Bayonne, the capital of the Basque region, sits at the junction of the rivers Adour and Nive — a busy commercial town with a long and layered history. At every turn of the narrow lanes with their distinctive colombage houses that make up the old town centre, you will come upon vestiges of a rich past. From the Roman fortifications, elements of which are still visible, to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral Sainte-Marie and the ramparts built by Vauban under Louis XIV, the historical depth of Bayonne rewards careful exploration.
Bayonne is famous for its chocolate — a tradition brought by Spanish Jews who settled here in the late 16th century — for the excellent Musée Bonnat-Helleu, for the summer Fêtes de Bayonne (one of Europe's great street festivals), and for the invention of the bayonet. The Musée Basque on the Nive is one of the best museums of Basque culture anywhere. The Halles de Bayonne market is the place to buy Bayonne ham and explore the richness of the local larder. There is so much to see and discover in Bayonne that it is well worth taking one of the guided tours organised by the Tourist Office.