Bayonne, cultural capital of the Basque Country

Just 10 km from the campsite, Bayonne is a magnificent city of art and history that abounds in heritage treasures: ramparts, fortifications, Roman towers, medieval streets, Gothic cathedral, cellars....
To see this, head for the historic district of Grand Bayonne, behind the ramparts built by Vauban at the end of the 17th century. Among the historical monuments that can be discovered there, the Sainte-Marie cathedral and its 13th century cloister (considered the largest cathedral cloister in France) are the pride of the city of Bayonne. The complex has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1998. Continue the visit by going to the foot of the Château-Vieux, an imposing medieval fortress built in the 11th century on the remains of an old Roman castrum. On the way, you will take the time to admire the many colourful half-timbered houses that brighten the streets of old Bayonne.
If you are interested in religious heritage, you can visit the Saint-Esprit church on the other side of the Adour, the neo-Gothic Saint-André church or the Bayonne synagogue located in the heart of the Saint-Esprit district.
Other discoveries that will delight lovers of old stones: the remains of the Château de Marracq built in the 18th century by Marie-Anne de Neubourg or the Château-Neuf which dominates the Petit Bayonne on the right bank of the Nive. It was built in the 15th century by Charles VII and now houses an annex to the Basque Museum. Which brings us to the museums of Bayonne.
The Basque Museum is dedicated to craftsmanship, local traditions and the history of Bayonne. A must have! As for lovers of antiquity and 15th century Italian paintings, they will prefer the Bonnat-Helleu museum, which houses an important collection of fine arts.