History and architectural heritage

Because of its location on the Atlantic, Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s wealth was for a long time associated with the activities of its port, either from fishing or from the capture of vessels by its Basque corsaires (pirates).
The town’s prosperity reached its zenith in the 17th century, a period considered to be its  "golden age". At the time, Saint-Jean-de-Luz was the second largest town in the Labourd region, after Bayonne, with a population of 12,000.
  
In 1659, Cardinal Mazarin spent four months in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, from where he would embark on almost daily trips to the island of Bidassoa, also known as Pheasants’ Island (near modern-day Hendaye) for Franco-Spanish meetings that ultimately resulted in the Treaty of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, one clause of which was the marriage of Louis XIV to Maria-Teresa, the Infanta of Spain.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz and its church were chosen to host the royal wedding on 9 June 1660.
  
A number of impressive residences built in the 17th and 18th centuries along quai de l'Infante, rue Mazarin, rue Gambetta and in Place Louis XIV bear witness to the fortunes made by bourgeois families, shipowners and Basque merchants during this period.
Built alongside the quai de l'Infante around 1640, the "Maison Joanoenea" welcomed the Queen Mother, Anne of Austria, on 8 May 1660 and the Infanta of Spain on 7 June. Referred to from then on as the "Maison de l'Infante", it is one of the finest houses in the town.
The most impressive and famous buildings in Saint-Jean-de-Luz are the "Maison Joanoenea", the "Maison Lohobiaguenea" and the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall).   

A renowned French seaside resort since the end of the 19th century, Saint-Jean-de-Luz expanded firstly on reclaimed marshland and then to the north of the town. During the "inter-war period" its newest districts were embellished with hotels (such as the Grand Hôtel) and luxurious villas, most of which were built in neo-Basque style, thanks to the talents of respected architects of the time.

The precursor was William Marcel, who built the "Golf-Hôtel" prior to the outbreak of the First World War. This was followed in 1930 by the "La Pergola" casino, designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens.

The "Country-Club" in Chantaco, with its Hispanic-influenced Art Deco style and ochre red colour, is the work of Jean Walter. The Hôtel de Chantaco, also ochre in colour, was built by the Saint-Jean-de-Luz architect Maurice Darroquy, who was also responsible for the attractive "Haya", "Soro Handi" and "Gorena" villas, as well as the restoration of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s town hall in 1960.

André Pavlovski, another local architect, designed the "Zortziko" villa for the violinist Jacques Thibaud, the "San Firmin", "Santa Barbara" and "Los Escudos" villas, in addition to the motels in Sainte-Barbe for the rich Belgian industrialist Firmin Van Bree. He was also responsible for the construction of the town’s two lighthouses in 1936 and 1937.