Bidart, what to see and do.

Bidart, one of the most beautiful localities of the coast of Iparralde (French Basque Country).

Bidart, Bidarte in Basque, is a small town located 6 kilometers from Biarritz and 20 kilometers from San Juan de Luz (Donibane Lohizune). A coastal paradise, which surprises us with 6 beaches and a beautiful path that runs through almost the entire town. But these are not its only attractions, its urban nucleus, small and charming, welcomes us with the typical structure of the towns of Iparralde.The etymological meaning of Bidart is “in the middle of the roads”, “crossroads”. And it is that in Basque, Bide artean, means literally that, between ways. And if we look closely, the contraction of both words originates the word Bidart. According to experts, this name is due to the fact that Bidart is located at the crossroads of roads that lead to Biarritz, Bayonne or San Juan de Luz among others. Are you ready to get to know Bidart?

In relation to the etymological meaning of Bidart, we find its motto, “Bideartean zuzena onena” which in Basque means “at the crossroads the straight road is the best”, a motto that, besides giving us clues about the origin of the name of the town, also gives us a sample of the character of its inhabitants. A motto, that besides giving us clues about the origin of the name of the locality, also gives us a sample of the character of its inhabitants. Did you know that Bidart is the highest urban nucleus of all the coast of Iparralde?

What to see in Bidart.

If you plan to visit Bidart, we encourage you to read this section carefully. You will know some of the most emblematic spaces of this town. Places that keep intact the identity and charms of Bidart. Some attractions, which together with its incredible architectural heritage invite us to walk through each of the corners of this beautiful and picturesque town on the Basque coast.

Ilbarritz Castle: This nineteenth century building located on the hill of Handia, on the coast, between cliffs, is listed as a historical monument. A mansion, which in addition to having great views of the sea, was originally equipped with the best materials and technology of the time.

Notre Dame Church: The church of Notre Dame or Our Lady of the Assumption follows the line of all the churches that you will find in Iparralde, austere exterior and surprising interior. This 16th century temple surrounded by the local cemetery has elements of great importance such as the altarpiece from 1750 or the baptismal font located next to the pulpit.

Fronton: Bidart has several frontons, but the most striking are in the center, next to the town hall. We must differentiate between the small fronton, located in the Sauveur Atchoarena square and the large fronton, located a few meters away. In both we find a great atmosphere that will allow us to enjoy great matches of Basque pelota in different modalities.

Coastal path: In the cliffs of Bidart, near the mouth of the river Uhabia, is the starting point of the so-called coastal path. A route along the entire coast, linking Bidart with Donostia San Sebastian. 54 kilometers of route, which, divided into different stages, encourage us to enjoy the villages of the Basque coast and the immensity of the sea.

Viewpoint: Along the coastal path there are several viewpoints where you can enjoy the coast and the sea from a privileged position. One of these points is located a few meters from the center itself. In this space there is an information panel that tells us all the places that we can see in this incredible coastal panorama. A vision in which the cliffs and beaches play a special role. We leave its exact location on Google Maps in case you want to get closer to enjoy the views.

Monument second civil war: This work of art remembers all those people who in one way or another felt the effects of the second civil war in their own skin. We must remember that during this time there were many Basque refugees who left their land, as well as those who suffered bombings like the one in Biarritz. In short, terrible moments, which today are remembered through this humble monument located on the coast, next to the viewpoint and the Santa Magdalena chapel.

Sauveur Atchoarena Square: This picturesque square represents the heart of Bidart. The nerve center. A meeting place, where we can enjoy a good game of pelota while tasting some of the most emblematic dishes of the local gastronomy. It is here, where many of the events that take place in the town throughout the year.

Chapel of Saint Joseph: The chapel of Saint Joseph or Saint Joseph is located in the neighborhood of Parlamentua. A small temple, in which stands out its large portico. According to experts, this space was reserved for the Agotes (cagots), a minority social group that for centuries was discriminated against. Great master craftsmen who were cruelly singled out by the church and society. In fact, in most churches these people had to enter through a different door, and in others, as in this chapel, they had to stay outside, in the portico.

St. Madeleine Chapel: The chapel of Madelaine or Madeleine is strategically located in one of the most amazing spots of the coast. According to experts, this chapel may represent one of the oldest buildings in Bidart. The current chapel was built in 1820 after the original one was destroyed in 1817. From here we have the opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of nearby mountains such as Jaizkibel or Larrun.

Although these are some of the most important and emblematic places in Bidart, they are not the only ones. If you want to visit the town in detail, we recommend a visit to places such as the Bassilour Mill or the Plazako Ithurria spring.

Bidart beaches.

Bidart has almost 5 kilometers of coastline. A characteristic, which makes it one of the urban centers of Iparralde with greater coastal attractions. A great example of this can be found in the so-called coastal path and its 6 beaches.

What to do in Bidart.

Bidart offers a number of experiences to enjoy its coast and its urban center. Among all of them, sports such as surfing, pelota, hiking or golf stand out. Bidart has perfect spaces to enjoy all of them. If you do not practice any of these modalities, it can be a great option to get started in them. We encourage you to consult the different experiences that have been specially designed for beginners.

Where to park in Bidart.

In case you travel by private vehicle and want to visit the town center of Bidart, we recommend you to park in the parking du Petit Fronton, a small parking lot next to the tourist office, the small fronton and the town hall. Remember that the first hour is free. Enough time if you only want to visit the pediment, the church and the viewpoint that we find on the coast. Of course, whatever the amount and time of parking you choose, remember that it is mandatory to get the usual ticket at the parking meter. There are also reserved parking spaces for those who are only going to park for 15 minutes. An option that can be interesting if you only want to make a consultation at the tourist office. If this parking is full, you can try your luck in the Parking du Lavoir, this parking is just 5 minutes walk away.

Video.

As you know, we always try to complement the words and pictures of our articles with a short video. An audiovisual, with which we intend to show you in a more real way what awaits you at your destination. In case you like this kind of videos, we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel to discover each and every one of the places and experiences that we recommend you in Euskal Herria. We are waiting for you!

History.

Bidart hides a great history behind its facade of tourist town. A history, which can still be glimpsed contemplating some current elements of Bidart. A clear example of this can be found in its coat of arms, an element created in 1958 in which we find a Basque whaling ship and the watchtower for whale watching located on the beach of Parlamentua, Koskenia.This coat of arms summarizes very quickly the history and origin of the town. There was a time when whale fishing was one of the most important economic activities in the Basque Country. And Bidart was no exception. Stationed on the current Uhabia beach (old port), the harpooners waited for the sighting of the whales to go fishing in their trawlers. The journey was not without its dangers, since the same waves that today are surfed by surfers were once crossed by these emblematic Basque vessels. Once in port, the whales were cut up to obtain their blubber and oil.In the 15th century, whales became scarce on the Basque coast and fishermen had to travel to Newfoundland. Today, many of the elements related to fishing that were used in those times are still visible. A clear example of this is the model of the ship hanging from the ceiling of the church or the watchtower of Koskenia. If you want to know in detail the history of the Basque whalers, we recommend a visit to Albaola.

What to see near Bidart.

In the vicinity of Bidart we find multiple tourist attractions. Spaces, which perfectly complement the visit to this emblematic urban center. We leave you a small list with some of these spaces so that you can plan your trip. We hope they will be of help.

Experiences in the Basque Country.

In case you are planning to visit other points of our geography, we recommend you to take a look at the different experiences that we recommend in our reservation center. We are sure you will like them.

Bidart is one of those places that we recommend you to visit in every trip to Iparralde (French Basque Country). In case you have any questions about what to see in Bidart, we recommend that you use the comment system that you will find after these lines to send them to us. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!