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At the junction of the Nive and Adour
rivers lies Bayonne, the regional capital
and port and a town steeped in history.
Originally a Roman garrison, medieval Bayonne developed on the same site, under
the coat-of-arms of both France and England!! The town became e flourishing port
during 300 years of English rule which originated in the famous marriage between
Alienor of Aquitaine and Henry Plantagenet. Their son, Richard The Lion Heart,
visited Bayonne and eventually married a Basque princess from Navarra!
The Gothic cathedral of St.Marys was built in the 13 and 14th centuries during
the English reign and its radiating Gothic style can also be seen in the
cloisters and medieval cellars. There are over 130 Gothic “cellars” (in fact:
medieval shops) under the upper and older part of town surrounding the
cathedral. Inside the cathedral all is very harmonious.
The cathedral has recently undergone a major restoration program and the
interior has been cleaned revealing the beautiful medieval stone work.
The coat-of-arms and the decorations on the keystones, which were partly masked
by centuries of grime and soot, are now splendid in their original colors.
The stained glass windows were also cleaned allowing greater illumination and
highlighting one of most superb cathedrals in the South West of France.
After the English left, Bayonne found itself on the front line during nearly 200
years of conflict between France and Spain and its role changed from a
commercial centre to a military stronghold. The fortifications were constantly
improved and in the 17th century the great French architect, Vauban, added the
final touches as well as building the citadel which dominated the Adour river
and the town.
Up until the 17th century, the port penetrated the town by canals which serviced
the merchant installed on the quaysides. The distinctive arcades still shelter
shoppers today and the stone facades and half-timbered houses hide treasures
such as magnificent stairways with wrought-iron balconies.
Bayonne has a unique character and charm of a river tow n protected and
preserved by its fortifications. To stroll through town is to discover the
beautiful arcades of the rue du Port Neuf, the picturesque rue des Basques. It’s
a living history in its narrow, pedestrian streets, its quaysides and town
walls. The Basque game, “pelote basque, may be see in the covered hall, or
“trinquet” and a visit is not complete without sampling Bayonne drinking
chocolate, a special tradition as chocolate was first made here in the 16th
century.
Bayonne is also the cultural centre of the region. The Leon Bonnat museum houses
an important art collection, mostly of his own paintings but also works of
primitives, Goya, Durer, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Delacroix, Rubens, Van Dijck,
Murillo, Constable, Boudin, Jon kind and many more.
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