It has been a long time since I last visited Bayonne, but every time I go there, I feel it is a welcoming place, with a mixture of history, flavor and joy. Bayonne, located in the southwest of France, in the Aquitaine region, a walled city, evokes a rich history, culture and Basque Gascon traditions.
Strolling through its cobblestone streets takes you back to medieval times, with the Sainte Marie cathedral as the undisputed jewel of the city, surrounded by old houses with wooden beams and brightly colored shutters that pay homage to Basque architecture and evoke an atmosphere of tradition, warmth and hospitality.
During the maze of streets, I can’t stop shooting flashes at the charm offered by the objects in the antique stores surrounding the cathedral like @galeridubasque on rue de la monnaie, a space with an extremely warm+intimate atmosphere and full of character, with that touch of nostalgia that only well-preserved antique pieces can provoke and that only they invite you to calmly observe the bronzes, glassware, antique bedding or art deco pieces that are exposed throughout the store. Undoubtedly, a corner full of magic where you can hear those silent and hidden stories that the city evokes so much in me.
But if I have to choose a special corner of Bayonne, it is the Nive River promenade. It is undoubtedly the soul of the city that has witnessed the medieval past, where the merchants of the time not only did business in that vibrant and bustling atmosphere but also shared news and rumors among the comings and goings of the locals.
There is no better way to end the afternoon tasting a crêpe filled with the famous and named dark and bitter chocolate of Bayonne accompanied by a hot coffee in the charming crepéria @Chezamatxi in the typical neighborhood of petit Bayone that just seeing it from the outside suggests to me a cozy and warm atmosphere besides being an example of dynamism and vitality of the city.
Bayonne is undoubtedly an invitation to travel in time and enjoy the daily pleasure. A connection between medieval history and modern energy.
Feel the history and get lost in its medieval heart!
