Art and culture in Bordeaux / Bayonne

[dazzamac]

Hi,

I'm planning my return to the Camino Frances in August 2012 and have been researching airfares from Dublin. At the moment the Aer Lingus fare to Bordeaux is very competitive with Ryanair's fare to Biarritz.

I flew in to Biarritz last time and found it very convenient for access to St Jean. Rather than make my way to St Jean immediately, I wanted to take advantage of the fact that I was in Biarritz and see a little of that region before leaving. Given that I only stayed one night and left for St Jean in the afternoon, there's still quite a bit for me still to see there.

On the otherhand, I could fly in to Bordeaux and spend a few days there before getting the train to Bayonne and making my way onwards.

Has anyone any recommendations for art and culture events or attractions in Bordeaux or Biarritz / Bayonne around the end of July, beginning of August?

 

[sillydoll]

If you have some free time, why not walk get a train from Bordeaux to Lourdes and walk to St Jean from there? Its a lovely 7 day walk.
Or, you could go to Lourdes and walk the Aragones route to Puente la Reina.
Or, you could visit Lourdes and then get a train from Lourdes to Bayonne.
Or, you could get transport from Bordeaux to Saint Palais (visit the best Chemin St Jacques museum in France) and walk 3 days to St Jean on the Via Turonenesis.
Or, you could walk from Bayonne to Trinidad de Arre on the Ruta del Baztan (100km)
Or, you could walk to St Jean from Bayonne. (Take a left at Ustaritz which leads to StJean).

For French trains south of Bordeaux - http://www.bonjourlafrance.com

 

[dazzamac]

Thanks for the feedback. I read about the route from Bayonne to St Jean on this forum about a week before I started on my first Camino. I was really intrigued but just hadn't the time to research it properly and figured if I came back that I could do it then.

Now that I am coming back, its one of the alternative routes that I want to investigate this time so I've been researching it and a couple of other options.

However, I'd also like to see a little more than the airport or train station of wherever I happen to fly into. Rather than simply pass through on my way to somewhere else, I'd like to experience a little of what Bordeaux or Biarritz / Bayonne / Anglet has to offer.

 

[oursonpolaire]

It seems too obvious to mention, but generally speaking, departmental tourism websites (here is http://www.tourisme-gers.com/gers-vacances/uk/index.asp the one for the Department of Gers and this for the French Basque country-- http://www.bearn-basquecountry.com/12-8944-Home.php) are pretty comprehensive and have good English-language support, should you have specific questions.

 

[catrinatravels]

When we visited Bordeaux a couple of years ago, we enjoyed the Musee des Beaux Arts and the Place de la Bourse. There is a magical fountain across from the Place on the banks of the Garonne River. We heard good things about the Musee d'Aquitaine, but ran out of time to visit there. Bordeaux is a charming small city with interesting architecture and a great modern tram that is really fun to ride!

 

[dazzamac]

Thanks everyone for the advice and input. Prices to Biarritz have dropped so I think my choice is made. All I have to do now is check the bank balance and book my flight.