📝 About the Author: Matthias
Medieval city walls that have grown over time since Roman times. A cathedral listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chocolate shops where time seems to stand still. In between, narrow rows of red and green houses, a river winding through the center, and bustling markets. This is Bayonne—one of the most beautiful cities in the French Basque Country and one that kept me there longer than I had planned. Here, I’ll show you all the things you can and should do there.
Of all the cities I visited in France, Bayonne surprised me the most in a positive way. I didn’t really have high expectations going in, but I ended up staying much longer than I’d planned. That’s because Bayonne has so many picturesque spots where you can discover all sorts of wonderful details and learn a lot about the history of the Basque Country. But there’s also no shortage of modern art in the form of street art and cool natural spots here. And the best part: You can easily explore everything on foot in just one day.
By the way, Bayonne is only about a 20-minute drive from Biarritz on the coast. Biarritz is also worth exploring. Find out what there is to do there here:
1. The Vauban City Walls
The first thing you’ll most likely see in Bayonne is the historic city wall.
The first city walls in Bayonne were built by the Romans, when the city was still a Roman castrum called Lapurdum. However, they were properly expanded by Vauban, who was sent to Bayonne by Louis XIV—aka the Sun King—and oversaw the most significant expansion of these city walls between 1680 and 1685.
From La Poterne in the west, you can stroll along Boulevard Lachepaillet to the Porte d’Espagne, taking in the most beautiful sections of the old city wall along the way.
2. Botanical Garden – Bayonne Botanical Garden
What I really loved about Bayonne was the small, free botanical garden nestled within the city walls. It’s designed in the Japanese style, with a pond full of fish and turtles, a red bridge, a footbridge, and a waterfall. What makes it special: The flowers are grouped by color or scent, not by species.
3. Sainte-Marie Cathedral in Bayonne with its cloister
Bayonne Cathedral was built on the ruins of an old Romanesque cathedral, which was destroyed by fire in 1258 and rebuilt in the Gothic style. The church did not acquire its famous towers until the 19th century. The cloister, built in the 13th and 14th centuries, is one of the largest in France. Since 1998, the cathedral has even been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Best of all: Admission to the cathedral and the cloister is free. However, they have separate entrances with different opening hours.
What I found fascinating in the cathedral were the crimson and green vaulted ceilings with their intricate decorations. I had never seen such intense colors and paintings anywhere else in France before. They are in the figurative style typical of the 14th century, but actually date from the 19th century. A few years ago, they were also completely restored, which is why the colors look so impressive.
4. Château-Vieux – Gaztelu Zaharra
This castle, located in the heart of Bayonne’s Old Town, was built on the ruins of a Roman castrum. Some of its towers still stand on Roman foundations. Under Vauban, it became part of the city’s fortifications. It has been a listed historic monument since 1931.
Unfortunately, the interior of the castle is not open to the public (except during the “Journées européennes du patrimoine” in September), but you can walk all the way around the outside and admire the impressive architecture.
5. The Nive River
The Nive is the river that flows through the center of Bayonne and is perfect for long walks. From both banks, you can admire the rows of narrow houses on the opposite side.
The Nive River divides the Old Town into two sections:
- Grand Bayonne: The historic center on the west bank of the Nive, home to most of the city’s attractions.
- Petit Bayonne: On the east bank of the Nive, with many bars and restaurants.
But you can also explore the Nive by kayak if you’re in the mood for some physical activity.
6. Bayonne Halls
If you happen to be in Bayonne on a Saturday morning, a visit to the covered market is a must. In addition to the roughly twenty shops inside “Les Halles,” there are about sixty more stalls offering vegetables, cheese, and fish, as well as food to eat right there. Best to do as the locals do: sit down, order a beer or a coffee along with a few oysters, and enjoy the atmosphere!
In addition to Saturdays, the market is open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (until 2:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays).
7. Basque Museum
At the Basque Museum, you can learn all about the history, language, architecture, and culture of the Basque Country, as well as the role Bayonne played in it.
However, all the information panels in the museum are only in Spanish, French, and Basque. If you speak any of those languages, that’s great; otherwise, you should use tools like Google Translate or something similar. The staff at the entrance do, however, offer an information booklet in English and German that provides more detailed descriptions of some of the exhibits.
8. Trinquet Saint-André – France’s oldest tennis court
This tennis court is no ordinary tennis court; it is a historic venue for the traditional Basque ball game known as Pelota Basca. The building dates back as far as the early 17th century.
If you visit the Basque Museum, you’ll learn a lot about this sport, but of course it’s even better to watch it live. There’s also a Basque restaurant inside the complex.
🎾 Strictly speaking, the Trinquet Saint-André is a jeu de paume court—the precursor to modern tennis. It is considered the oldest of its kind in France and was first mentioned in historical records in the 16th century.
9. Musée Bonnat-Helleu
The Bonnat-Helleu Museum displays collections of paintings, sculptures, objets d’art, and drawings. The centerpiece of the museum is the Print Room. It contains over 3,500 drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, Poussin, and Watteau.
It is worth noting that there is a connection between this museum and the Louvre in Paris, which is why many works from the Louvre are also housed here.
10. Bayonne’s Chocolate Shops
As you stroll through the narrow streets of Bayonne, you’re sure to notice all the chocolate shop signs. After all, Bayonne is the historic capital of chocolate. At the end of the 15th century, when Jews were expelled from Portugal and Spain, many of them settled in Bayonne, bringing with them their expertise in cocoa roasting and chocolate making.
In the mid-19th century, Bayonne had a total of 34 chocolate makers—more than in Switzerland. Today, there aren’t quite as many, but there are still quite a few. The best-known chocolate shops in the heart of Bayonne are:
- Chocolatier Pariès: Bayonne’s last family-run chocolate shop, in its fifth generation since 1895
- Chocolat Cazenave: Hot chocolate mousse in Limoges porcelain, served with whipped cream and buttered toast
- Chocolaterie Pascal: Award-winning ganaches and pralines
- Atelier du Chocolat: Creator of the “Bouquet de Chocolat”: Chocolate leaves arranged like a bouquet of flowers
- Monsieur Txokola: You can watch the entire production process live through glass windows—free of charge
- Xokola Etxetera Chocolaterie: A small family-run chocolaterie located in a 15th-century half-timbered house
In late May/early June, Bayonne also hosts a chocolate festival organized by the city’s own Chocolate Academy.
11. Saint-André Church
The Église Saint-André is another historic church in Bayonne. However, it was not built until between 1856 and 1869. From the outside, the church bears a slight resemblance to Notre-Dame in Paris.
12. Château Neuf – Gaztelu Berria
If you walk straight through Petit Bayonne, you’ll arrive at Château Neuf on the other side. It’s less well-known than Château-Vieux, but no less impressive. It was built in 1451 at the end of the Hundred Years’ War, when France recaptured Bayonne from the English. It was built on the ruins of the English fortifications.
Château Neuf is not open to the public, but you can admire it from the outside. Parts of the château belong to the university.
13. Street Art in Bayonne
Did you know that Bayonne is one of the world’s leading cities for street art? Since 2017, the “Points de Vue” festival has been held here every October. During the festival, the historic city transforms into an open-air gallery featuring numerous murals by international artists, particularly in the Petit Bayonne and Saint-Esprit neighborhoods and on Rue Sainte-Catherine, where the Kaxu Gallery is also located.
But there’s always new graffiti to discover in other parts of the city as well. Another well-known figure is the graffiti artist C215, who has decorated several mailboxes in Bayonne with stencil art: anonymous figures, famous personalities, animals—and there’s even a gremlin! It’s best to take some time to stroll through the city’s alleys and keep an eye out for the building walls and details.
Hotel recommendations for Bayonne
If you’d like to stay overnight in Bayonne, your best bet is to find a hotel right in the Old Town. The Hôtel Villa KOEGUI Bayonne is one of the highest-rated hotels in the city and is located in Petit Bayonne, right next to the Musée Bonnat-Helleu.
Another great hotel is the historic Hôtel Mercure Bayonne Centre Le Grand Hotel, located right in the heart of the old town.
As you can see, it’s definitely worth taking a trip to the capital of the French Basque Country. Have you ever been to Bayonne yourself? Which Bayonne attractions are still missing from the list? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Tools & services I recommend for your trip:*
📶 Flexible and affordable mobile Internet worldwide
🚁 My drone for aerial photography
🚗 Find and compare cheap rental cars
🎟 Find and book cool activities
🔒 Secure Internet connection with NordVPN
*Note: These links are affiliate links. If you book through them, I will receive a small commission without it being more expensive for you. A purchase from you via these links helps me to continue offering free content without annoying ads on this website. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it!
Leave a Reply