Culture and traditions in the Basque Country
What to do in the Basque Country when it rains?
Once you’ve booked your stay at our Pays Basque campsite, you’ll no doubt be looking for the best things to do in the surrounding area. With its oceanic climate, the region is often rainy, so here are the best things to do in the Basque Country when it rains:
- Spend a day at a museum: the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Basque Museum in Bayonne or the Musée de la Mer in Biarritz are must-sees when the weather is gloomy.
- Visit the caves of Isturitz, Sare or Oxocelhaya: true natural gems of the region, these caves are ideal on rainy days.
- Spend a day shopping in one of BAB’s two shopping malls, where you’ll find all kinds of stores and boutiques, sheltered from the rain.
- Visit Basque craft workshops: the Makhila workshop in Larressorre, where the famous Basque baton is made, or the espadrille workshop in Mauléon.
- Take part in an escape game: 3 escape game rooms are available on the Basque coast, so there’s no need for good weather to delight lovers of adventure and puzzles!
Basque dance
A must for Basque folklore and local culture
Basque dance, with its rhythmic steps, colorful traditional costumes and lively music, is sure to catch your attention.
Dances vary from region to region, and sometimes even from town to town!
The Basque force
This is a set of 16 sporting events inspired by the daily life of Basque craftsmen of yesteryear. Cutting tree trunks with an axe (Aizkolariak), tug-of-war (Soka Tira) and lifting stones weighing several hundred kilos (Harri altaxtzea) are among the most famous. Don’t miss the spectacle of these Basque games of strength during your stay in the South West.
The village fete
Basque tradition at the heart of the festival
Every Basque village celebrates at some time during the year. This is the time to rediscover a piece of the history and tradition of each of them, thanks to the various parades and other cultural events organized for the occasion. Of course, alcohol and soft drinks flow freely, and you can find the calendar of Basque village festivals here.
Sports activities
Below you’ll find a list of activities not far from our campsite. Brochures of these activities in the Pyrénées Atlantiques department are available from the campsite reception.
- Diving (2.5km)
- Canoeing/kayaking (5km)
- Aquagym (4km)
- Water sports (2.5km)
- Archery (6km)
- Horseback riding (4.5 km)
Here’s a list of various facilities close to our campsite.
- Tennis (4km)
- Mini-golf (4km)
- Golf course (4km)
- Discotheque (4km)
- Cinema (4 km)
Local activities
- Take the coastal path opposite the campsite, which runs along the coast to the center and the main beach of Saint Jean de Luz. You’ll discover magnificent panoramic views.
- A 150-meter bus ride from the campsite takes you directly to Saint Jean de Luz town center, the port, the main beach and the nearest supermarket.
- Buses 1 kilometer away to Bayonne, Biarritz, Hendaye, Bidart, Guétary & Urrugne.
- Visit San Sebastian. At Hendaye’s SNCF train station, you’ll find a little Spanish train called the “EUSKO TREN” which takes you straight to the old town, near the main beach, where you can sample the many Spanish “tapas” for which the town is famous.
- The “Marie Louise” boat takes you from Hendaye to Fontarabie, a small port village. The trip costs 1.90 euros per person and runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in low season and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. in high season (July 1 to September 15).
- We offer a wide range of sports and leisure activities with our “Aventure 64” guide (diving, horse riding, jet-skiing, surfing, paddle, parachuting, etc.).
- The Jai Alai, located 2 kilometers from the campsite, is a must for discovering the ” Cesta Punta “, one of the 15 most famous Basque pelota specialties.
- The Basque identity is also marked by local dances, and you’ll be able to take part in an initiation course.
- Gastronomy is one of the pillars of Basque traditions, with the famous Gâteau Basque, chocolate and macaroons for sweet dishes, as well as Axoa, line hake, sea bream, chipirons, ewe’s milk cheese and so much more…