Aire de Hendaye
Équipements et services
Description
Tourisme
Hendaye (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France)
Hendaye is a seaside resort located at the southwestern end of the Basque coast, on the Atlantic and right at the Spanish border. The town stretches around the wide Hendaye beach, appreciated for its fine sand and regular waves. You can feel a mix of Basque culture and cross-border influences, with easy connections to neighboring Spain. It is a destination that appeals both to families and to watersport enthusiasts.
Heritage and history
Hendaye preserves a heritage marked by the 19th century and cross-border ties. The Château d’Abbadie, a 19th-century neo-Gothic building, dominates the coast and testifies to local patrons. Hendaye station, a rail crossing point to Spain, recalls the town’s strategic importance. The seafront and some seaside villas illustrate the tourist boom of the Belle Époque.
Nature and landscapes
The bay opens onto a wide esplanade and the Bidasoa estuary, an area rich in birds and marine panoramas. Pointe Sainte-Anne offers a pleasant viewpoint over the coast and Hendaye Bay. Walks along the shoreline reveal dunes, rocks and beaches, with striking sunsets over the Atlantic.
Outdoor activities and leisure
Hendaye is renowned for surfing, stand-up paddle and swimming on its large lifeguarded beach in season. Ride schools offer lessons for all levels. Coastal paths and cycle lanes allow exploration of the coast up to the border with Spain.
Gastronomy and atmosphere
Local cuisine highlights seafood and Basque cooking: fish, shellfish and specialties such as the gâteau basque. Nearby on the Spanish side there are also pintxos bars, reachable with a short crossing.
Not to be missed
- Hendaye beach: a long stretch of sand ideal for swimming and board sports.
- Château d’Abbadie: a neo-Gothic building and viewpoint over the sea.
- Bidasoa estuary / Hendaye Bay: birdwatching and coastal scenery.
- Pointe Sainte-Anne: viewpoint for panoramas and sunsets.
- Crossing to Hondarribia/Irun: quick access to Spanish culture and pintxos.
