" Zu Trotters" in the Basque country

You heard about the Basque country and you never been there,

Plan for a week-end in the cost or in the inside of Basque Country.

Please , click HERE for some informations, THERE for images...

First stage :

Use plane, train, eurostar, bus or car and land, why not to Biarritz (one speaks so about it !).

You should book a room at the déco art hotel Maitagaria, next to the public garden, at your arrival, have a turn in the beach, and please , be allowed impress by the constructions in the varied styles.

You are not too much confused ? Be patient, Biarritz is not the most typical city of the Basque country, but that fashionably... And some sights stay the most beautiful of the coast. Pleas, surrender up to the Cliff of the Virgo by the iron and wooden bridge, open view and smell drafts of iodine : the sea faces you, mountains are behind you, to the right the coast from the Landes, and to the left Spain. Enough " Zu " not ? Attention in the unexpected showers of sea water which compete with the famous thalassotherapy centres of the city.

A viewpoint indicator, next to the Museum of the Sea (to visit if you like fishes), will reorientate you....

You want to see more typically Basque and labourdin ? Direction St Jean de Luz.

Louis XIV married there Marie - Thérèse of Spain in 1660 (visit the house Louis XIV, you will know about it more on the subject). Please , do not pass to St Jean de Luz without a look in the church, she it impresses even the autochthons. Just try to park without losing patience (not evident).

Most high mountain of the place, 905 meters leave the port and do not walk on fishing nets, wink in Rhune which will not leave you of the stay. Walk for shopping, on Gambetta street (parallel to the beach) there are still there some former and famous shops for their patisseries (macaroons Adam, mouchous from Pariès), their shoes or their bags and belts studed (Laffargue shop). To part that, one finds there of everything at all the prices .Arrived at the pedestrians passage, turn to the left, direction the beach, by the Boulevard Thiers, rise on the hill of Holy Beard and take another good draft of air sight.

The strong you perceive on the other side of the bay is that of Socoa. Clear yourselves a road along the pier (opposite, Ciboure's houses, notably that where was born Maurice Ravel.)

Come down again in city by the street of the Republic Street where waits for you the oldest house of the city. It is in this street that you can satisfy hunger, it collects restaurants, that does not mean that there is not it of checks somewhere else. You could take also the aperitif in Majestic, in Louis XIV Place, where ignite regularly the toros of fuego, the Basque dancers and the musicians in any kind, beside the artists painters. One would almost imagine place of the Hillock to Montmartre.

To appreciate the architecture of the city without tiring you legs, option small train or sometimes carriage. To you to choose. Ê

Among Guéthary and St Jean de Luz, you will have visited the Museum of Man and the Environment of the Basque Tradition. You will be henceforth unbeatable on the weaving mill of the linen, the secrets of Izarra licor, the manufacture of gourds, rope-soled sandals and berets, the history of makilas, the professions by the Basque ball ...

Near of St Jean de Luz, charming Ascain's village waits for you, please, visit the church in the square tower ( 1626 ), typically Basque, the three rows of wooden galleries were formerly reserved for the men. Ask why ? The place of the pediment, the city hall and the church are gathered(reunited), it is characteristic Basque villages, generally.

Walk around the village, it is beautiful everywhere... Even on the ground : a carpet of paving stones of Rhunemountain takes place under your feet. Small pleasure port, laundries in ancient, old water mills, said "Roman" bridge, colored houses, flowery gardens, will amaze you. The biggest are crossed by Ascain : Eugénie de Montijo, Churchill, Pierre Loti, Charlie Chaplin, Mistinguett, Jeanne Hugo (the granddaughter of Victor Hugo), Théodore Romanoff died there, Ernest Fourneau is buried there.

An envy for gastronomic kitchen in a frame of greenery ? The Hunters Restaurant adjoins the church, do not hesitate one second.

One can not pass by Ascain without going to St Ignace's collar : the small train with trammel of wooden Rhune takes care to make you discover an extraordinary panorama (savage towards the valley of Bidassoa, more tamed towards the Atlantic coast) on the side of the mountain, pottoks (small trapus horses of Basque race) kills the time, birds of prey watch.

A break in them blowed of the summit and you leave for another tour towards Sare. The place of the village is impressive thanks to its gigantic pediment. Very nice Basque linen blows to on, exactly near the pediment. Settle down in a terrace and sample a Basque cake. Ask for that with jam !!!, even if one is allowed tempt by the cream one, less authentic.

Visit then Sare's Prehistoric Caves where is given a spectacle sound and light. Iif you are tempted by the foreigner, just a step from there, it is Spain, or rather South Basque Country, you penetrate there by luxuriant forests.

At some minutes of Sare, Ainhoa, classified among the most beautiful villages of France, is built according to a simple plan, it is a village - street, provided with magnificent Basque houses with half-timberings of the XVII-th and of the XVIII-th century. (Some tilt but both well seem to support themselves...)

Arrived at the summit of the Rhune Mountain, you will still enjoy an unforgettable panorama. Take out your camera and switch off your mobile phone ...

In Bastide-Clairence, near Hasparren, the artisans of art reveal in their workshops their creations, within the framework of ¹ an oblong place with arches which is worth too the bend. You will like.

If you managed to visit everything during the day, on returning to Biarritz, you deserve a good dinner. Please , do not there stay in a classic brewery, ask that one indicates you the Old Port : Small restoring of fishermen serve there very fresh fishes or propose authentic food. Good evening. You still want more ? You are right, one continues towards another province : Low Navarre. St Jean-Pied of Port), capital of Bass - Navarre, is a tourist quality pole, the old district, a way to go to Compostelle, the popular old wall. Some purchases street of Spain, a passage obliged on the bridge which steps over Nive (the trouts have there their headquarters), pursue the stroll by a visit of the prison of the bishops and in the summit, the Citadel.

In the patisserie Millox, you will taste if good seem to you their gritted delicious... At noon, please try the restaurant of Pyrenees.

If you want to smell a flavor involved by smell of forest, mushroom and stone, the sources of Nive to Esterencuby will enjoy you. Follow the trouts. St Etienne de Baigorry, surrounded with Irouleguy Road , has just acquired a new organ the beautiful baroque, in the perfect tones, in the church, very-sure. Visit also Etchauz Castle, completely renewed by the current owner who raised it from the ruin. He will explain to you everything on armors and weapons exposed in the cellar and will speak to you about Charlie Chaplin. The Valley of Aldudes, for those that like the big spaces, is the ideal place, is drawn up to it "palombières", one makes there lovingly the delicious regional products, of Pierre Oteiza presented on Be "zu" du Monde.

Over your head magnificent birds of prey will fly certainly. Between Bass - Navarre and Haute - Soule, the vastest forest of beeches and spruces of Europe waits for you, it is Iraty. Four peaks raise draw up themselves at more than 1 000 metres in height. In your walkers' dresses ! If you meet crowds of sheeps, you will see one of it in the lot which is black.

Not enough yet ? Soule opens you its doors. To Mauléon, the capital of Soule. Visit the high district of the feudal castle surrounded with medieval ramparts, you dominate the city, the former centre of the Basque sandal, please , buy there a pair. It is in Soule that take place the pastoral in Basque language.

Friend " Zu ", the Basque Country filled you ? Please, return to it, we did not say everything ...

Written by " Zu " Corresponding to the Basque Country : Mam' Zu and Pascal Landart Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê