Best cities, Tourism Guéthary (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) -

Guéthary (Getaria in Basque) is a French commune located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

A former whaling port, then a tuna and sardine fishing port, this small seaside resort in the Neo-Basque architectural style now primarily focuses on tourism, thanks to its location on the Basque coast on the Atlantic coast.

*Not to be confused with Getaria in Spain (Euskadi).

The small number of neighboring communes is explained by the ocean front and the small size of the commune; moreover, Guéthary is almost bordering the commune of Ahetze, less than 200 m to the southeast. The neighboring communes are Bidart and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

Tourism

The neo-Basque style town hall is listed in the inventory of historical monuments. There you can find the traditional sculptures of the amatxi and the aitatxi (grandmother and grandfather) which often adorn the facades of town halls, testimony to the respect due to the wisdom and knowledge of the elders.

The “terrasse” offers the most beautiful panorama of the city, stretching from Biarritz to Hondarribia. It’s also a must-see spot for enjoying the sunset and the surfers’ spectacle.

The Fronton square is the heart of the village. Beyond the tourist aspect of the place, the fronton remains for the Basques the anchor point of the village, with its moments of joy and conviviality but also its serious moments.

The Saraleguinea Museum was created in the 1950s to house a donation from sculptor Georges Clément de Swiecinski. This collection includes sculptures, ceramics, and numerous drawings.

A second section is about the Roman remains discovered in Guéthary. Excavations have revealed the existence of a salting factory as well as an exceptional funerary epitaph, unique in southern Aquitaine.

The third section evokes the history of the village and its evolution from a small fishing port to the current seaside resort. Finally, temporary exhibitions allow visitors to admire the works of local and international contemporary artists.

The port of Guéthary, in addition to being the smallest on the coast, has the particularity of being in dry dock (all boats are hoisted out of the water using a winch after each sea trip). Given its size, it can only accommodate a few boats and the spaces are reserved for years, it is very difficult or even impossible to obtain a ring (or space). The port is protected by a short dike and houses an unsupervised beach reserved for nautical activities.

The Church of St. Nicholas dates from the 16th, 17th, and 19th centuries. It houses a processional cross dating from the 15th century. The town also has two chapels: the Chapel of St. Joseph and the Chapel of Koskenia.

Beaches

The city has three beaches. They are sometimes inaccessible due to the tides. Parlementia Beach is the only one with lifeguards.

Transport

Guéthary train station is located on the Bordeaux—Irun railway line. It is served by TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine trains to Bordeaux-Saint-Jean, Dax, and Bayonne to the north, and Hendaye to the south.

Guéthary is served by lines 3 and 18 of the Txik Txak network, providing a fast connection to the towns of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bidart, Biarritz, Anglet, and Bayonne.

During the months of July and August, a free shuttle bus, line N50, serves the town, passing through the town center and the train station. The shuttle stops at two free park-and-ride lots: the Mendi Alde park and ride lot and the school park.