Bayonne, Historic port city in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Bayonne is a port city at the mouth of the Nive where it flows into the Adour in southwest France. The historic old town spreads across both riverbanks and includes narrow cobbled lanes with half-timbered houses and remnants of medieval fortifications.
Roman settlement remains formed the core of a new town from 950 onwards that grew as a port during English rule. After French conquest in 1451 royal engineers strengthened the fortifications and trade with the interior expanded.
Basque identity appears in the red-and-white timbered facades and wrought-iron balconies of the old town. On market days vendors often speak Basque or Gascon with regular customers and sell products from surrounding villages.
The old town is best explored on foot and the paths between the two riverbanks are short and often covered. Visitors should walk carefully in the narrow lanes of Petit Bayonne as cobblestones can become slippery when wet.
The ramparts contain several hidden passages that once served as emergency exits for besieged residents. Some of these tunnels now lie beneath houses and shops and can be accessed only during guided tours.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
