St Jean Pied de Port, just five miles from the Spanish border, is a lesser known part of France but one that you’ll definitely want to visit – because it’s been named France’s ‘best’ village that’s also one of the cheapest places to stay in the region for tourists.
It has a population of 1,487 and is surrounded by greenery. It is walled with numerous gates for access. Inside the walls, the town is small but far from disappointing – and it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The best spot to see inside if the Eyheraberry bridge, over the Nive River is a romantic roman bridge which is one of the highlights of St Jean Pied de Port.
You can take a walk up to the Rue de la Citadelle (Citadel Street) which leads to the Mendiguren Citadel. This spot is popular for panoramic views of the town with the greenery in the background.
The citadel which was built in 1628 now houses a school and is not open to the public.
The town was founded in the 12th century and it is situated at the foot of the mountains so is a popular route for hikers.
The Spanish border – more specifically the Basque Country – is also just 10 minutes away so this would be a good location to visit if you planned to head towards Spain afterwards.
The passion for good food has passed down through generations in the town. The Tipia Cafe welcomes regular visitors every morning for coffee and on every Monday, the restaurant is packed with people who come to watch the pelota games.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the area, the Hôtel des Pyrénées is situated in a great location and allows for a traditional experience.
It is a former coaching inn, set just 400 metres from the citadel. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and is decorated in a contemporary style. For dinner, the hotel also has a well renowned restaurant which is popular among visitors.
One guest said: “The location is ideal and the property has a great pool, we stayed in a very nice room and the food at the restaurant is delicious.”