Village d'Ainhoa

Close to Spain south of Bayonne, Aïnhoa is located on the border of Labourd (Basque Country) and Navarre. This 12th century bastide village is organized according to an original plan: the houses are aligned on a single wide street; the territory of the commune, including gardens and arable land, is cut into strips. Two squares widen the urban fabric, one with the church (13th and 16th centuries) and its cemetery with discoid stelae.
Dating mainly from the 17th century, the houses of Aïnhoa are in the Labourdin style. They have half-timbered facades and balconies overlooking the gardens. Classified among the most beautiful villages in France, the commune also includes several districts, including Dancharia on the border. At an altitude of 389m, the chapel of Notre-Dame d'Aranzazu (Hawthorn) offers a panoramic view as far as the Atlantic coast.