tour de france pays basque

Itzulia Basque Challenge

Special edition, official jersey of itzulia basque challenge, images of itzulia 2022.

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Introducing the Grand Depart Guide to the Tour de France

Activities , Events , Travel

The Practical Guide to the Grand Départ Pays Basque 2023 has been created so that you can consult, in a single document, all the information that will enable you to organise your day-to-day life in the framework of the Grand Départ Pays Basque in the Basque Country. It is a downloadable guide that is constantly being updated and contains all the practical information you need.

It is a 'living' guide , which will be updated as new information on the different modes of transport is produced, more park-and-ride car parks are opened, etc., so it is very important to visit the official Grand Départ website and download the latest version available at all times.

In this way, in a unified format , the public has at its disposal all the information concerning the dates of the Grand Départ. Links to the platforms of all the public transport operators; programme of the main events ; maps and route maps for each stage; caravan parking; details of the start and finish of the stages; the most important conditions with information on the closing and opening of the route (Pike or Jaizkibel, among other places), scheduled events... The guide offers a global and practical vision of how the Tour de France will affect mobility and the options available.

In addition to all the information provided, it is essential to plan your journeys well in advance. The use of public transport is recommended, especially rail transport, as it will not be affected, as in the case of Euskotren or Metro Bilbao .

If you have to take the car, we recommend downloading the WAZE application, which provides real-time traffic information . This application is progressively loading the traffic conditions already programmed (road closures, for example) or the park-and-ride car parks that will be set up for those days. This application, aimed at private vehicles , makes it possible to load a journey and, based on the programmed conditions, suggest the departure time, route, etc. All these aids will always have to be combined with proper planning in time, not waiting until the last minute.

Safety in the race

From the passage of the advertising caravan to the transit of the last vehicle of the race, the route will be closed to traffic. To enjoy this spectacular parade of cheering and cyclists, the guide also provides a number of tips:

- Protect your children. - Don't risk anything for a photo. - Don't run alongside the cyclists. - Respect the cyclists' efforts. - Don't light flares on the road. - Keep your pets on a leash at all times. - Do not encroach on the road.

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2023 Tour de France to start in the Basque Country

Autonomous community in northern Spain to host three testing road stages

The 2023 Tour de France will start in the Basque Country, with the cycling-mad autonomous community in northern Spain hosting the Grand Départ stages before the race heads into neighbouring France.

Race organiser ASO confirmed the location of the Grand Départ at a special presentation event held at the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao on Wednesday. 

The 2022 Tour de France will start in Copenhagen, Denmark in July, with the Basque Country offering a second consecutive international start.   

Bilbao will be the central location for the 2023 Grand Départ after the city has invested significantly in culture, tourism and sport in recent years. 

The first stage will leave Bilbao on Saturday July 1, 2023 with two more stages through Basque territory before heading into France. The opening 185km road stage will visit the hilly coastline of the Bay of Biscay before returning to Bilbao for a late, steep climb of the Pike Bidea and the finish in the city centre.

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Stage 2 is over 210km from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Donastia San Sebastián, with the Jaizkibel climb close to the finish.

Stage 3 will start in Amorebieta-Etxano and is perhaps a chance for the sprinters, with 80km along the Basque Country coastline before a finish in France that will be revealed later in the year.

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The Tour de France last visited the Basque Country back in 2018 for a time trial on the French side of the Pyrenees. 

The Tour de France first visited the Basque Country in 1949 when Louis Caput won a stage to San Sebastián. The race returned in 1977 when José Nazaba won in Vitoria. 

In 1992, San Sebastián hosted the start of the Tour with a prologue time trial and road stage before the race headed to Pau in France on the third day. Miguel Indurain won the opening prologue wearing the yellow jersey after winning the 1991 Tour de France.

Basque cycling fans traditionally pack the mountain stages of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees, wearing orange T-shirts and waving the ikurrina flag.

"Cycling is a long-standing tradition in the Basque Country. Our goal is to host a flawless  Grand Départ  to make our lands an even more attractive destination. Our enthusiasm and commitment fill us with a sense of purpose as we prepare to welcome the 110th edition of the Tour de France," Inigo Urkullu Renteria, the president of the Basque Government said.

"July 2023 will be a momentous occasion for the Basque Country. Fans will turn out in force and pump up the festive atmosphere that Basque supporters are known for on the roads of the Tour de France. The colourful Basque tide that infuses legendary mountains with joy will sweep through our own climbs, coast, towns and villages."

The Basque Country government will spend a reported €12 million on the Grand Départ project, with €6 million reportedly going to ASO. 

A  Grand Départ  became a grand wish. Ever since the Tour de France hit the road in San Sebastián in summer 1992, the authorities and elected representatives of the Basque Country have longed to host the  Grande Boucle  again," race director Christian Prudhomme said. 

"This burning desire, combined with what the region brings to the table, could not be ignored, and this fervent courtship deserved to get a new taste of the three days of the  Grand Départ  after such a long wait.   We are therefore thrilled to return to these hospitable lands, which have continued to dispatch passionate orange armies to the Pyrenees and far beyond, flying the ikurrina on the roadsides to boost the morale of their riders.  Halfway between the sky and the sea, Biscay, Álava and Gipuzkoa, the three provinces that make up the autonomous community, are fertile ground for spectacular cycling."

💪The Tour de France will take in these towns and cities in the Basque Country as part of the Grand Départ 2023!💪 Le Tour de France commencera dans ces villes du Pays Basque et constituera le Grand Départ 2023.#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/f49x5aXSrW January 26, 2022

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Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters , Shift Active Media , and CyclingWeekly , among other publications.

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Tour du Pays basque 2023 : parcours, profils, équipes... une répétition générale avant le Tour de France

• Stéphane Garcia
• France Bleu Pays Basque

Le grand départ du Tour du Pays basque cycliste sera donné ce lundi 3 avril de Vitoria-Gasteiz pour en terminer samedi 8 à Eibar. Les coureurs engagés vont parcourir quelque 992,5 kilomètres et disputer 6 étapes. Parcours, profils équipes... tout savoir de cette 62e édition de l'Itzulia.

Les routes du Pays basque sud vont, pour les six prochains jours, se transformer en théâtre d'émotions intenses. Ce lundi 3 avril marque le départ la 62e édition du Tour du Pays basque . L'épreuve cycliste s'élance de Vitoria-Gasteiz. 992,5 km, que les coureurs devront parcourir en six étapes, pour rejoindre Eibar, dans l'une des courses considérée comme les plus difficiles du calendrier.

Pas de grosse ascension en montagne pour cette Itzulia , mais des étapes toutes très accidentées :  26 cols, trois de première catégorie , sept de deuxième catégorie et seize de troisième catégorie. Entre montées raides et descentes techniques. Tout cela, au milieu de la ferveur bien connue des supporteurs de cyclisme au Pays basque. Des milliers de personnes rassemblées le long des routes pour encourager les cyclistes et profiter de l’ambiance unique de l'épreuve.

Sur le plan des acteurs,  Daniel Martinez vainqueur en 2022 , conservera-t-il son titre ? Le cycliste d'Ineos Grenadiers aura fort à faire avec Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), vainqueur du dernier Tour de France, ou encore le champion olypique Richard Carapaz (Education - Easypost), les Basques Ion Izaguirre (Cofidis), Mikel Landa y Peio Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) ou le Français David Gaudu (Groupama-FDF). La liste complète des participants est à retrouver ci-dessous.

Le tracé de l'Itzulia 2023 a d'ailleurs connu des modifications dans deux des étapes . La troisième entre Errenteria et Amasa-Billabona, en Guipuscoa, et la cinquième entre Ekin – Amorebieta-Etxano, dans la banlieue de Durango, en Biscaye. "Pas de quoi bouleverser le profil des étapes" , précisent les organisateurs. Une édition un peu particulière du Tour du Pays basque, façon répétition générale, alors que le compte à rebours de 100 jours du Grand départ du Tour de France a été lancé il y a quelques jours à Bilbao.

Toutes les étapes de l'Itzulia 2023

Lundi 3 avril – Etape 1  : VITORIA-GASTEIZ > LABASTIDA (165.4 km)

Mardi 4 avril – Etape 2   : VIANA > LEITZA (193.8 km)

Mercredi 5 avril –   Etape 3  : ERRENTERIA > VILLABONA (153.9 km)

Jeudi 6 avril – Etape 4  : SANTURTZI > SANTURTZI (175.7 km)

Vendredi 7 avril –   Etape 5  : AMOREBIETA > AMOREBIETA (165.9 km)

Samedi 8 avril – E tape 6  : EIBAR > EIBAR (137.8 km)

Les engagés

Retrouvez la liste détaillée des équipes et coureurs engagés, ICI .

Le palmarès de l'Itzulia

• 2022 : Daniel Martínez
• 2021 : Primož Roglič
• 2020 : Annulé
• 2019 : Ion Izagirre
• 2018 : Primož Roglič
• 2017 : Alejandro Valverde
• 2016 : Alberto Contador
• 2015 : Joaquim Rodríguez
• 2014 : Alberto Contador
• 2013 : Nairo Quintana

Pyrénées-Atlantiques : l'info en continu

Pyrénées-atlantiques : les plus consultés.

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Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France defence in doubt after Basque crash

• 2022 and 2023 winner fractures collarbone and scapula
• Twelve riders crash on fourth stage of Basque tour

The Tour de France champion, Jonas Vingegaard, was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone after a serious crash on stage four of the Itzulia Basque Country.

Vingegaard also suffered several broken ribs from the high-speed accident that also included Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic among a group of 12 affected riders. “It was a nasty crash, but fortunately he is stable and conscious. He remains in hospital as a precaution. Thank you for all your messages,” Vingegaard’s team Visma-Lease a Bike said in a statement.

Six riders went to hospital after the incident, including the Australian Jay Vine, who was diagnosed with a fractured cervical vertebra and two fractures in his thoracic spine. “Fortunately, there were no neurological problems and there are no other serious injuries or skull injuries,” Vine’s UAE Team Emirates said in a statement.

Evenepoel’s team Soudal-QuickStep revealed the Belgian must undergo surgery on a fractured collarbone and fractured scapula. Roglic was the least affected of the big-name trio involved and he headed for the team car having received medical attention. The incident took place when the peloton was descending around a tight right-hand bend with less than 40km of the stage to go, one riding sliding out of the road and on to the bank, sparking a chain reaction as more followed.

The race was then neutralised until the finish, with only the six riders who had been at the front being allowed to sprint for the finish to try to win the stage, victory eventually going to the underwhelmed South African Louis Meintjes, who admitted it was a hollow triumph.

“It’s a sad day. I wish all the guys who crashed all the best and wish them a fast recovery,” Mattias Skjelmose, who took the overall race lead from Roglic, said at the finish. “My mind is with the guys who crashed, and right now I am not thinking about the leader’s jersey.”

Vingegaard won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023 but with this year’s event starting on 29 June, doubt now hangs over his ability to defend his crown.

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• Basque Itinerary

how to Tour the French basque country in a week (or less)

Published 28 August 2020 by  Leyla Alyanak  — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion

One of my best friends lives in Southwest France and on my last visit, I took advantage to visit the region and followed this French Basque country itinerary.

Building a French Basque country itinerary can be confusing. After all, when we hear 'Basque Country', don't we usually think of Spain?

Not today. This article is about the 'other' Basque country, across the border: the French Basque country, or the Pays Basque France, without a doubt on my list of the  top 10 places to visit in France.

NOTE: Pages on this site may contain affiliate links, which bring in a small commission at no cost to you.

Who these itineraries are for 5 Perfect Itineraries of different lengths in the Basque Country

What you cannot afford to miss in every place

• Saint-Jean-de-Luz
• Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
• Valley of the Aldudes

True, the Basque country was once a more or less single entity, occupied in turn by the Romans, Vandals, Visigoths and Arabs...

But in 1512 the Basque country was split in two along the French-Spanish border, with three provinces allotted to the French side and four to Spain. For many years, the Basques in France and in Spain would fight for their independence, but as you can see today, those efforts did not succeed.

That said, the Basques remain a proud people, many of whom cringe when you call them French or Spanish (but welcome you with open arms nonetheless).

To make things easy for you, I've mapped out a  one-week tour  of the French Basque country (along with suggestions for shorter visits) and while I'm including all the major sites, I'll also include some of the more offbeat or unusual backstories and a few Basque legends, just to give you a real feel for this region. 

The Basque country of France is also a place filled with tradition, where old arts and handicrafts are still respected and nurtured. Here are 7 Basque products that are still made by hand .

This itinerary in the Basque country France is for...

Lovers of great food, mountains, beaches, cultural diversity, seashore, Art Deco, stunning views, art galleries, unchanged rural villages, offbeat sports and legends, Basque history and ancient traditions.

While this is a one-week French road trip itinerary, you can easily stretch it to fill two weeks by spending more time in places we're rushing through or by extending your trip to Spain just over the border. You can also tour the Basque country for as little as a weekend if that's all you can manage.

The best time to tour the basque country is June and September, without the crowds and the rain. But it's not the only time.

The shoulder season brings a little more risk of rain and a few additional tourists, but the benefits outweigh the risks, at least for me.

Last time I visited was in March, so anything can happen. It was sunny the entire week, with about half an hour of rain. That's not normal, but it goes to show you can never tell!

5 perfect itineraries for your France Basque country road trip

French Basque country map

France's Basque region — or Pays Basque, as it is known in French — has three provinces: Labourd (which is the gorgeous coastal area and vicinity), Basse-Navarre and Soule, both of which are in the spectacular Pyrénées mountain range.

The itineraries below focus on Labourd, with a bit of a push into the Basse-Navarre for the longer itineraries. Going further afield would require more time.

When planning a trip to Basque country, bear in mind that if you stick to the coast, you can do it all with public transportation. If you visit the interior, you'll need a car (and should definitely brush up on your French driving etiquette ).

What I propose below will already give you an in-depth  taste of urban architecture, gastronomy, natural beauty and mountain life, all in a short few days, ranging from a weekend to a week.

One week in France's Basque country

Day 1:  Bayonne (night in Bayonne) Day 2:  Drive to Biarritz with a quick stop in Anglet (night in Biarritz) Day 3:  Drive to St Jean-de-Luz with a side trip to Lartigue 1910, then to the Chateau d'Urtubie (spend the night) Day 4:  Visit the Basque interior: Ascain, La Rhune, Sare (spend the night) Day 5: Visit more of the interior: Ainhoa,  Espelette to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (spend the night) Day 6:  Spend the day in the Vallée des Aldudes (via St Etienne de Baigorry) and return to  Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (spend the night in the mountains or return Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port). Day 7:  Back to Bayonne via La Bastide-Clairence 

5 days in the Basque region of France

Day 1:  Bayonne (night in Bayonne) Day 2:  Drive to Biarritz with a quick stop in Anglet (night in Biarritz) Day 3:  Drive to St Jean-de-Luz with a side trip to Lartigue 1910, then to the Chateau d'Urtubie (spend the night) Day 4:  Visit the Basque interior: Ascain, La Rhune, Sare (spend the night) Day 5: Visit more of the interior: Ainhoa,  Espelette to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (spend the night)

4 days in France Basque country

Day 1:  Bayonne (night in Bayonne) Day 2:  Drive to Biarritz with a quick stop in Anglet (night in Biarritz) Day 3:  Drive to St Jean-de-Luz with a side trip to Lartigue 1910, then to the Chateau d'Urtubie (spend the night) Day 4:  Visit the Basque interior: Ascain, Ainhoa, La Rhune, Sare, Espelette

3 days in the French Basque region

Day 1: Biarritz with a quick stop in Anglet  Day 2:  St Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye  Day 3: the Basque interior: Ascain, Ainhoa, La Rhune, Sare, Espelette

A weekend in Basque country of France - the French Basque coast

Day 1: Biarritz Day 2: Saint-Jean-de-Luz

FRENCH PAYS BASQUE COUNTRY TOURS

➽   French Basque coast tour from San Sebastian

➽   Full-day tour of France Basque country starting in Bordeaux

➽  Private full-day tour of the highlights of France's Basque region

➽  Private walking tour of Bayonne

Highlights of the French Basque country

 bayonne - for foodies and lovers of all things basque.

Bayonne is the capital of this part of the Basque country and the perfect jumping off point for both for the coast and the interior. Basically this is the gateway to the Basque lands.

You'll find plenty to do here, whether you're looking for serious church architecture (Ste Marie Cathedral) or simply want to sit in a café or walk around the Port-Neuf pedestrian area.

But there are some things you MUST do in Bayonne...

READ MORE:   Things to Do in Bayonne, France

Unravel the complicated history of the French Basque people

This you can do by visiting the historical Basque Museum, where y ou'll learn at least the basics:

• that France has three of the seven Basque provinces (the other four are in Spain)
• that at the height of the Basque independence movement Spaniards escaped the authorities by slipping over the border into France
• that (like their Spanish counterparts) the Basque French have their own traditional language whose origins are unknown.

Understanding some of this background will set the foundations for your trip and give depth to the rest of your Basque tour.

The important stuff: Are you a chocolate lover?

I ask because you cannot come to Bayonne and ignore all of the chocolate, typical – along with Bayonne ham – of French Basque food.

Bayonne is where chocolate was first spotted in France, at a 17th-century wedding, no less, between Louis XIII and Anne of Austria (who was actually from Spain, despite her name).

It must have hit the spot because next thing you know, chocolate was being consumed at  Louis XIV's court  at Versailles.

Bayonne took the beverage to its heart and by the 18th century anyone who could afford it had a chocolatière, or chocolate-making machine. 

Today, this has translated into innumerable chocolate shops, my favourite being  Cazenave , with a hot chocolate to die for.

But don't leave it at that: visit the  Chocolate Museum  (it just happens to be inside a chocolate shop and manufacturer) and if you happen to be here the first weekend in November, there's a chocolate festival! 

READ MORE:   Build Your Own France Itinerary - A Step-by-Step Guide

 Anglet - beach time (and art!)

Anglet is the perfect seaside surf town, with its 11 beaches and it's cool pine forest for respite from the summer heat.

But that's not really why I've brought you here.

The reason you are here is to visit what is possibly the best little art gallery in France. Hidden in an industrial warehouse and not particularly well signposted,  Art Traffik  is the brainchild of Laurent Jeanniard, a former marketing guru turned into what he calls "art trafficker".

His vision is one of accessibility, a community gallery where everyone will feel at home (you get that the moment you walk in and are greeted like royalty, and walk past a large bar that looks like someone's living room). Art galleries can be snobbish places, where you may get "the sideways glance" if you happen to have left your Dior purse or Hermes scarf  at home.

Not here. Here, what counts is the art. 

It's affordable, it's modern, and Laurent has so many innovative ideas — a buy-back plan, for example — you just want to curl up into one of the sofas with a cup of coffee and listen. 

 Biarritz, for that sharp intake of breath

Biarritz may at times compete with Bayonne for the Basque limelight, but the two cities couldn't be more different.

Biarritz happens to be Europe's surfing capital, and was put on the map by Empress Eugénie, Napoleon III's wife, who loved it here and visited each summer. Of course everyone else followed the Empress, as one does, and so the city flourished.

Today's vibe is cosmopolitan – elderly ladies with pearl necklaces rub shoulders with barefoot surfer dudes. This is precisely the charm of this town.

You could just walk along the waterfront and gaze at the city's beauty. Or you could look more closely at the view from the lighthouse or explore  the Art Deco architecture, which towers everywhere.

The historical villas of Biarritz

What I love about Biarritz are the sumptuous villas, which you can only see from the outside, I'm afraid.

The Tourist Office has a villa tour, or you can start at what is now the Hotel du Palais, where Empress Eugénie's summer residence stood before it was destroyed by fire (the hotel was built to resemble the former villa). Just keep walking westward along the Avenue de l'Impératrice, above the main beach, the Grande Plage.

You'll eventually reach the small fishing port of Port-Vieux, which was one Biarritz's main port until the city outgrew it.

Look out to sea, a bit to the right, and you'll spot the Virgin's Rock, joined to the mainland by a bridge built by Napoleon III. His was of wood and has since been upgraded to a metal walkway, which many believe was built by the Eiffel workshops. The truth on this is still not clear.

Now turn around and look towards land, to your left.

Welcome to the Villa Belza, a house bursting with legends and stories.

The stories date back to 1825 when Biarritz sold off the land, but it took until 1882 for someone to actually build on it: an unusual house with turrets and towers.

Villa Belza could be straight out of a fairy tale, which is maybe why witches and ghouls have long been associated with the place. Because it is so unusual, it has often been used as a movie set. Other incarnations include stints as a luxurious Russian restaurant, a cabaret, a condo... and twice, a stack of embers after fires broke out.

Still, it found a rich Parisian buyer and today, the villa is proudly renovated — and has become an expensive condominium.

You could stop your wander here and head back to town but if you keep walking, you'll end up at the Plage de la Côte des Basques, where surfing made its first appearance.

I'd time my walk (here or on any Biarritz beach) for sunset, because you'll get stunning views over the sea as the sun slowly slips away, followed by the city's lights which shimmer against the water for a fairy-like scene.

Pintxos, markets and lunch (food, food and food)

Pintxos are the Basque version of tapas. Take what would normally be a tapa, sit it on a thin diagonal slice of baguette and stick a toothpick through it, and you have a pintxo. That may be a bit simplistic, any Basque would hurry to tell you, because of course there are certain ingredients and combinations you'll only find here.

No matter. Just head for Les Halles, the city's covered market. You can buy what you need here for a beach picnic , but if you'd like to try some pintxos, stop off at one of the many restaurants that surround the square.

While the city has a strong French vibe, remember you're only a few minutes from Spain, the borders loosened not only by a common Basque culture but also by the EU. 

Book your accommodation in Biarritz

READ MORE:   Sensational Road Trips Across France

 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the perfect fishing village

Unlike the sophisticated Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz has retained the fishing village atmosphere it was clothed in centuries ago when it sent whaling boats to fish off the coast of Newfoundland. And while local fishing continues (albeit on a vastly smaller scale) that doesn't stop wealthy Parisians from rushing down here at the first hint of summer to soak up the magic. 

Just walk around and imbibe the charm of a town that combines beach, fishing village and history.  Enjoy the beach because the sea walls built by Napoleon III keep the waters calm. Wander over to Ciboure, its little neighbour on the other side of the port and if you're up to it, walk along the coast trail either towards Hendaye or Bidart, with beautiful views either way.

For your sweet tooth

You'll need to indulge in all that walking around because of the Basque sweets you'll have eaten. Trust me on this.

Head to Pariès on the rue Gambetta for the best  muxu,  their personal version of a macaron. It apparently resulted from an error; the pastry chef was trying to make a traditional macaron but added too much almond and not enough sugar... and because both of these were expensive and rare, he worked the dough until it rose and he could turn it into a biscuit. It looked like two mouths kissing and since  muxu  means kiss in Basque... There you have it.

They also make  kanouga,  a sweet which originated here ,  a sort of very more-ish fudge — be forewarned: if you buy a packet, it will be gone by the time you get down the street.

Now, if you haven't had your  gateau basque  yet, or basque cake, have it here because unlike most other shops, they have a chocolate version.

But I'd like to get back to the Basque macaron for a moment, because there is such a thing. It was created in 1660 by the Maison Adam (also on the rue Gambetta) in honour of Louis XIV's wedding. The recipe, by the way, hasn't changed, and what we bite into today is exactly what was served at that royal wedding.

A royal wedding

Speaking of Louis XIV, there is much in Saint-Jean-de-Luz to remind us of the Sun King.

First, right on the port, is the Maison de l'Infante, the house in which the Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain stayed before she married Louis XIV.

Then there is the House of Louis XIV, where he stayed for his marriage.

And finally, the site of the wedding itself on 9 June 1660: the church of St Jean Baptiste (within easy walking distance of both houses). Imagine charming little Saint-Jean-de-Luz, its streets crammed with dozens of festooned nobles from both sides of the family, with their horses and paraphernalia, heaving under the gifts they would surely give the newlyweds...

Lest you get lost in the romance of it all, do not be fooled. This wasn't exactly a love match.

On the contrary, it was a most political wedding, the culmination of 30 years of war between Spain and France. The wedding would seal the peace, as was often done in those days.

An armful of traditional handmade goods

The final thing to do in Saint-Jean-de-Luz is — and this may surprise you — to go shopping. Although this isn't an activity I normally highlight, Saint-Jean-de-Luz is without a doubt the best place to buy Basque traditional products , from espadrilles to berets to linens.

You'll find the range of Basque goods on the main Rue Gambetta, yet another opportunity to walk off those macarons or gateau or chocolate.

Perfectly unusual accommodation near Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Only a few kilometers from Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a lovely castle that has been in the same family for more than six centuries (of course it has been somewhat improved but much remains the same).

Plenty of famous people visited. General Wellington even dropped by during the Napoleonic Wars.

And you can too. Ideally, you can give in to your deep desire to live  like a king or queen and spend a night at the   Chateau d'Urtubie . It  just might make you feel a part of history.

But you don't have to spend the night: you can simply visit and enjoy the surroundings for a bit. 

Book your accommodation in Saint-Jean-de-Luz

 Sare, deep into the Basque heartland

While there is still plenty to visit along the coast (we can't do it all!) it's time to head into the interior. I propose you use Sare as your base: it is full of charm and within pitching distance of most other small villages you'll want to see in the region.

If you need a place to stay,  I spent the night at the absolutely delightful  Hotel Arraya , a family-run establishment which has been the backdrop for movies and has been in the family for generations. Don't miss dinner in their  glorious gastronomic restaurant...

(By the way, if you happen to be in Sare at the height of summer, head for the Sare Caves  to keep cool and to learn all about these underground grottoes.)

Sare, unsurprisingly, is pretty enough to officially make the list of the France's most beautiful villages .

Everyone plays Basque pelota

Across from the Arraya is a  fronton  playing field, which you'll find in pretty much any self-respecting Basque village (not to be confused with the town of Fronton north of Toulouse).

The fronton is used to play basque pelota, evolved from the  jeu de paume  (the ancestor of modern-day tennis). Watching a game, you'll be reminded of jai alai (I, on the other hand, was reminded of squash, the only game I know where you bounce a ball against a wall and wait for it to bounce back). 

Basque pelota is played (at high speed) against a single wall in France whereas in Spain there tend to be two walls. You might get lucky and catch a local game as you visit the Basque country but even if you don't, you're bound to see informal games after school, or on weekends, as kids play with one another or parents spar with friends. 

Tracking Sare's mysterious lintels

But there is plenty more to do in Sare    (pronounced s-ah-r) , beyond eating well and indulging in spectator sports.

While you're walking around Sare, look up a bit and search for lintels above house windows and doors. A lintel is something used over traditional windows and doors to carry the weight of the walls above (I still have a few on my own 19th century house).

Sare has an enormous collection of these unusual stones, more than 80, and they depict either the dates the houses were built or the names  and sometimes profession of its inhabitants.

Look for the one embedded in the town hall, or  mairie : it was presented by none other than Louis XIV.  Here's a list  of many of Sare's lintels. Originally, these stones were the equivalent of people's signatures, a way of tracing their ancestry.

The sacred mountain of La Rhune

La Rhune is covered in dolmens and neolithic stones and is considered sacred in Basque lore. It is also thought to be home of the sacred serpent  Lehensugea , and the legend goes something like this...

A shepherd falls in love with a girl but she wants to marry someone rich and powerful, so the shepherd decides to go looking for gold and silver. He drops by to see the devil, who tells him he'll have to set fire to the forest of the Rhune.

He sets the fire, releasing a seven-headed serpent who begins to spit out gold and silver. The shepherd runs to collect the metal but it is so hot it kills him... Apparently, the Rhune was for a long time devoid of any vegetation as a result of the fire.

The mountain became a popular excursion destination during Empress Eugénie's time in Biarritz. You too can either hike to the top or take the Petit Train de la Rhune , an original rack railway (one of three still operating in France) that dates back to 1924, and walk down (I consider this far more civilized than walking up).

You won't find these Basque ponies anywhere else

If the view from La Rhune isn't enough for you, then spotting some pottoks might be. The pottok is a semi-feral breed of endangered pony which has called the Basque region home for several thousand years. Today, a few thousand remain, the race diminished by crossbreeding and habitat destruction.

You might come across some pottoks while you're hiking (don't get too close — this isn't a petting zoo and they are fiercely independent) or passing by on the train.

Le gâteau basque (Basque cake)

This is undoubtedly the best-known dessert in the Basque country, and you will certainly have sampled it in Saint-Jean-de-Luz or Biarritz, or both.

While you're in Sare, you could drop by the  Musée du Gâteau basque and learn a bit more about it (and sample some more while you're at it). The museum showcases a private collection that traces the history of this delicacy.

The fun part is taking part in a workshop to learn how to actually make one of these (if you understand French — though they will organize English sessions if you're a group). Don't speak French? No problem. There's a shop where they sell their confectioneries. Just buy one and be done with it!

More beautiful Basque villages

If you're in the mood to drive (it's not far) you could take a little detour to two lovely Basque villages: Ainhoa (like Sare, on the list of the "most beautiful villages in France") and Ascain, both of which are within easy reach.

Book your accommodation in Sare

 Espelette, home of the hot stuff!

If you live in France, you've come across the inimitable piment d'espelette , that smoky mild chilli we love to add our food. It's not strong, like Asian or Mexican chillies, but it packs enough of a punch to be wonderfully tasty.

And it all comes from the village of Espelette, a cute little place that seems dedicated to promoting this one little red vegetable — you can't miss the strings of peppers drying in the sun, hanging from every house.

So when you visit here, of course you'll be discovering the chillies, and you can do that in a variety of ways:

• If you speak French you can learn all about them at the Information Center, which is a sort of museum
• Hop from shop to shop — many of them provide samples (the jam is to die for!)
• You can try local dishes in one of Espelette's restaurants
• Visit the Atelier du Piment for a peek at an actually working chilli farm.

The name espelette is protected by law; each year a handful of imitators end up in court for illegally trying to use the name...

And an anecdote...

It was 2014 when Luo Weixiao set out on his bicycle from a small village in Sichuan, China. He was en route for another small village, Espelette, a mere 15,000 km away.

Why? He wanted to pay his respects to Father Armand David, a missionary who first identified the giant Panda in 1869 and is hugely respected in China, where he lived for 12 years.

The priest, who was born in Espelette, was an accomplished zoologist: more than 70 plants are named after him, and he has catalogued hundreds of birds and mammals. Take advantage of your visit to the chateau (I talk about it below) to drop by the small arboretum, built by the village in his honour and planted with species originating only from China.

Château des Barons d'Ezpeleta (in France, it always comes down to a castle)

Did someone say chateau? Yes, a castle, one whose remains date back to the end of the Middle Ages. At some point it was destroyed by the villagers in an uprising against their overlord — and then rebuilt by these same villagers. It was donated to the village of Espelette by the Espeleta family... in 1694.

Today it is still in use as the town hall, the local library and exhibitions spaces. One of these is dedicated to Father David, he of panda fame, one to the piment d'espelette , and one to  Agnès Souret, the first-ever Miss France, who happens to be from here.

Book your accommodation in Espelette!

 St-Jean-Pied-de-Port: giving pilgrims a great start

For thousands each year, this has been the jumping off point for the Camino Francés, the St James's Way to Compostela. Pilgrims emerging from three different routes across France (Europe, actually) converge here before crossing the Pyrénées into Spain.

It is fascinating to simply sit and watch them walk by. For some it is the beginning of a journey, and for others not even the half-way point. They may be exhausted or energetic but they all have a glint of anticipation in their eyes, their faces open to adventure. As they clickety-clack down the cobblestones, their walking sticks hitting the hard surface and their backs bowed by lopsided packs, they are enjoying their last bit of urban comfort before heading up into the mountains as so many have done before them.

The mood is what makes this village special. 

But not only.

This village has long been a crossroads of some importance and the buildings are evidence of this.

The Citadel, of course (see below) but also the church of  Notre-Dame du Bout du Pont (Our Lady of the End of the Bridge), whose foundations date back to the 13th century and which many believe to be the greatest gothic building in France's basque country.

Given the village's location as a pilgrim's gateway, there is a... Porte Saint-Jacques, or St. James Gate, which leads pilgrims out of town towards their distant destination (the gate is protected by Unesco's World Heritage List).

Like Sare and Ainhoa, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is on the list of the most beautiful villages in France .

The Citadel (where we again meet Vauban)

The citadel was built on the foundations of an old fortress of the Kings of Navarre, on Mendiguren hill, which is why it is often called the Mendiguren Citadel.

The initial building,  the result of religious wars and the constant sparring between France and Spain,  dates back to the early 17th century. Within a few years it would be vastly "improved" by Vauban and his team.  The Marquis de Vauban, as we know, was  Louis XIV's extraordinary military architect. He added the citadel's outside defenses.

It eventually became a military garrison — this is where wars with Spain were fought from — until 100 years ago (it is now a school).

The street leading up to the citadel is itself a historical record of the town, with some houses dating back to the 15th century. Look up and you'll see quite a few lintels, as we saw in Sare, on the typical Basque houses.

And then stop off in one of the village's most mysterious buildings...

La Prison des Évêques (The Bishops' Prison), though no one knows why it is called that

The building's history is murky and has caused much local ink to flow.

What was it exactly: A warehouse? A prison?

We know from local archives that in 1795 it was most certainly a prison, and that in the early 19th century it would have been used to incarcerate soldiers from the nearby garrison when they misbehaved.

Its most unusual room is underground, down a few dark steps past the prison cells. The room is deep and humid, with a single source of light contributing to its mystery. On a few stones, you can still see the carved stamps left by the stonemasons of the Middle Ages, a sort of signature of their work. Near the entrance, in case you're not convinced of its original purpose, are heavy chains cemented into the wall.

Before it was a prison, however, it was probably a warehouse, possibly for wools and cloth from Spain, on the way to the rest of Europe

But why is it called the Bishops' Prison?

This probably dates back to the Great Western Schism of the Christian church that split the papacy in two between Rome and Avignon , but no one really knows how the name came about. Perhaps some warring bishops went a little too far...

Today, of course, it is a protected historical monument and a museum, which opens into a guard room and prison cells. Up the narrow stairs is a cavernous vaulted medieval room.

Book your accommodation in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

 Aldudes Valley - back to food!

Pushing further into the mountains is a delightful valley beyond which lies Spain.

One thing I did notice here is that the tourists who do make it to this valley are either French, or Basque, or Spanish. So if you're looking for English-speaking facilities, you'll have to rely on your phrasebook or a translation app. On the other hand, people here are friendly and welcoming so language shouldn't be an issue...  Most of the websites are in French too, but that's why you have Google Translate , right?

A day driving around the Valley of the Aldudes will be a gentle change, as you push into higher mountains from the hilly interior you've just left. You're now in an area so rural few tourists make it this far. And I fell in love with it. 

Here's how I would visit the area: start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port > Saint-Etienne de Baïgorry > Banca > Aldudes > Urepel. And then head back. You could  cross the border into Spain but the road gets narrower as you advance, so unless you plan to push forward and return to France a different way, I'd stop in Urepel. In any case you'll have plenty to do, most of it food-related. 

And if you're keen on hiking in the region (well worth it), here's a list of the best Aldudes Valley hikes  (in French).

Villages high up in the Aldudes Valley

Saint-Etienne de Baïgorry

This village is the gateway to the Valley of the Aldudes, a typical Basque village with a lovely main square, an interesting church, a Roman stone bridge and yes, a chateau. There are plenty of hikes that loop out from the church so if you're in a hiking mood...

Banca (or Banka)

You'll miss it if you close your eyes but the reason you're here is for the trout farm , which supplies many of France's best restaurants. Banca is also a nice place to stop for lunch (and you may be getting hungry by now, especially if you've already been hiking).

This village, which stretches along the Nive River, is equally tiny but you're here for a quick stop to sample Pierre Oteiza's regional products . You've probably seen his shops throughout the Basque country. Oteiza is famous for Basque kintoa pork — and for helping save it.

In the 1980s, the kintoa pig had all but disappeared until a group of local farmers and entrepreneurs, Oteiza included, made a conscious decision to save it. Today, the race is healthy and the kintoa 'appellation', or name, is protected by law. It also happens to be delicious.

The village is another great jumping off point for local hikes but of at least equal interest is the cheese-making factory, the Fromagerie d'Urepel , which still produces traditional  raw sheep's milk cheeses, which you can taste if you visit the Fromagerie.

Wherever you go in this unique land, you'll be fascinated, delighted or both, whether for a week or for a weekend. You'll eat great food, bask in gorgeous landscape, and learn about a unique history and legends you probably didn't know about.

One thing you won't be feeling again is confusion about whether the Basque country is in Spain or France – it is in both.

Did you enjoy this article? I'd love if you shared it!

Bonjour! I’m Leyla - I was born in Paris and now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France between Lyon and Annecy. My days are spent exploring my country. 

I'm rediscovering my own back yard after years of living abroad as a journalist and diplomat - and I'm loving every minute.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, along with plenty of food stops and many castles – I am French, after all!

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Vingegaard breaks collarbone and several ribs in crash at race in Spain. Evenepoel also injured

Jonas Hansen Vingegaard - Team Visma - Lease A Bike, the winner of the race, celebrates on the podium with the Trident Trophy after the 59th Tirreno - Adriatico 2024, Stage from San Benedetto del Tronto to San Benedetto del Tronto, Sunday, March 10, 2024 in San Benedetto del Tronto, Tuscany, Italy. (FGianmattia D’Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

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MADRID (AP) — Two-time defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard broke his collarbone and several ribs Thursday in a crash at the Tour of Basque Country that also caught up Olympic gold medalist Primoz Roglič and Remco Evenepoel, who also sustained a broken collarbone.

Evenepoel, one of the favorites for the road race at the Paris Games, also has a broken right shoulder blade and was scheduled return to Belgium on Friday for surgery on his collarbone, his team said.

Vingegaard was hardly moving as he was put in an ambulance wearing an oxygen mask and neck brace after the crash occurred with less than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) left in the fourth stage.

“Examinations at the hospital have revealed that he has a broken collarbone and several broken ribs. He remains in hospital as a precaution,” Team Visma said of the 27-year-old Danish rider, who won the race in Spain a year ago.

The accident happened as riders were making a right-hand turn, and one rider’s front tire appeared to slip out and send other riders off the road. There were some large rocks in the area, though it wasn’t clear if any of the riders hit them.

Video and images of the crash showed riders strewn alongside the road, including in a concrete drainage ditch.

Vingegaard won both races he entered this season at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Gran Camino in Spain. He is considered the heavy favorite to triumph again at the Tour, which ends with a time trial in Nice this year because of the Paris Olympics.

“Over the radio we heard Jonas was involved in a big crash,” Visma sports director Addy Engels told Eurosport. “We immediately saw that it didn’t look good when we arrived to him. Fortunately, he was conscious. Jonas is now being examined at the hospital. We are waiting for any updates now.”

Evenepoel, who won stages at the Giro d’Italia and Spanish Vuelta last year, hit the pavement and landed in a wooded area during Thursday’s crash, though he appeared to be walking away while clutching his chest.

Evenepoel’s team, Soudal Quick-Step, later confirmed that the Belgian “suffered a fracture to his right collarbone and his right scapula.” The team said he will undergo surgery “and further examination” at the hospital in Belgium.

Roglič was leading the overall race despite a heavy fall on Wednesday. He was one of the riders that ended up in the drainage ditch, and he was later spotted walking to a Bora-Hansgrohe team car and driving away with a team staff.

The injuries to Roglič came one day after his teammate, Lennard Kämna, was hit by an oncoming vehicle and sustained serious injuries while on a training ride in Tenerife. Kämna was expected to spend several days in the intensive care unit.

Other riders taken to the hospital Thursday included Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates and Steff Cras of TotalEnergies, which reported its rider was conscious and “transferred to hospital to carry out additional examinations.” EF Education-EasyPost said two of its riders, Alexander Cepeda and Sean Quinn were involved, and Quinn was forced to abandon the race and his “medical evaluation was ongoing.” Others involved in the crash included Quinten Hermans and Natnael Tesfatsion.

The race was neutralized until the finish line, and the restart had to be delayed until doctors could rejoin the race to accompany the remaining riders. Six riders who had been in a breakaway stopped to wait in the next town, and they were allowed to sprint for the stage win but neither their times nor any bonuses would count for the general classification.

Louis Meintjes of Intermarché Wanty wound up winning the stage. Mattias Skjelmose took the overall race lead.

“It’s a sad day. I wish all the guys who crashed all the best and wish them a fast recovery,” Skjelmose said at the finish. “My mind is with the guys who crashed, and right now I am not thinking about the leader’s jersey.”

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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Tour of the Basque Country 2024: Roglic wins ITT to take race lead

Results 1st stage 2024 Tour of the Basque Country

1. Primoz Roglic (slo) 12.34 2. Jay Vine (aus) + 0.07 3. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 0.10 4. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 0.11 5. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 0.15 6. Kévin Vauquelin (fra) + 0.16 7. Juan Ayuso (spa) s.t. 8. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t. 9. Ethan Hayter (gbr) + 0.19 10. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.21

Intermediate – at km 4.4 1. Primoz Roglic 6.55 2. Ethan Hayter 6.56 3. Jay Vine 7.00 4. Kévin Vauquelin 7.03 5. Remco Evenepoel 7.04 6. Brandon McNulty 7.05 7. Maximilian Schachmann s.t. 8. Juan Ayuso 7.07 9. Mattias Skjelmose 7.11 10. Isaac del Toro s.t.

GC after stage 1 1. Primoz Roglic (slo) 12.34 2. Jay Vine (aus) + 0.07 3. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 0.10 4. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 0.11 5. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 0.15 6. Kévin Vauquelin (fra) + 0.16 7. Juan Ayuso (spa) s.t. 8. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t. 9. Ethan Hayter (gbr) + 0.19 10. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.21

11. Brandon McNulty (usa) + 0.23 13. Isaac del Toro (mex) + 0.24 14. Santiago Buitrago (col) s.t. 16. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t. 17. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 0.26 19. Romain Grégoire (fra) + 0.28 22. David Gaudu (fra) + 0.31 24. Jai Hindley (aus) + 0.34 28. Carlos Rodriguez (spa) + 0.37 39. Oscar Onley (gbr) + 0.43 69. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.55 110. Felix Gall (aut) + 1.15 136. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 1.27

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2024 Tour of the Basque Country.

Tour of the Basque Country 2024 stage 1: route, profile, more

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Tour du Pays Basque 2024 : le jeune comtois Romain Grégoire ne récidive pas son exploit de la veille

Le jeune coureur de la Groupama-FDJ, Romain Grégoire termine à la 38e place, ce samedi 6 avril, au classement général du Tour du Pays basque 2024. Victorieux de la 5e étape, le Bisontin âgé de 21 ans, a terminé 48e de cette ultime étape.

Romain Grégoire ne s'affichera pas dans le Top 10 du classement général du Tour du Pays basque. C'est Juan Ayuso ( UAE Team Emirates) qui s'impose devant le vainqueur d'étape Carlos Rodriguez ( Ineos Grenadiers) et Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek). Tous les trois ont moins de 25 ans.

Les pentes de l'Izua ont été trop sévères pour Romain Grégoire aujourd'hui, qui n'a pu défendre sa place au classement général. Romain achève néanmoins ce Tour du Pays basque avec une victoire d'étape WorldTour dans la poche 👊 A tough day for Romain Grégoire but a WorldTour… pic.twitter.com/sNUKjBy0Jy — Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) April 6, 2024

Parti à Eibar dans le Top 5 de cette dernière étape, Romain Grégoire avait juste huit secondes d'écart avec le leader Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek). À l'arrivée, il aura 9'29 d'écart avec le vainqueur.

Sur la ligne du départ de cette 6e et dernière étape, le jeune champion annonçait la couleur et sa détermination. "On sait que tout va se faire aujourd'hui. Le général va vraiment éclater. Cela risque d'être encore une course décousue. Cela peut faire mal à tout moment. Il va falloir être prêt au combat" avertissait Romain Grégoire à nos confrères d'Eurosport, encore tout galvanisé par sa victoire de la 5e étape du Tour du Pays basque. Le jeune grand espoir du cyclisme français a prévenu : "Je fais du vélo pour gagner des courses".

Mais c'est encore difficile pour le jeune champion d'être frais et vaillant après avoir tout donné dans le sprint final de la 5e étape de ce Tour du Pays basque.

Un parcours escarpé

Romain Grégoire savait qu'il ne devait pas avoir plus de 30 secondes une minute de la tête de course dans la montée pour bien se placer pour la descente finale mais à 30 km de la ligne d'arrivée, le commentateur d'Eurosport déplore "on a perdu Romain Grégoire". 

À aucun moment, le Bisontin n'a pu s'incruster dans les différentes échappées. Cette dernière étape du Tour du Pays basque est assez ardue. C'est l’étape reine avec plus de 3500m de dénivelés et sept difficultés avec des ascensions. Difficile d'enchaîner après une victoire.

Une victoire tout de même de bon augure

Romain Grégoire avait remporté ce vendredi 5 avril, à Amorebieta-Etxano, la cinquième étape du Tour du Pays basque, marquée par une nouvelle chute, impliquant notamment L'Espagnol Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step). Sans oublier qu'une énorme chute lors de la 4ᵉ étape, jeudi 4 avril, avait entraîné l'abandon de nombreux favoris comme Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič et Remco Evenepoel.

Le coureur de la Groupama-FDJ s'était imposé au sprint sur la ligne, devant le Vénézuélien Orluis Aular et l'Allemand Maximilian Schachmann, pour signer une première victoire sur le circuit World Tour, à tout juste 21 ans et ainsi donner des espoirs à ses supporters pour sa première participation au Tour de France en juillet prochain.

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Pays basque : un maire évacué à l’hôpital après avoir été bousculé en plein conseil municipal

Le maire de Cambo-les-Bains, Christian Devèze, est tombé au sol après une bousculade qui a éclaté avec des opposants à un projet immobilier, qui se sont invités mercredi soir au conseil municipal de la commune. Une enquête a été ouverte pour « violences en réunion sur un élu ».

Une séance sous haute tension, soldée par des violences. Des dizaines d’opposants à un projet immobilier ont fait irruption mercredi soir lors du conseil municipal de Cambo-les-Bains, dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques, donnant lieu à des bousculades qui ont fini par projeter le maire de la commune au sol. « Légèrement blessé » selon la préfecture, Christian Devèze a été évacué à l’hôpital de Bayonne pour y passer des examens, d’après les médias locaux, qui décrivent une soirée électrique. Le parquet a annoncé l’ouverture d’une enquête pour des « faits de violences en réunion sur un élu » .

Le conseil municipal avait débuté depuis 40 minutes, quand des dizaines d’opposants au projet immobilier Marienia sont entrés à la séance du conseil municipal de la commune, munis de pancartes, de bâtons de marche, de balais et de cloches, retrace France Bleu . Au total, une cinquantaine de manifestants se sont invités dans la salle d’après la préfecture.

Ce projet, porté par le promoteur Bouygues, prévoit la construction d’une centaine de logements à l’entrée de la commune, dont une moitié de logements sociaux, sur des terres utilisées occasionnellement à des fins agricoles sans pour autant être répertoriées comme telles dans les documents officiels, d’après la radio locale. Un dossier sujet depuis plusieurs mois à de fortes tensions, qui ont culminé mercredi soir.

« Chute au sol »

Des vidéos du conseil municipal partagées par la radio montrent des élus silencieux, cerclés par des dizaines de défenseurs des terres agricoles, frappant leur bâton au sol et levant des pancartes sur lesquelles il est notamment écrit « Laisse béton ». Selon Sud-Ouest , les opposants avaient prévu une manifestation pendant la séance, mais sont finalement rentrés dans la salle.

Cambo : concert de cloches et bâtons depuis une demi-heure sous la surveillance de la gendarmerie. Le conseil municipal est a l’arrêt . Le dossier immobilier Marieinia est au cœur de la contestation. pic.twitter.com/C8DOLKCgmD — France Bleu Pays Basque (@Bleu_Basque) April 10, 2024

Face au bruit provoqué par ce concert improvisé, le maire Christian Devèze est toutefois resté impassible, le visage fermé, refusant de prendre la parole, d’après le journal. Pendant deux heures, aucun mot n’a été échangé dans la salle. Il a finalement levé la séance à 22h10, « constatant l’impossibilité de poursuivre », selon la préfecture, qui a publié un communiqué en toute fin de soirée. Mais il n’a pas pu sortir de la pièce, à cause d’un cordon qui s’est mis en place pour bloquer l’accès à la sortie.

La tension a grimpé d’un cran et des bousculades ont éclaté, donnant lieu à un mouvement de foule qui a fini par projeter le maire au sol, qui a été touché à la tête, d’après Sud-Ouest. « Présents dans la salle du conseil, les manifestants se sont alors interposés, rendant impossible la sortie des membres du conseil municipal, et générant une bousculade au cours de laquelle le maire a chuté et a été légèrement blessé », confirment les autorités.

Les gendarmes, présents jusqu’alors sur le pas de la porte de la salle, sont alors intervenus pour relever l’édile et l’escorter vers la sortie. « Installé sur une chaise, le premier magistrat a le souffle court et peine à tenir sur ses jambes », décrit Sud-Ouest. Conscient, l’élu a été évacué à l’hôpital de Bayonne pour y passer des examens. Une vidéo diffusée en ligne par les radios en langue basque Euskal Irratiak montre plusieurs personnes repousser l’élu qui cherche à travers la foule coûte que coûte avant de tomber à terre, tandis que les gendarmes accourent. Sa première adjointe a ensuite rappelé tous les élus pour annoncer le report de la séance à une date ultérieure, cette fois à huis clos, selon France Bleu.

Christian Devèze auzapezak kontseilua moztu du eta ateratzean bultzada batzuk izan dira manifestari, polizia eta hautetsien artean. Auzapeza lurrera erori da eta suhiltzaileek artatu dute. pic.twitter.com/0x5ZO5omLg — Euskal Irratiak (@euskalirratiak) April 10, 2024

Peu de temps après, le préfet des Pyrénées-Atlantiques a apporté son soutien au « maire bousculé » et à « l’ensemble du conseil municipal ». Julien Charles « condamne fermement les tentatives d’intimidation subies par les élus de la République, qui ont culminé ce soir (mercredi), par une situation de tension entraînant une bousculade et la chute au sol du premier magistrat de la commune », souligne le communiqué des autorités.

Le parquet de Bayonne a quant à lui réagi ce jeudi à l’altercation : le procureur Jérôme Bourrier a annoncé sur le réseau X l’ouverture d’une enquête pour « des faits de violences en réunion sur un élu », après « ces faits portant atteinte aux principes républicains et à l’intégrité physique d’un élu ».

« À portée de coups »

Plusieurs élus de la région ont également pris la parole, dont le maire de Bayonne, Jean-René Etchegaray, qui a apporté son soutien à l’édile « victime d’actes d’intimidation au point d’être envoyé à terre ». « Une revendication, fut-elle légitime, ne justifie pas le recours à la violence. La démocratie en dépend », a-t-il insisté sur le réseau X.

Le maire d’Anglet Claude Olive, cité par France Bleu, a lui aussi « condamn (é) fermement toute action qui entrave le fonctionnement de notre pays et de notre démocratie, particulièrement les actions physiques et menaces envers les élus ». Il a rappelé au passage qu’« en moins de six mois », des élus ont essuyé des « tentatives d’intimidation » dans trois communes du Pays basque, « Hasparren, Macaye et Briscous ».

Les maires de ces trois communes avaient fait l’objet de menaces, mais pas aussi directes que dans le cas de Cambo-les-Bains, selon Sud-Ouest. La maire de Briscous Fabienne Avensa avait notamment remis sa démission au préfet après la découverte d’un cercueil devant la mairie, dans un contexte de tension autour de l’avenir d’une école de langue basque, Ikastola, rappelle aussi La République des Pyrénées .

L’association des maires des Pyrénées-Atlantiques avait d’ailleurs voté il y a quelques jours une motion pour dénoncer les violences et agressions verbales et physiques contre les élus locaux, souligne le quotidien local. Ces représentants « ne sont plus simplement à portée d’engueulade, ils sont à portée de coups », a déploré son président auprès du journal.

VIDÉO. « Jamais je n’aurais imaginé qu’on menace ma famille de mort », témoigne le maire de L’Haÿ-les-Roses

Du côté du conseil départemental, le président Jean-Jacques Lasserre a lui aussi dénoncé des « évènements inacceptables » : « Quels que soient les sujets d’opposition, il est intolérable de s’en prendre à une personne démocratiquement élue », a-t-il ajouté. « Les enragés qui pourrissent la vie municipale de Cambo depuis plusieurs mois ont dépassé les bornes », a aussi tempêté le sénateur LR des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Max Brisson.

Les opposants au projet immobilier de Marienia avaient cherché à bloquer le projet mais ont connu un premier échec auprès du tribunal administratif de Pau. Ils attendent désormais une décision de la Cour d’appel administrative du tribunal de Bordeaux après leur appel, prévue d’ici à fin juin 2024, d’après France Bleu.

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À la mode Basque

• Le Grand Départ du Tour 2023 sera le deuxième donné depuis l’Espagne et en particulier du Pays Basque, après le séjour passé à Saint-Sébastien en 1992, aux débuts du règne en jaune de Miguel Indurain.
• Les trois provinces basques  figurent au programme des trois journées de course qui marqueront le coup d’envoi de la 110e édition. De Bilbao à Saint-Sébastien en passant par Vitoria-Gasteiz, le peloton évoluera sur des routes souvent escarpées où se sont écrites des pages glorieuses du cyclisme espagnol.
• Les reliefs du Pays Basque inviteront les puncheurs à passer à l’action pour partir à la conquête du premier Maillot Jaune du Tour 2023 à Bilbao, une revanche étant prévue le lendemain sur les routes de la « Clasica San Sebastian ».  

Le Tour à Bilbao, c’est une première. Mais la plus grande ville du Pays Basque est pourtant l’épicentre de la riche histoire du cyclisme basque, dont les talents ont contribué au rayonnement du peloton espagnol. D’ailleurs, Bilbao a figuré au programme de 35 éditions de la Vuelta, et surtout de façon ininterrompue entre 1955 et 1978, l’épreuve phare du pays étant alors organisée par El Correo Español del Pueblo Vasco , précisément basé en ville. Au XXIe siècle, seuls le Basque Igor Anton en 2011 et Philippe Gilbert en 2019 ont eu le privilège de lever les bras sur une ligne d’arrivée de la Vuelta tracée à Bilbao. En 2023, ce sera à l’issue d’une boucle avec départ et arrivée à Bilbao, entièrement tracée en Bizkaia et passant notamment par le village de Guernica, que sera décerné le premier Maillot Jaune du 110e Tour de France. Son récipiendaire aura nécessairement des qualités de puncheur, pour avoir résisté à ce programme casse-pattes et vaincu ses adversaires sur une arrivée jugée au sommet d'une pente à 5 %.  

Le peloton passera le lendemain une partie de la journée dans la province d’Alava, en commençant par sa capitale Vitoria-Gasteiz. Le Tour y avait ouvert en 1977  la voie d’une fierté éternelle à José Nazabal, qui reste à ce jour l’unique coureur basque vainqueur sur ses terres d’une étape de la Grande Boucle. Il est peu probable qu’un échappé solitaire bénéficie de la même indulgence en se dirigeant vers Saint-Sébastien, où Miguel Indurain s’était imposé à l’occasion du prologue du Tour 1992. Et le scénario de la deuxième étape devrait d’ailleurs plus vraisemblablement ressembler à celui de la « Clasica » qui se tient traditionnellement après le Tour. C’est en effet sur le Jaizkibel que pourrait se faire la décision immédiatement avant de pénétrer dans la capitale du Guipuscoa.  

Le séjour du Tour de France 2023 au Pays Basque s’achèvera avec un départ donné d’Amorebieta-Etxano en province de Bizkaia. Le peloton fera alors route vers la France, pourquoi pas pour un parcours favorable aux équipes de sprinteurs. Elles auront en tout cas les cartes en mains pour contrôler la course sur le parcours côtier qui les mènera d’abord vers une dernière traversée de Saint-Sébastien. Les salutations au Pays Basque se feront ensuite au moment de quitter la ville frontalière d’Irun, en direction de… 

Le programme basque des trois premières étapes 2023 :  

• 1er juillet : Bilbao > Bilbao, 185 km
• 2 juillet : Vitoria-Gasteiz > Saint-Sébastien, 210 km
• 3 juillet : Amorebieta-Etxano > …

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