Basque Country: 6 villages and towns with exceptional heritage to visit

A major stop on the Way of St. James, this medieval fortified town , which has joined the club of the "most beautiful villages in France," reveals an exceptional architectural heritage. After passing through the Porte Saint-Jacques, listed by UNESCO, you must let yourself be carried along the narrow streets lined with characterful residences, which pilgrims continue to walk through. Overlooking the village, the citadel, built in the ^17th century on the site of the old medieval castle and improved by Vauban, offers an admirable view of the valleys of the Pays de Cize and the vineyards of Irouléguy . For gourmets, the weekly market (Mondays) and the local producers' market (Thursdays) are unmissable.

Getting lost in the streets of Bayonne

It's so good to stroll through the streets of Bayonne in the heart of summer. When the temperature rises, the historic center offers a nice alternative to the busy beaches on the coast, with its shaded alleys that you can walk up to admire the beautiful half-timbered facades painted red, blue or green. After visiting the Sainte-Marie Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a stroll through the small shops of Grand Bayonne and a trip to Les Halles, don't hesitate to enjoy a break on a terrace on the banks of the Nive. Before setting off to explore Petit Bayonne, then the typical working-class Saint-Esprit district, which has become the beating heart of cultural and artistic Bayonne .

According to the old proverb, "Saran Astia," in Sare, we take our time. Here, time passes delightfully as you stroll among the ^17th and ^18th- century residences, before enjoying a break in the shade of the plane trees. However, there is no shortage of activities in this village, ranked among "the most beautiful in France": delve into the Sare caves and its prehistoric past, visit the Etxola animal park, hike along the old smuggling trails on the mountainside, discover the daily life, culture, and traditions of the Basque people by visiting the Ortillopitz house. Not to mention the antique cogwheel train that leads to the summit of La Rhune and its spectacular panorama.

A stop in Bidarray, at the foot of Iparla

From the banks of the Nive, Bidarray, a former priory of Roncevaux Abbey, spirals up to the top of a hill, where the village square, the pediment, and the pink sandstone Romanesque church overlook the mountains. Beyond its captivating beauty, Bidarray is a popular starting point for hiking to the Iparla ridges, before enjoying a pastry at the Maison du Gâteau Basque. A land of legends, it is said that it was from the magnificent Noblia Bridge, an old 15th ^- century bridge spanning the Nive, that the devil threw himself after having tried in vain to learn Basque.

The capital of Soule is also the capital of the espadrille, the famous rope shoe that has punctuated village life since the ^19th century. Today, several manufacturers perpetuate this heritage. Mauléon was also a strategic location between Béarn and Navarre, as evidenced by the fortified castle overlooking the town. Built in 1122, it can now be visited through a scenography that traces the tumultuous history of the "strongest castle in Guyenne." Around the castle, the old town, with its Trinitarian church, its arcaded square and its old houses, makes for a pleasant stroll before exploring the Lower Town and its beautiful noble houses, such as the castle. d'Andurain and its remarkable Renaissance facade, open to visitors.

Step back in time at La Bastide-Clairence

Between the verdant ridges of the Pays d'Hasparren, La Bastide-Clairence is a perfect example of the typical architecture of the medieval bastides of the Southwest. Whether it is the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church, the Jewish cemetery witnessing the settlement in the ^17th century of Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition, the Trinquet Gartxot, where pelota has been bouncing since 1512, or the remarkable half-timbered houses mixing Labourdin and Lower Navarrese styles, history leaves its mark on every street corner of this village, ranked among the most beautiful in France. La Bastide-Clairence is also home to around fifteen craftspeople. An opportunity to discover rare trades: art glasswork, violin making, trimmings, featherwork, ceramics...