Ascain

Ascain is a village in the Labourd area of the French Basque Country, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, around ten kilometres from Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Spanish border. Crossed by the Nivelle river, it retains a traditional centre built around a fronton court used for Basque pelota, along with a church featuring a distinctive tower and wooden interior galleries typical of Labourdine religious architecture. Red-and-white timber-framed houses, characteristic of Basque building style, surround the main square. The village is well known as a starting point for walks up La Rhune, the region's emblematic mountain standing at 905 metres, which can also be reached by the historic rack railway departing from the nearby Col de Saint-Ignace. The surrounding rural, hilly landscape is well suited to walking, cycling and exploring Basque heritage, amid sheep farms, woodland and mid-mountain scenery. Its proximity to the Basque coast and towns such as Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz makes it easy to combine a countryside stay with seaside activities. Local gastronomy features gâteau basque, sheep's milk cheese and produce from the surrounding area, including specialities linked to nearby Espelette.