Bayonne

Bayonne, the sub-prefecture of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département, is renowned for its famous Bayonne ham (jambon de Bayonne) and its chocolate. With its rich history, the town is justifiably proud of its designation as as "Town of Art and History".

The motto of this fascinating town is "Nunquam Polluta" (Never Sullied), a reference to the fact that Bayonne has successfully resisted no fewer than fourteen sieges. A town with an open outlook which is very much focused on the future, Bayonne is the region’s economic, administrative and cultural capital.  
The Bayonne Festival is an annual festival that starts on the first Wednesday of August and continues until the following Sunday.
 
Sights of interest :

 The Basque and History of Bayonne Museum
 The Bonnat Museum
 The old castle and the new castle
 Gothic cellars
 Sainte-Marie cathedral
 Cloister, Saint-André church, Saint-Esprit church
 Chocolate workshop and museum

Biarritz

Biarritz was originally a small whale-hunting port which over the centuries developed into a seaside resort famous the world over. It was at the beginning of the 19C that Biarritz gradually grew from a village to a small town. It was during this time that families from Madrid society chose Biarritz as their preferred holiday resort; notable visitors in 1838 included General Palafox, Count of Tebasn, his wife and their two daughters, Françoise and Eugénie, the latter returning to Biarritz as Empress with Napoleon III.
Napoleon III undertook a number of large projects, such as the construction of the port and the tunnel beneath the Atalaye rock,  and also began construction of the port’s sea wall. The Court then settled in Biarritz and was visited by royalty from all over Europe. Biarritz’s popularity with Queen Nathalie of Serbia, Russian Grand Dukes and King Alfonso XIII of Spain also contributed to the town’s status as an international beach resort. 
 
 
Sights of interest :

The Rock of the Virgin
The fishing port
The Museum of the Sea 
Asiatica, Oriental Art Museum
Biarritz History Museum 
Planète Chocolat
The Imperial Chapel
The Lighthouse
The Orthodox Church
 

Anglet

This town has a dual Basque and Gascon cultural heritage, with long beaches extending as far as the Chambre d'Amour cave, where the coastline gives way to impressive cliffs 30m-50m high and small beaches nestled in delightful creeks.

Explore the lively beaches of the Chambre d'Amour on foot or by bike, lined by kiosks and terraces as far as the quiet  Plage de La Barre. Admire the waves of the Atlantic and take in the sea views before enjoying a refreshing dip.
Relax in the shade of pine trees amid the aromatic scent of pine resin in the Chiberta district.
Green ways (voies vertes), cycle paths, hiking paths and fitness routes provide myriad opportunities in which to enjoy the fresh sea air at the heart of the Le Pignada and Le Lazaret forests, not forgetting the magnificent Parc Écologique d'Izadia.