Guéthary, between surf and sophistication

Guéthary may not be on the same scale as its neighbours Biarritz and Saint-Jean de Luz, but it's still a very pretty place to visit and boasts a number of places of interest. Here's an overview of a village with a lot of charm and some very good restaurants.

The Port

Don't be fooled into thinking there's a huge jetty and a crowd of sailing boats and ferries coming and going. Made up of a few colourful fishing boats, the Port of Guéthary is modest, and that's precisely what makes it so attractive. It has the particularity of being a dry dock, which means that all the boats are hoisted out of the water after going out to sea. Still haunted by the memory of whaling, which took place from the eleventh to the nineteenth century, as can still be seen from the sloping floor where the animals were unloaded on land, the port of Guéthary retains a distinct old-world charm and offers visitors a sublime view of the ocean.

To finish off this delightful stroll in style, head to Txamara, a delightful restaurant whose name means "jacket" in Basque and which celebrates local cuisine. The restaurant has two dining rooms, a bodega on the ground floor where you can enjoy tapas on the terrace overlooking the ocean (8.30am to 3.30pm), and a second room where you can enjoy bistronomic cuisine with a Basque accent (12.30pm to 2.30pm & 7.30pm to 9.30pm).

Close to the port is La Terrasse, a must for any walk in Guéthary. Unquestionably the most beautiful viewpoint in the village, it offers a breathtaking panorama stretching from Biarritz to Spain. An ideal spot for meditation and contemplation, it's also the perfect place to admire some masterly sunsets.

The church of Saint-Nicolas

Built during the Renaissance and renovated in the 19th century, thechurch of Saint-Nicolas stands on the highest point in the village. Although its exterior is imposing and rather sober, the interior of the building, typical of Basque churches, is well worth a look. The wooden galleries running the length of the nave and the crypt painted in that typical Pays-basque red give the place a certain character. With its bell tower ringing every hour, Saint-Nicolas church sets the pace of life in Guéthary as much as the sound of the waves.

Stroll through the narrow streets

What better way to soak up the peaceful, authentic atmosphere of Guéthary than to wander through its streets, full of flowers and pretty shops, admiring the superb red and white neo-Basque houses so typical of the region! The most beautiful of these is undoubtedly the one that houses the town hall. It is located on the Fronton, an essential meeting place and festive occasion for the people of Guéthary, particularly at the Sunday market, ideal for discovering the wealth of Basque produce and specialities. There's also a night market every Monday in July and August, where you can stock up on light summer clothes and beach jewellery.

A major summer event, the Fêtes de Guéthary take place every summer on the last weekend in August. On the programme: craft and gastronomic fairs, dances, Basque pelota, musical entertainment, sardinades and much more for two days of intense festivities, all centred on conviviality and the celebration of Basque culture. An unforgettable experience!

Culture in Guéthary

Despite its small size, Guéthary has developed a rich cultural life. Its cinema, the Getari Enea, is both an art-house cinema and a multi-disciplinary arts venue offering a wide range of events open to all. Its friendly café regularly organises ciné-goûers, ciné-dînettes and ciné-débats. Whether you're an experienced film buff or just curious, you'll feel right at home at Getari Enea!

The town is also home to the Musée de Guéthary, with its fine collection of drawings, paintings and sculptures belonging to the sculptor Georges Clément de Swiecinski, as well as a wing devoted to the history of Guéthary. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 2pm to 6pm.

Guéthary has 3 beaches, the largest of which is Parlementia, supervised in summer. Home to the famous wave of the same name, it attracts professional surfers from all over the world, mesmerised by its size, which can exceed 5 metres. The fascinating spectacle of these wave adventurers is sure to leave you breathless. If you're not up to tackling this mythical wave, you can always sign up for a group lesson at the Guéthary Parlementia Bidart surf school, open every day from 8am to 8pm.

Bordered by the Whale Trail and the Beach Promenade, Parlementia offers walkers magnificent views of a wild, rocky landscape, in stark contrast to the urbanisation of the neighbouring seaside resorts. The rocks can also make swimming a little tricky, but children will love watching the sea urchins, shrimps and crabs that have made their home there. To preserve the ecosystem, however, it is forbidden to touch them.

If you get a sudden craving for a seafood platter, the best place to go is Hétéroclito, a wonderful marine counter where you can enjoy planchas, shellfish and crustaceans facing the ocean in a superb décor that tastefully blends harbour and industrial aesthetics. The reproduction of a gigantic whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling adds to the cachet of the place and reminds visitors of Guéthary's whaling past. Open every day except Wednesday from 10.30am to 11.30pm.

The delightful sand and pebble coves of Cenitz and Harotzen Costa, also known as "les Alcyons", are accessible at low tide and are perfect for a peaceful family swim. Bordered by the coastal path that links Hendaye to Bidart and offers a breathtaking coastal walk, these two small natural beaches are a real paradise for lovers of nature and tranquillity, and for all those who enjoy contemplating the waves crashing against the rocks. The shallow pools of water that form at ebb tide are ideal for the little ones to splash around in. The beach at Cenitz is supervised in summer, and there's a restaurant nearby.