You're on holiday in the Basque Country and want to visit Bayonne in one day using a walking tour. And you're absolutely right to dedicate a day to exploring Bayonne, which is truly worth a visit.
In this article, I propose my tourist circuit of Bayonne with the Google Maps map of the walking route that you can follow in pedestrian GPS mode!
How to visit Bayonne in 1 day?
To visit Bayonne in 1 day, you have the choice between:
- a guided tour offered by theOffice of Tourism,
- the original discovery of Bayonne by Segway,
- another private visit, personalized and confidential from Bayonne with a guide just for you,
- on foot following the route of my tourist circuit of the most beautiful sites of Bayonne (see below).
What to see in Bayonne?
When we think of the city of Bayonne, we inevitably think of ferias, bullfights, white suits and red scarves, chocolate and the famous Bayonne ham. But what we often forget is that Bayonne is also a city of art and an old medieval town which has managed to keep beautiful vestiges and an atmosphere of its own. Indeed, in the old Bayonne, we like to discover old canals, superb traditional Basque houses, ramparts and beautiful churches.
What to visit in Bayonne for 1 day?
To visit Bayonne in 1 day on foot, I have only selected the city's must-see sites in my itinerary, plus a few gourmet stops.
Here is the list of stages of my tourist circuit in Bayonne , which can be done in 1 day:
- Vauban ramparts
- Old Castle of Bayonne
- Sainte Marie Cathedral and its cloister
- Bayonne market halls
- Basque Museum
- Little Bayonne
- Chateauneuf
- Chocolate maker Txokola
- Bonnat Museum
Visit Bayonne on foot – Itinerary map
Click on "More option" in the map below to track the GPS
Visit Bayonne in 1 day – Morning program
My route starts from the ramparts. So you can park your car at the Champ de Foire car park or the Lautrec car park which are located very close to the ramparts.
The ramparts of Bayonne
Bayonne knew how to defend its population from Roman times until the 19th century. This can be seen in its heritage which has preserved the Roman towers and the old fortifications of the city. Today, these ramparts have been converted into a pleasant promenade that is very popular with the people of Bayonne.
Chateau-Vieux of Bayonne
At the level of the fortifications, my itinerary takes you through the Postern. It is an opening in the Rempart which dates from the 19th century and which represented the door of the Old Castle.
The Château Vieux was built on the edge of a Roman castrum. From the end of the 11th century, the Viscounts of Labourd made it a fortress organized on the 3 Roman towers.
Visit of Bayonne Cathedral
From Allée de la Poterne, take Rue Notre Dame to access the pedestrian center of Grand Bayonne. This is where the Sainte-Marie de Bayonne Cathedral is located.
It is an imposing Gothic-style building which is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco as part of the route of the Ways of Santiago de Compostela. This magnificent Cathedral was built between the 12th and 16th centuries and very recently renovated.
The South Tower of the Cathedral
Want to see Bayonne from above? Then, you can climb the 200 steps of the South Tower of the Cathedral to enjoy a panorama over all the rooftops of Bayonne.
Visit of the Cloister of Bayonne
By going around the Cathedral, you can visit (free of charge) its magnificent cloister. Also in the Gothic style, it was built on the site of a Romanesque cloister. Depending on the era, this cloister was used for processions, to meet, to pray and it even served as a cemetery.
Bayonne market halls
From the cloister, you now have to head towards the Nive river. It is right next to it that the Halles de Bayonne are also called the Carreau des Halles.
It is a covered market where you can find all the products of Basque gastronomy (ham, foie gras, Espelette pepper, Ossau-Iraty cheeses, sheep tomes…). I recommend that you take your lunch break there because many bistros offer local menus in a festive atmosphere.
Visit Bayonne in 1 day – Afternoon program
To continue my tourist circuit of Bayonne on foot, you will have to take the Marengo bridge to cross the Nive and go to the Basque Museum.
What to visit in Bayonne: The Basque Museum
This is an essential visit to discover Basque culture and identity. By going to the Basque museum, you will learn the history of Bayonne but also the life of Basque peasants and shepherds. The Basque identity is also revealed through the paintings, dances and games typical of the region.
Little Bayonne
When you are at the Basque Museum, on the Quai des Corsaires, you will also be in the heart of the emblematic district of the city: Le Petit Bayonne.
It is a pretty lively district with many shops, bars, restaurants. It is particularly in this district that the famous Bayonne festivals are held each year at the beginning of August.
Visit Bayonne in 1 day – Château Neuf de Bayonne
The citadel of Château Neuf overlooks the Adour and dominates the Place St André. This fortress was built on an old English rampart from the 14th and 15th century which defended the entrance to Petit Bayonne.
Visit Bayonne in 1 day – Chocolatier Txokola
On my route, towards the Bonnat Museum, I recommend you go through the Jacques Laffitte street to discover an incredibly attractive shop: the Txokola chocolatier.
I invite you to let yourself be tempted by a few tablets or by their spread which is to die for!
Visit Bayonne in 1 day – Bonnat Museum
This is the last stage of my tour to visit Bayonne in 1 day on foot.
The Bonnat-Helleu Museum is Bayonne's fine arts museum. It brings together collections of paintings, drawings, sculptures and works of art. It is thanks to the generosity of the Bayonne painter Léon Bonnat that these collections were installed in a superb monument of 1902. Today, this museum preserves great works by artists such as Rubens, El Greco, Goya, Ingres, Delacroix , Géricault, Degas, Barye and of course Bonnat.
Be careful, find out beforehand because when I went there, the museum was unfortunately closed for renovation.
Visit Bayonne in 1 day – If you have time
If you have finished my tour and have some time left, I recommend one last visit: The Chocolate Museum . Located in the Atelier du Chocolat factory, this museum explains everything about the world of cocoa, from cultivation to production.
Where to stay in Bayonne to visit the city on foot?
To stay right next to the must-see tourist sites of Bayonne and with a lovely view, I recommend: Ibis Styles Bayonne.
Indeed, this hotel is located on the banks of the Adour, a few steps from the Cathedral. It is ideal for doing my walking tour and it has an exceptional view of the old town!
Fancy discovering another beautiful French city? Then why not visit Toulouse or Bordeaux in 1 day?