La Bastide Clairence

La Bastide Clairence is a village in the French Basque Country, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, officially listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Founded in the 14th century by the King of Navarre, the bastide is notable for its regular street layout and traditional half-timbered houses lining its cobbled lanes. The village retains traces of a former Jewish community, including a notable cemetery, a rare feature in the region. Its narrow streets host numerous craft workshops—potters, weavers and cabinetmakers—that bring the town centre to life throughout the year. The Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church, with its characteristic wooden interior galleries typical of Basque architecture, is worth a visit. The River Joyeuse runs through the surrounding countryside, providing a green setting ideal for walks. Located around twenty kilometres from Bayonne and the Basque coast, La Bastide Clairence makes a peaceful base for exploring the wider region while enjoying an unspoilt rural setting. The mild, damp oceanic climate suits year-round visits. The surrounding hills are well suited to walking, and the area offers plenty of opportunities to sample local Basque cuisine.