EUSKADI! La Bastide-Clairence
City Tours · Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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La Bastide-Clairence quite rightly belongs to the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". Founded in the 14th century, this bastide in the Basque hinterland impresses with its architectural symmetry and a vibrant scene of artisans.
The village was founded in 1312 by Louis I, King of Navarre, to provide the kingdom with access to the sea via the river Joyeuse. The architecture is characterized by typical Basque half-timbered houses with their characteristic green and red wooden beams, lined up along the perfectly straight main street.
The central square with its arcades is particularly worth seeing. Today, La Bastide-Clairence is a center for craftsmanship: numerous studios have settled within the historic walls—from potters to weavers to jewelry designers, who creatively carry the heritage of the place into the modern era.
The church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption is unique due to its grass-covered forecourt and the wooden galleries inside—a typical feature of Basque sacred buildings. A walk through the adjacent cemetery with its disk-shaped tombstones (Hilarri) tells much about the mystical culture of this region.
