Once the defensive barrier that kept the city safe from attack, Bayonne's 17th-century fortifications are now covered in grass and enveloped in pretty parks. You can walk the stretches of the ramparts that rise above bd Rempart Lachepaillet and rue Tour de Sault.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
25.67 MILES
Though modern St-Jean has expanded considerably, during medieval times the entire town was enclosed by defensive ramparts guarding France's southwestern…
28.47 MILES
Fulfilling almost every idea of how a perfect city beach should be formed, Playa de la Concha (and its westerly extension, Playa de Ondarreta) is easily…
28.29 MILES
Fear for your life as huge sharks bear down behind glass panes, or gaze at otherworldly jellyfish. The highlights of a visit to the city's excellent…
27.41 MILES
Stretching 800m in front of Gros, from the Kursaal to Monte Ulía, 'Zurri', as it's known locally, has some excellent waves that draw surfers from near and…
11.61 MILES
The plain façade of France’s largest and finest Basque church conceals a splendid interior with a magnificent Baroque altarpiece. It was in front of this…
0.11 MILES
The twin towers of Bayonne's Gothic cathedral soar above the city. Construction began in the 13th century, and was completed in 1451. Above the north…
Musée Basque et de l'Histoire de Bayonne
0.28 MILES
If you're still getting to grips with the complex culture and history of the Basque region, this excellent ethnographic museum is a great place to start…
27.61 MILES
Designed by Rafael Moneo and opened in 1999, the Kursaal is one of the city's most striking buildings. Consisting of two cubes made of translucent glass…
Nearby Bayonne attractions
0.03 MILES
This pretty street was once home to the city's bayonet-making blacksmiths, but it's now reinvented itself as the artisan quarter. It's a lovely place to…
0.09 MILES
Monks and pilgrims would once have perambulated around the cathedral's peaceful 13th-century cloister. The entrance is on place Louis Pasteur.
0.11 MILES
The twin towers of Bayonne's Gothic cathedral soar above the city. Construction began in the 13th century, and was completed in 1451. Above the north…
4. Musée Basque et de l'Histoire de Bayonne
0.28 MILES
If you're still getting to grips with the complex culture and history of the Basque region, this excellent ethnographic museum is a great place to start…
0.38 MILES
Bayonne's venerable fine-arts museum is undergoing an extensive expansion, which will give it more spacious, modern galleries – veritably doubling its…
1.09 MILES
Visit this chocolate factory to sample and buy its chocolates (which are also available at a shop on rue Pont Neuf in central Bayonne). While here,…
3.14 MILES
North of Pointe St-Martin, the adrenaline-pumping surfing beaches of Anglet (the final 't' is pronounced) continue northwards for more than 4km. Take bus…
3.76 MILES
Climbing the 258 twisting steps inside the 73m-high Phare de Biarritz, the town’s 1834 lighthouse, rewards you with sweeping views of the Basque coast…