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Commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Photo: Shaund at wts.wikivoyage-old, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Saint-Jean-de-Luz & Ciboure are small towns at the mouth of the River Nivelle, near the border with Spain. St Jean, the larger, is east of the river and straight in front of the railway station, while Ciboure is a village some 500 m west across the river bridge - for practical purposes they're a single community. Their chief attraction is their well preserved centres, with Basque-style houses. St Jean is also a beach resort.
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Church of St John the Baptist
Nondescript from the outside but a remarkable interior. High galleries reflect the Basque tradition that men and women had separate areas in church; a ship hangs from the ceiling. The great Baroque altar and retable in 1660 saw the wedding of Louis XIV of France and Maria Teresa of Spain.
Tourist info for the wider Basque region.
Le Petit Grill Basque
Authentic Basque specialties.
Great selection of beers.
3 star, white building with red shutters looking onto beach. Includes bar / restaurant Le Brouillarta.
By bus
The bus halt is by the railway station. About ten buses a day run west to Hendaye and east to Biarritz and Bayonne.
By train
St Jean is on the main line which runs north to Biarritz and Bayonne, thence to Bordeaux and Paris Montparnasse: the TGVs to Paris stop here.
The old town is pedestrianized. Parking is available nearby and further out from the old town; free parking is available near the train station. All parking fills quickly during the busy summer months.
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Hondarribia · Regional · EAS
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