OFFICE DE TOURISME DE BAYONNE

Place des Basques

64100 Bayonne

Tel : 0820 42 64 64

www.bayonne-tourisme.com

ACTIVITIES OF THE SHOPKEEPERS

THE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

Energising, nourishing,

stimulating, satisfying…

These are some of the many virtues you receive from chocolate. This heavenly food is celebrated in Bayonne for two days every year at the beginning of May.

During these two days you can:

•  Discover the art of making  chocolate directly from the many talented Bayonnais chocolate makers.
• There are visits to workshops where you can learn all about the stages of chocolate production, followed by a tasting!
• There are also music events and small parades held during the day, where you can experience traditional music.
• There are demonstrations where you get the chance to watch sculptures being created out of chocolate right in front of your eyes.

• Events are held in various locations throughout the town (e.g. The Basque Museum), giving you the opportunity to explore Bayonne.

            Demonstration                        Free samples                       Amazing Sculpture

THE BAYONNE HAM FAIR

Bayonne is famous for producing high quality ham. Each year it holds a ham fair. This has been a tradition since 1462.

The fair hosts 22 expert pork butchers from the region. You can find them in the Halles area along with 29 other gastronomy exhibitors.

The contest for the best ham.

The judges, who are four local butchers meet to examine and grade the hundreds of hams presented. The best hams are marked with the Basque cross. The best three are awarded prizes.

• While wandering around you will see and have the chance to taste many local delicacies.
• You also have the opportunity to enjoy a cooking lesson with a Basque chef to discover new receipes using the famous "jambon de Bayonne" (ham of Bayonne).  

There are a number of activities held over the four days, including: Tasting and sale of ham, musical entertainment, pelote tournament, competition for the best ham, boat race on the river Nive, cooking lessons.

THE JUMBLE SALE OF ST. ESPRIT

Every year the union of commerce and the artisans of Bayonne organise a jumble sale.

This unmissable event takes place in the surroundings of the friendly community of St. Esprit. When this day arrives the people of Bayonne do a big Spring clean of their homes and bring their unwanted clutter to the market.

Location:                       St. Esprit

Date:                             April

Number of exhibitors:  More than 100

Time:                             8a.m - 7p.m

THE EXTRAORDINARY SUMMER AND WINTER CLEARANCE SALES

Over 200 shops participate in the Summer and Winter clearance sales.  

There are over 300 exhibitors in the summer sale. There is lots and lots to see and to do, you could spend hours wandering from stall to stall finding great bargains or you could go and explore the regional products fair.

The regional products fair

Get a greater insight into the Basque culture. Come and sample local products at the regional products fair.

 Products Include: Basque farm products

             Chocolate

                Cured meat

                   Basque cider 

        Spices

                     Art&craft items

THE WEDDING EXHIBITION

The wedding exhibition is organised by the Office of Commerce of Bayonne. It brings together 54 exhibitors representing each domain of activity concerning the organisation of a wedding.

Suceeding to have the best day of your life is not just about having a beautiful dress or a handsome suit. You have to choose a suitable location, a tasteful menu, a reliable photographer etc.

In 2008 no fewer than 54 exhibitors presented

• wedding dresses, suits
• jewellery, flowers
• hotels, function rooms,   
• honeymoon destinations,

There are a dozen parades every half hour highlighting the new collections of the year.

There are raffles held, where the engaged couples have the chance to win great prizes that will  make their big day even more special.

Location:          Maison des Associations

Entrance fee:   4.50€

Other activities

• The cabaret la Luna Négra scheduled a play last year with the theme of marriage

• The cinema, the CGR Bayonne also celebrated the theme marriage by showing re-runs of classic films such as: "Lend me your hand" "Weddings" and "The Greek Wedding"

THE CHRISTMAS MARKET

Discover the magic of Christmas in the warm and friendly festive ambiance of the Christmas village. This year there is something for everyone! Enjoy a tour of Bayonne in a horse drawn carraige, you will be amazed by the out standing decoration and light display.

The ideal gift awaits you or a loved one, with over 70 wooden cabins to explore.

Items include: jewellery, decorations, games, toys, candy and gastronomy.

                                                                Santa's Cabin

Make all your Christmas wishes come true by visiting Santa Claus in his cabin to deliver that very important letter. Entertainment, performances and surprises await the children in the streets and in the Christmas village.

The treasure hunt: The children have to travel around the village, with the help of a map, searching for the cabins of Santa's elves. If you can answer all their questions Santa will award you with a treat when you get back.

You will also find a merry-go-round, a bouncy castle and lots more festive entertainment in the Christmas village.                                 

                                                           The Ark

Come and can see the smallest animals in the world in the Christmas ark. They come from a natural crossing without any genetic manipulation.

The animals include horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens.

They are the work of an animal lover who has suceeded to create these animals into minature portions in just 20 years.

An exhibition explains their creation, their livestock and their way of life.

Christmas Fairytales

Embark on a journey to the land of dreams and imagination while listening to a Christmas fairytale. There are 10 stories told by professional storytellers in french, basque and gascon.

Spend a magic moment listening to these marvellous stories!

THE DISTRICTS

CATHEDRAL DISTRICT

• This area is situated in the Centre of old Bayonne which features the Saint-Marie Cathedral as its main attraction. There is an air of tranquility in this quarter with a number of quaint pretty streets such as Rue d’Espagne, Place Montaut, Place Pasteur, and Rue Pilori.

• They all have a wide range of shops, cafes and bakeries. On Rue d’Espagne there is a fantastic chocolate fabricant called Puyodebat whose products are all homemade and traditional. Just around the corner from this on Rue Pilori is Café Ramuntcho where one can relax and enjoy an excellent coffee

At Place Montaut which is just behind the cathedral there is a medieval market held during the summer and at Place Pasteur there is a Montmartre market featuring art exhibitions on the first Saturday of every month.

This part of Bayonne has managed to keep its heritage while staying modern at the same time thanks to shops such as Manhattan which offers a variety of trendy clothes.

This area offers you a piece of Bayonne’s history and also its modern dynamism.

THE CHATEAU VIEUX DISTRICT

• Located only a stone’s throw away from the Cathedral is the splendid Château Vieux district whose castle dates from the period of the hundred years war.
• The streets in this area contain some of the finest shops in Bayonne most notably on Rue Thiers which has a wonderful tree-lined avenue.
• Along Rue Thiers there is Galeries Lafayette which is perhaps the most well known department store in France.  Other shops which offer well known brands include Bijouterie Faur, Gentleman and Tendances Jonak.

Every year at PlaceJ.Portes which is just on the corner of Château Vieux the Office de Commerce set up a stall for the Foire au Jambon. This is a trade fair that is organised to promote Bayonne ham which has a proud and rich tradition.  

The Château Vieux District is easily accessible with a car park at Place des Basques where the tourist office can also be found. This part of Bayonne allows you to see some more of its fine architecture (Château Vieux) and visit its most prestigious shops.

LES HALLES

• Les Halles is located along the banks of the River Nive facing Petit Bayonne. It is the main marketplace in Bayonne. 
•  There is a large green building in the centre of Les Halles where the market is held. Fresh fish, meat, dairy products and local delicacies can all be bought here.
• This market is open from: 7a.m to 1 p.m between Monday and Thursday, from 7a.m to 1p.m on Friday mornings and from 3.30p.m to 7p.m on Friday afternoons and on Saturdays from 6am to 2pm.  

There is also an open air market that takes place every Saturday from 7am to 1pm at which a whole range of local products can be bought.

La Foire au Jambon takes place on an annual basis at les Halles over a period of three days in April.

For anyone visiting Bayonne at this time of year it is well worth going to see.   Apart from the markets there are a number of other splendid shops in this area.

There are also two pleasant bars in Les Halles, where a beverage of your choice can be enjoyed. A fine butcher called Chez Fernand can also be found in Les Halles.   There is no place better to visit in Bayonne for those looking for the region’s delicacies. 

PETIT BAYONNE

• Petit Bayonne is situated between two rivers, La Nive and l’Adour just before they converge. It is an area that has undergone much renovation.
• The two main streets in Petit Bayonne are rue Pannecau and rue des Cordeliers and feature many bars and restaurants giving people the chance to sample some of the local atmosphere.   
• Apart from restaurants and bars, there are other commercial outlets such as hairdressers, a beauty clinic, a printing shop and a butcher that offers Bayonne’s speciality Jambon de Bayonne. 

There are also a number of touristic sites well worth visiting such as Musée Basque, Musée Bonnat, église Saint André a pretty little church at the back of Petit Bayonne and Chateau Neuf which is also here. 

The area is easily accessible by car as there are no less than five car parks Sainte-Claire, Paul Bert, Mousserolles, allées Boufflers and Glain. The local bus service (la Navette) will also drop passengers off at rue Pannecau, Pont du Génie, at both museums, Sainte-Claire and at Glain.

THE PEDESTRIANISED AREA OF BAYONNE

• From Les Halles to the Mairie and from Rue Lormand to the Cathedral all of Bayonne is pedestrianised. All of the streets around here are narrow and full of shops brimming with life.   There is a great variety of shops located in this area ranging from small local shops to larger shops that sell national brands.

• For those looking for clothes shops that offer well known brands, there is LMV on rue Victor Hugo and Esprit on rue Lormand for women and a shop called Lamanda on Rue Orbe for men.  There are a number of fine jewellers in this part of Bayonne such as Brillaxis on rue Port Neuf and Artéon on rue Orbe. There is a very good shop that sells local paintings and photographs called Cadrimages on rue de la Salie.

There are many other shops worth visiting in this area.   The pedestrianised part of Bayonne is easily accessible by car with car parks located at Place Montaut and Les Halles. There are also a large number of parking spaces available on the quays by the River Nive.

 The local bus service (La Navette) also makes four stops around this part of Bayonne at the Mairie, pont Mayou, Chateau Vieux and at Les Halles.

LA POSTE

• Situated in one of Bayonne’s greenest areas between the Poterne botanic garden, the public park and Place des Basques is the Post office district.

• This area could be considered the administrative centre of Bayonne as the Post office, Tourist office and town hall with all its various services are located nearby.  A number of banks and insurance companies such as Société Générale, Axa and Gan Assurance can also be found in the centre of this district.

Rue Jules-Labat is the main commercial street in this area as shops such as Jordan which is the oldest fur shop in the southwest of France, Le P’tit Basque which is a local advertising newspaper and a very good photography shop called Shop Photo can be found here.  

This part of Bayonne is easily accessible as the district contains two car parks, one at Place des Basques and one at Paulmy, whilst the local bus service (la Navette) will drop passengers off at the beginning of rue Jules Labat. This area is within walking distance from some of Bayonne’s main attractions such as the Cathedral and Château Vieux.

SAINT-ESPRIT

• St Esprit is located across the river Adour from Grand Bayonne. It has all the characteristics of a village yet it is situated very near the heart of Bayonne.

•  The three main streets in St Esprit are la place de la Republique, rue Sainte Catherine and boulevard Alsace Lorraine. They all boast a large variety of shops. Every Friday at place de la Republique there is a market at which all the regions finest produce is available for sale. 

• On rue Sainte Catherine there is a very good computer shop called Micro Tropic that has most modern computer products in stock. On boulevard Alsace Lorraine there is a very good butcher called Charcuterie Aubard that offers a wide selection of meats including local specialities. The train station is also located at St Esprit to the left of place de la Republique.  The area is easily accessible by car as there are car parks situated at square Gambetta and parking de la Gare (train station). 

USEFUL INFORMATION

Car parks and the shuttle

7000 parking places and 4 free shutles.... it's that easy!

Bayonne is equipped with numerous car parks located in the proximity of the high-streets. Their large welcoming capacity of 7000 spaces gives you the ability to find a place with ease. A free shuttle service runs between the car parks and the town center.

Where to park your vehicle

It all depends on the duration of your stay, rates vary. Choose the most economical solution.

Near the shop streets you have:

• 5 free car parks (1285 places)
• 2200 places (of which 900 are free) are available along the roadside
• 13 paying car parks (including 4 covered ones) with 3309 places
• For motorbikes, specific areas are reserved in the covered car parks
• There are 4 set down areas for bikes, scooters and mopeds in the town center
• Remember the first half hour is free
• Covered car parks are beneficial for a long day (regressif tariff)
• 2 car parks have a set tariff of €1 per day (Boufflers alleys and Glacis)

The Shuttle

Its free, its quiet and best of all it reduces pollution.... The shuttle service runs throughout the year, from Mon-Sat 7.30a.m to 7.30p.m. It  passes close to all the car parks and can take you to the town center in a matter of minutes.

Line 1: serves all the car parks to the left of the river. From le parc de Glain in Petit Bayonne to la porte d'Espagne, passing by les Halles, l'Hotel de Ville and allées Paulmy.

Line 2: however is provided by the bus line STAB. It makes the link with St. Esprit and in paticular with the car park at train station.

Bicycles

There are special free areas reserved for bicycles in most the car parks. However a subsciption is proposed in covered car parks. 9€ per month or 25€ per quater. 

Free Bicycles in Bayonne

The Bicycles: 

There are 95 dutch style bicycles at your disposal, each one has 6 speeds, a comfortable saddle, a stand and a front basket.

The Places: 7 points of withdrawal

• 3 town car parks (Vauban, Lagare, Paulmy). Monday-Saturday  8a.m - 7p.m
• 2 places are even open on Sunday (Tour de Sault, Sainte Claire)
• The tourism office. Monday-Saturday 9a.m - 6p.m
• Maison des associations Monday-Saturday 9a.m - 6p.m

What to do: 

Leave a piece of identity (passport, drivers licence, car registration document) or a cheque for €150 with the agent on site and off you go!

Nice paths to take:

Since the beginning of the Bayonne Rowing Club there has been a towing track along the banks of the river Nive. Its runs from the town hall in Bayonne to Ustaritz. There is a bicycle path that goes all the way to the ocean front in Anglet.