Spain Charles IV takes place in favor
of Napoleon, prelude to a bloody war which will mark the beginning of
the end for the emperor. In 1814, Wellington's armies laid siege to the
citadel. Marshal Soult resisted, but finally capitulated on May 5. The
city returns to prosperity from the second half of the century, with the
arrival of the railway which, on the one hand, promotes commercial
exchanges, and, on the other hand, makes the Basque coast a renowned
holiday resort.
The twentieth century is marked by the German
occupation. It lasts until August 22, 1944. The day before, the German
troops took good care to blow up about twenty ships anchored in port. On
August 23, the representatives of the Provisional Government of the
French Republic take possession of the city, finally free after these
dark years. Peace has returned, the city is seeing the appearance of new
neighborhoods, resulting from the great campaigns of the 1960s and
1970s. Large bars of buildings designed to be "functional" make it
possible to accommodate many people. Residential areas are developing
and form a vast conurbation, and a continuous urban fabric with Anglet
and Biarritz. In 1975, Bayonne became a university town with the
creation of the IUT des Pays de l'Adour (component of the University of
Pau).
At the beginning of the XXI century, Bayonne became the
main urban area in the south of Aquitaine.
Bayonne benefits from an oceanic climate of the Aquitaine type,
with a microclimate due to the proximity of the Pyrenean foothills,
which favors a relatively large rainfall (average of 1,483 mm per
year compared to 845 mm in Arcachon, a city located a hundred
kilometers further north) but also a mild temperature all year
round. The summers are tempered by the sea breezes and the winters
are warmer than in the rest of the country (if not on the Côte
d'Azur and Corsica) by the "Foehn effect" and under the influence of
ocean currents. The sunshine remains quite important: almost 1900
hours per year.
These climatic characteristics explain the
development of lush vegetation and plants that normally flourish in
subtropical climates (palm trees) as well as the perpetually green
aspect that characterizes the French Basque Country, as opposed to
the Spanish Basque Country or the Pyrenees-Orientales, much more
arid. Some robust Mediterranean plants are also well represented,
despite the higher level of rainfall: pines, strawberry trees,
mimosas, eucalyptus and even cork oaks flourish there without
problems.
The wind is regular there, and sometimes takes on a
stormy character during the fall and winter. However, extreme
phenomena are very rare.