Aïnhoa

Located halfway between Sare and Cambo les Bains, Aïnhoa is one of France’s most beautiful villages, traditional and typically Basque. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Aïnhoa, just 2 kilometers from the Spanish border, served as a convenient stopover for pilgrims making their journey to Santiago de Compostella. Although almost totally destroyed by the Spanish in 1629, it was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries and its one main street lined by timbered and shuttered homes represents the essence of Pays Basque. All the typical, essential, and fundamental elements in a traditional Basque village are present in Aïnhoa: the town hall, the church, and the fronton (the rounded wall used for playing the classic Basque game of pelota).