Resort Description
Sites to see in the old part of Saint-Jean-de-Luz: Louis XIV’s house, the Infanta’s House, Church of Saint John the Baptist, the "Musée Grévin" waxworks, the Jean Vier Basque Tradition Eco-museum.
The surrounding area
The area around Saint-Jean-de-Luz contains many picturesque villages well worth visiting, such as Bidart with its "Chapelle de la Madeleine" (8.5 km), Guéthary and its Museum (6 km), Ciboure and Fort Socoa (1 km), Urrugne and the Urtubie Castle (6 km), Ahetze (10 km), Ascain and La Nivelle (7 km), La Rhune with its little train (10 km), Sare and its caves (20 km), Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle and its lake (13 km), Aïnhoa and La Chapelle (26 km), as well as the Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves.
The Basque coast : Biarritz, ideal for long, leisurely strolls along the seafront, the Imperial Chapel, the Church of St Martin, the Chocolate Museum, the History Museum, the Ocean Museum and its aquariums, etc.
Bayonne with its Vauban ramparts, the Gothic Cathedral, the Bonnat cloister and museum, Anglet with Lake Chiberta, Hendaye and the Abbadia estate (open for visits), etc...
In the Nive Valley: Cambo les Bains (Edmond Rostand Museum), Bidarray (pottoks nature reserve), Louhossoa (weaving studios). Further afield, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Bishop's Prison, pottery of the Navarre region).
Colourful and tasty culinary specialities: Bayonne, Hasparren and its Antton chocolates, Mauléon and Ossès (cheese and duck foie gras), Espelette (famous pepper), Sare and Villefranque for their cakes, jams and flans, the Irouleguy wine cellars in Saint Etienne-de-Baïgorry.
Spain within easy reach : Fuenterrabia, San Sebastian…
Sports and leisure
Water sports :
Several sailing and scuba diving schools at Ciboure, 2 km away.
Golf :
A number of 18-hole Golf Courses in the region:
Chantaco, La Nivelle (1 km away), Arcangues (15 km), Biarrtiz (17 km), Chiberta (21 km), Bassussary (21 km), Fuenterrabia (20 km), Souraïde (22 km), Hossegor (46 km), Seignosse (50 km), Moliets (72 km).
Tennis :
Luzien Tennis Club (2 km).
Pelota :
Public pelota court (200 m), Trinquet Maïtena (court) (300 m).
Surfing school :
1.5 km away
Squash : the Trinquet Bordacho Centre, 500 m away.
Resort Fêtes and events
May:
- Water sports fair: entered in the official list of national trade fairs in Hendaye,
- Basque pelota trophy at Cesta Punta in St-Jean-de-Luz.
- Festivals of 3 cultures (Calvi, Collioure, Ciboure): gathering of three French regional identities for a time of sharing and discovery at Ciboure.
- Andalou Festival: various entertainment, dance shows, concerts on the Andalousian theme in St-Jean-de-Luz.
- Dances from the seven Basque provinces in St-Jean-de-Luz.
June:
- International professional Cesta Punta competitions in St-Jean-de-Luz.
- San Martial: patronal festivals with attractions, concerts and parades in Irun.
July:
- Basque songs, confetti battles, toro de fuego in St-Jean-de-Luz.
- International professional Cesta Punta competitions in St-Jean de Luz.
- Recreation of the wedding of Louis XIV in St-Jean de Luz.
- Tuna Festival: a popular festival during which the pleasures of the table, music, dancing and the happiness of being with friends are combined in St-Jean-de-Luz.
- July Bullfights in Bayonne.
- Chipiron festival: shopkeepers, restaurant owners and associations take over the street at the beach to cook and have fun in Hendaye.
August: Basque festival: tradition and friendliness in the place of honour in Hendaye
August / September: Music on the Basque coast: world-renowned classical music festival held since 1960 in St-Jean-de-Luz.
September: The Pirates' Festival in St-Jean-de-Luz.
October:
- Golf Makilas: Basque Coast "Makilas Seniors" amateur golf competition.
- Festival of young film directors: presentation of a selection of 10 films made by young film directors to cinema professionals, the press and the general public in St-Jean-de-Luz