France’s Basque Country, with its 35 km (22 miles) of glorious coastline, is home to many beach resort towns other than the glitzy Biarritz. The historic fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a popular seaside destination in the area thanks to its rich history and idyllic atmosphere.
While the historic centre looks small at first glance, there are actually so many things to do in Saint-Jean-de-Luz both in town and in nature.
The town, located in the department of Pyrénées-Altantiques in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is home to a lovely historic centre where Louis XIV, the Sun King, got married. Saint-Jean-de-Luz is also a popular surf destination once you travel beyond the Grande Plage (Big Beach) in search of surfable waves.
I visited Saint-Jean-de-Luz from Bayonne and found the trip very easy and convenient, buying my tickets online just a few minutes before boarding the train. But there is also a wide range of Saint-Jean-de-Luz accommodation on offer if you wish to stay for several days.
When it comes to the weather, I wasn’t quite so lucky–it rains a lot in the Basque Country. But the walk along the coast was still breathtaking despite the clouds and occasional rain.
Table of Contents (click to view)
- How to get from Bayonne to Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Where to stay in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- 22 things to do in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- 1. Grande Plage (Big Beach)
- 2. Promenade Jacques Thibaud (Jacques Thibaud Promenade)
- 3. Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Saint Jean-Baptiste Church)
- 4. Place Louis XIV (Louis XIV Square)
- 5. Maison Louis XIV (Louis XIV House)
- 6. Port de Saint-Jean-de-Luz-Ciboure (Saint-Jean-de-Luz-Ciboure Port)
- 7. Rue de la République (Street of the Republic)
- 8. Rue Léon Gambetta (Léon Gambetta Street)
- 9. Les Halles de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Saint-Jean-de-Luz Market)
- 10. Galerie La Pergola (The Pergola Gallery)
- 11. Maison de l’Infante (House of the Infanta)
- 12. Fort Socoa (Socoa Fort)
- 13. Colline Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Hill) and Pointe Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Point)
- 14. Sentier du Littoral (Coastal Path)
- 15. Chapelle Van Brée (Van Brée Chapel)
- 16. Pile d’Assiettes (Stack of Plates)
- 17. Jardin Botanique Littoral de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Coastal Botanical Garden of Saint-Jean-de-Luz)
- 18. Croix d’Archilua (Archilua Cross)
- 19. Plage d’Erromardie (Erromardie Beach)
- 20. Plage de Lafitenia (Lafitenia Beach)
- 21. Plage de Mayarco (Mayarco Beach)
- 22. Plage de Senix (Senix Beach)
- Other things to do near Saint-Jean-de-Luz
How to get from Bayonne to Saint-Jean-de-Luz
There are frequent trains from Bayonne to Saint-Jean-de-Luz that complete the journey in less than half an hour. You can buy your train tickets directly at the Gare de Bayonne (Bayonne Train Station) or online.
Where to stay in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Beachfront resort with incredible views– If you’d like to enjoy the beach to the fullest, you can’t get any closer to the sea than Hôtel de la Plage – Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which offers jaw-dropping views of the sea from many rooms.
- Traditional hotel in historic centre – Hôtel La Marisa Grande Plage is located just 30 m from the beach, while still being in the historic centre. Its beautiful, cosy rooms in a traditional style make you feel like you’ve time-travelled.
- Value-for-money hotel near train station – Brit Hotel de Paris Saint-Jean-de-Luz is one of the most affordable options in the area, has great ratings and is located a stone’s throw from the Saint-Jean-de-Luz train station.
- Resort near surf spots – Lafitenia Resort is located near surf spots at Plage de Lafitenia (Lafitenia Beach) and Plage de Mayarco (Mayarco Beach) and offers gorgeous ocean views from some of the rooms.
22 things to do in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Wondering what to do in Saint-Jean-de-Luz? In general, many visitors come here for the beach, the sun and the sea. However, you shouldn’t miss the historic centre and port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which are beautiful, historically interesting and make for a lovely visit in any season.
I’ve tried to rank the things to see in Saint-Jean-de-Luz in order of importance to the first-time visitor, but this is my subjective opinion and you are of course free to customise your own visit as you see fit.
1. Grande Plage (Big Beach)
Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s Grande Plage (Big Beach) is its star attraction and is located minutes, or even seconds, from the town centre. With its fine sand and natural bay protected by three seawalls, it is a highly sought-after beach in summer and also suitable for families with kids.
The beach is also an integral part of the town, with hotels such as the famous Hôtel de la Plage, shops, restaurants and cafés located right on the waterfront.
2. Promenade Jacques Thibaud (Jacques Thibaud Promenade)
The 3.7-km-long Promenade Jacques Thibaud (Jacques Thibaud Promenade) is a lot more than just a seafront walkway. It follows the coastline all the way to Pointe Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Point) and is lined, for much of its length, by colourful Basque houses, as well as restaurants and shops.
3. Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Saint Jean-Baptiste Church)
This is Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s most famous church for a good reason—it was the church where the most famous King of France, Louis XIV, the Sun King, married Maria Theresa of Spain on 9 June 1660. The marriage put an end to a war between France and Spain, but the wedding wasn’t without drama, as the church was too small to accommodate the king’s entire court.
The church’s most dazzling feature is its Baroque retable, the altarpiece located behind the main altar, made of gilded wood and rising towards the ceiling.
4. Place Louis XIV (Louis XIV Square)
Place Louis XIV (Louis XIV Square) is the most well-known town square in historic Saint-Jean-de-Luz and is bordered by elegant old houses, including the Maison Louis XIV (Louis XIV House), the Hôtel de Ville de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Saint-Jean-de-Luz Town Hall), which was built in the 17th century, and numerous cafés with terraces ideal for people-watching.
5. Maison Louis XIV (Louis XIV House)
This magnificent house, constructed between 1643 and 1645 by wealthy shipowner Johanis de Lohobiague, still belongs to his descendants today.
Its biggest claim to fame is that Louis XIV stayed there on the third floor (the French refer to this as the second floor) from 8 May to 15 June 1660 on the occasion of his wedding. The Duke of Anjou also stayed there in 1701 on his way to Spain. You can visit the interior of the house, including the rooms that Louis XIV occupied.
6. Port de Saint-Jean-de-Luz-Ciboure (Saint-Jean-de-Luz-Ciboure Port)
This picturesque port is an example of a working fishing harbour in the Basque Country, and gives a sense of how important fishing and maritime trade were to the town. It also offers some of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s most iconic waterfront views, with the hills of neighbouring commune Ciboure in the background.
7. Rue de la République (Street of the Republic)
Rue de la République (Street of the Republic) is one of the most prominent streets in Saint-Jean-de-Luz and connects Place Louis XIV (Louis XIV Square) in the historic centre to the Grande Plage (Big Beach). The street, which is lined with shops and cafés, has retained much of its medieval character and is home to well-preserved historic Basque architecture.
8. Rue Léon Gambetta (Léon Gambetta Street)
Another essential street to explore is Rue Léon Gambetta (Léon Gambetta Street), one of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s main commercial thoroughfares. This is the best place in town for a spot of shopping and is home to some famous businesses, such as Maison Adam, whose macarons are rumoured to have been created for the wedding of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Spain.
9. Les Halles de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Saint-Jean-de-Luz Market)
If you are arriving in Saint-Jean-de-Luz by train, you will certainly walk past Les Halles de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Saint-Jean-de-Luz Market) on the way to the town centre. This covered market is open until lunchtime and is home to more than 70 stallholders selling all kinds of products. It’s a great place to try local delicacies like Espelette pepper and Bayonne ham.
10. Galerie La Pergola (The Pergola Gallery)
This cubist-style complex, located on the Promenade Jacques Thibaud (Jacques Thibaud Promenade) and overlooking the Grande Plage (Big Beach) and the sea, was designed by French architect Robert Mallet-Stevens and is a rather unusual addition to the town, with its spare, straight lines and use of concrete. Opened in 1928, it houses some eateries, shops and a casino.
11. Maison de l’Infante (House of the Infanta)
This building located by the port is where Maria Theresa of Spain, also known as the Infanta, stayed in Saint-Jean-de-Luz on 7 to 15 June 1660 when she was in town for her wedding to Louis XIV.
Built in 1640 by wealthy captain and shipowner Joannot de Haraneder, its distinctive façade of pink brick and stone was inspired by Italian architecture. Although you cannot visit the interior, you can view the façade from the waterfront.
12. Fort Socoa (Socoa Fort)
Fort Socoa (Socoa Fort) is located in neighbouring commune, Ciboure, and is located about 20 minutes by bus from Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Even if you don’t make the trip, you can still view it from the western end of the Grande Plage (Big Beach). It was constructed in 1627 to defend the port and the bay and remained in use until the 19th century.
13. Colline Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Hill) and Pointe Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Point)
On the eastern end of the Grande Plage (Big Beach), the Colline Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Hill) is one of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s best-loved natural sites and offers breathtaking views of the ocean below. You can follow the footpath beginning at Pointe Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Point), the promontory jutting out above the sea, for incredible views over the Bay of Biscay.
14. Sentier du Littoral (Coastal Path)
This walking path, which begins at Pointe Sainte-Barbe (Saint Barbe Point), takes you along the Basque Coast and promises spectacular views over the Bay of Biscay, as well as some of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s most stunning natural sites and most beautiful beaches.
The rest of the sights on this list can be accessed from the Sentier du Littoral (Coastal Path). You can walk all the way to neighbouring commune Guéthary in about an hour and a half or reach Bidart in about three and a half hours.
15. Chapelle Van Brée (Van Brée Chapel)
You’ll come across this little chapel and crypt about ten minutes after setting off on the Sentier du Littoral (Coastal Path). It was built by Firmin Van Brée, a prominent Belgian businessman who fell in love with Saint-Jean-de-Luz and designed the chapel with his friend, André Pavlovsky, an architect. Van Brée’s own remains are stored in the crypt.
16. Pile d’Assiettes (Stack of Plates)
Follow Rue de la Pile d’Assiettes to find the stunning rock formation nicknamed Pile d’Assiettes (Stack of Plates). These layers of rock, which seem to be stacked one on top of the other, are the result of millions of years of geological processes.
17. Jardin Botanique Littoral de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Coastal Botanical Garden of Saint-Jean-de-Luz)
This lovely botanical garden is notable for being perched above the Atlantic Ocean, combining breathtaking sea views with plant species native to the Basque Coast and southern Landes.
18. Croix d’Archilua (Archilua Cross)
The centuries-old Croix d’Archilua (Archilua Cross) is worth visiting for its dramatic setting on a promontory overlooking the sea.
19. Plage d’Erromardie (Erromardie Beach)
This sand and pebble beach is a popular location for holidaymakers staying at campsite accommodation in the area. It is supervised by lifeguards in summer and its calm waters make it popular with families. Surfing is sometimes possible at this beach.
20. Plage de Lafitenia (Lafitenia Beach)
This sand and pebble beach is close to several campsites in the Acotz neighbourhood of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and is a popular surf spot thanks to its open waves. It is more suited to confident surfers.
21. Plage de Mayarco (Mayarco Beach)
This sand and pebble beach has gentle waves that can still be surfed, and offers a less crowded alternative to nearby Plage de Lafitenia (Lafitenia Beach).
22. Plage de Senix (Senix Beach)
This sand and pebble beach is also known as a surf spot, although conditions may vary, and is suitable for confident surfers.
Other things to do near Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Bayonne, the largest city in the French Basque Country, is less than half an hour by train from Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
- Seaside resort towns Biarritz and Hendaye are a quick train ride away from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, while Anglet can be reached by train and bus in under 40 minutes.
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