Even though the start of the school year is on the horizon, the end of summer and the beginning of autumn offer a particularly favorable time to discover the Basque Country. To hike in the mountains from Piedmont to La Rhune, when the Pyrenees meet the Atlantic. To enjoy the Basque beaches when others have already returned to the office or school, from Anglet to Hendaye if you stay in France and the superb Concha de San Sebastian a little beyond the border with Spain. To enjoy traveling from town to village to explore what makes the Basque identity, from the hinterland to the coast, from Saint-Jean Pied de Port to Saint-Jean de Luz. Not to mention the gastronomy, which stands out in the Basque Country with some forty Michelin-starred restaurants. So many ways to appreciate the Basque Country at a time when the summer crowds have passed and the colors of the vegetation, the sun, and the sea have taken on the autumn colors.
A festive end to summer
September and October are also packed with opportunities to enjoy Basque Country celebrations. Starting with the Le Temps d'aimer dance festival, which takes place in Biarritz from September 6th to 15th. Between Béarn and the Basque Country, there's also the Salt Festival in Salies-de-Béarn from September 12th to 15th, 2019. The town celebrates its white gold over four days with a craft market, local products, races by the herrades and the herrades, and a parade of floats accompanied by the unmissable bandas. Return to the heart of culture with the Festival of the iconic Basque Cake in Cambo-les-Bains from October 5th to 6th, a 100% Basque taste with the Chili Pepper Festival in Espelette from October 26th to 27th, and the Chocolate Days in Bayonne from November 1st to 3rd, celebrating the cocoa bean that arrived in France in the bags of Basque smugglers.
Planning your stay
The Basque Country welcomes its visitors with a wide variety of accommodation options. Finding a hotel in the Basque Country for a few nights is not complicated, from Hendaye to Saint-Jean Pied de Port, there is something for all tastes and all prices. With great offers like Les Fous Du Village in Saint-Esteben or Hotel Chantaco Golf & Wellness in Saint-Jean de Luz. You can also choose a longer Basque Country rental option with apartments and holiday homes from the coast to the hinterland. Motorhome enthusiasts will find what they're looking for in the 24 areas dedicated to them. Or the 97 campsites for those who don't mind the rain.