Pyrenees, (C) Wikimedia
While the pandemic is still with us, you are probably hoping it stops so you can go on your trip. Am I right? You take part in travel zooms, look too often at the Expedia website, or salivate watching people on TV who are not sitting in their living room. Admit it, I am not far off the mark! You may have saved a lot of money by not spending much since the start of the pandemic. Money that could be put to good use on a nice trip. I have the best destination for you: the Pyrenees! People love Europe to see Paris and the Eiffel Tower, Spain and Barcelona, but they never go further than the major attractions. Why not go to less explored areas like the Pyrenees? This region abounds in magnificent places to visit, where past and present blend in picturesque architecture. It is well worth a visit!
The trip is divided into three, allowing you to do just one part if you wish. The French section, which starts in Perpignan and ends in Bayonne & Biarritz for those doing just this part, or at the border for those doing the whole tour. The Spanish section, which begins in San Sebastian and ends in Girona for those who only do this part, or from the French border to the Andorran border for those who do the whole trip. The third section consists of the Principality of Andorra. Andorra has no airport, so you must come from the French or Spanish side. In our case, especially if you are doing the entire trip, the route would be from Girona to Andorra la Vella and then on to Perpignan to catch the plane.
Let us start with the first part, the French part. We will discover the ideal itinerary for your trip, with places to sleep, things to do and transport to take. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to France! On behalf of the entire crew, your flight attendant wishes you a pleasant stay at your destination!
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Suggested itinerary
Map of the Pyrenees - French Side, (C) Google Maps
Perpignan
The suggested itinerary starts in Perpignan, where you will have landed, probably from Paris. The most important thing is to get the best hotel, even though you will have travelled many hours and may be jet-lagged. Four hotels look interesting; the B&B Hotel, Appart’s City, Kyriad Prestige, and the Novotel. It is really up to you whether or not you want to invest in the first few nights of your trip. Another variant is whether you prefer chains to independent establishments because all along the route, affiliated hotels are part of the same groups. Hotel ratings are based on reviews on Expedia and prices via the hotels’ websites.
B&B Hotel Sud Marché International: 4,2/5
Price: Minimum of 65 $ CAD per Night
Good: Clean, Cost
Bad: Far from Downtown
Appart’City Perpignan Centre Gare: 4,2/5
Price: Minimum of $85 CAD per Night
Good: Downtown, Clean
Bad: — Nothing Major —
Kyriad Prestige Perpi. Centre Del Mon: 4,3/5
Price: Minimum of $95 CAD per Night
Good: Downtown, Clean
Bad: Cost
Novotel Suites Perpign. Méditerranée : 4,2/5
Price: Minimum of $145 CAD per Night
Good: Downtown, Clean
Bad: Cost
Of course, there are hotels of various levels, comfort and price. You just need to know what you want for the nights you will spend there as you might be sleeping in the city for more than one night. Personally, I would stay in all four, because they are all worth it. On the other hand, if I had to choose, I would probably take Appart’s City, as it’s the cheapest of those located in the Perpignan urban area. Moreover, there do not seem to be any major problems to report. Since you will be staying in the city for several nights over two stays, you do not have to stay in the same places both times.
In terms of activities, there is a lot to do in this Mediterranean city. However, I will not show you any pictures, so as not to spoil the pleasure of visiting Perpignan. Probably one of the most popular attractions is the Château des Rois de Majorque. A cultural Mecca of the Mediterranean and Occitanie. It does not cost much to visit, at $6 (CAD), so you will want to check it out. Another place to visit is the Castile, which served as the city’s gateway as well as a prison. The price is only $3, which is not very high. It is worth noting that the cost is not just to pay the employees, but to preserve and maintain these historic architectural features. The third place to visit is the Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, or Seu Sant Joan in the local language. Still considered a place of worship, it is free to visit. A fourth site is the Campo Santo, the largest and oldest surviving cemetery in France. These four buildings are very close to each other and recall the era of the Kingdom of Mallorca and the rise of the Kingdom of France. You have come to the right place if you are passionate about history.
Arriving from Perpignan airport, you will probably pass by the local train station. It is on the street named in honour of Salvador Dali. In the 1960s, he painted a canvas called Gare de Perpignan. Although he did not create the station, it is a building with magnificent architecture. If you are passing through the region, you will want to stop on Rue Paratilla. This pedestrian street is an open-air market, typical of what you might see in the Maghreb. You are almost certain to come away with some goods. On the other hand, this is a narrow street, so do not bring a big bag with you if you are clumsy. Also, consider that you are at the beginning of your journey, so do not fill up your luggage too quickly. The last important place to visit is the Natural History Museum. Admission is free, but they will probably ask you for a voluntary contribution.
You will probably visit these places in two days, so you will need to think about sleeping three nights in Perpignan, considering that you are travelling on the first day. Next, you will need transportation to get to Foix. The best choice is BlaBlaCar, an intercity Uber. Considering you are travelling in the Pyrenees region, you should not take transportation to Toulouse, which is outside the area. You then have no choice but to take this service, as public transport does not make the trip directly, as of today. The distance is around 140 kilometres, so, more advantageous than a four-hour train journey via Toulouse. Plus, you will get to see the mountains up close. Prices are not based on mileage, so you would not pay a crazy price. The last time I tested it, it cost $15, which is not expensive.
Foix
Since the distance between the two places is minimal, you will probably be able to leave and arrive at any time you want. Depending on how many bags you have with you, you might have a chance to see a bit of the town before heading to the hotel. Being a little smaller, there is less choice of accommodation. Even so, it is a very touristy place and well worth seeing. There are two choices: Hôtel Pyrène and Le Gîte de Pawel. Again, it all depends on the type of trip and the type of hotel you are most interested in.
Hôtel Pyrène: 4,4/5
Price: Minimum of $96 CAD per Night
Bon: Clean, Service Quality
Bad: Cost, Far from Downton
Le Gîte de Pawel: 4,3/5
Price: Minimum of $75 CAD per Night
Good: Clean, Service Quality, Cost
Bad: Far from Downtown
There are no major hotels close to the city centre, so in that respect, nobody wins. On the other hand, these two are three kilometres from the action, which is not a very long walk after all. Of course, one is cheaper than the other, so it depends on what you want. Since I do not find much difference in quality, I would automatically go for the cheaper one. On the other hand, Le Gîte de Pawel does not seem to have a website, so the price may vary. However, it is still much lower than the competition. There are a few other gîtes in the area, but they seem to be less well-maintained and less trustworthy. I hope I am wrong there.
The most important place to visit is undoubtedly the Château de Foix, which successively served the Comte de Foix, King of Navarre, and King of France. A visit costs $17 to maintain it, although in the not-too-distant past the building was left to decay due to the lack of conflict nearby. A second important site is the Abbey Church of Saint-Volusien. It was built, partially destroyed and rebuilt following religious wars. Some of Saint-Volusien’s relics are said to be in the building, so he became Foix’s patron saint. Still a place of worship, admission is free. The third place to visit is La Petite Brocante, a store where you can step back in time for a few moments. Another interesting place to visit is Les Forges de Pyrène, on the outskirts and close to the dwellings. For those from Québec, think of a little Village Québécois d’Antan. Admission costs $15. Since the park is located next to the mountains, the view is probably magnificent. By the way, if you are looking for one last activity to do, you can take a stroll along the trails. The easiest is Le Pain de Sucre, a 1.1-kilometre trail south of the mountain town, which offers splendid views of the region.
You will probably have a day and a half to visit, considering you are travelling briefly for the first one. Plan two nights in a hotel before setting off for the next destination. Somewhat similar to the journey before, you have the choice of making a detour via Toulouse by train or going directly to the next destination, Pau, with BlaBlaCar. As the journey is only two hundred kilometres, it would be better to take the direct route. It costs around $17, depending on the driver. There is no better transport in this part of France.
Pau
With a journey time of just over two hours, you may be lucky enough to leave Foix at any time. As Pau is a much larger city than Foix, there is more choice of accommodation, and they are better located too. There are three worth considering; B&B Hotel, Quality Hotel, and Kyriad Prestige. As I mentioned earlier, you will be seeing a lot of the same hotel groups, so, I hope you choose the right one! There are probably many others, but these seemed more interesting.
B&B Hotel Pau Zénith: 4,3/5
Price: Minimum of $77 CAD per Night
Good: Clean, Cost
Bad: Far from Downtown
Quality Hotel Centre Bosquet: 4,4/5
Price: Minimum of $114 CAD per Night
Good: Downtown, Clean, Service Quality
Bad: Cost
Kyriad Prestige Pau Zénith: 4,6/5
Price: Minimum of $105 CAD per Night
Good: Clean, Service Quality, Prestigious
Bad: Far from Downtown, Cost
This time, it is a bit complicated. The question is whether to pay more to stay in the city or pay less to be on the outskirts. Pau’s public transport is excellent. Furthermore, the city has instituted the first hydrogen-powered bus line; no gas, no oil, just water. Personally, I would take the Kyriad, as it allows me to visit the north of the city at the same time. On the other hand, for a safe bet, you can always take the Quality Hotel, part of Choice Hotel, like the ones we find in America.
There is a lot to do in Pau, an urban centre in the south of France. One of the most popular attractions is actually a mode of transport; a funicular railway. There are not many places in the world that still have working funiculars. Even though it is a very short journey, we can plunge back in time, thinking that the chance of us boarding another one is minimal. It looks like it is free, but be sure to have some money on you, just in case.
Of course, like many other places in the region, there is a castle. The Château de Pau. The jewel of the Bearnese, Navarrese, and French crown, was the birthplace of Henri IV, King of Navarre and France. Admission to the castle, now mainly used as a museum, costs around $10. On the first Sunday of each month, however, admission is free. Continuing with political history, there is always the Bernadotte Museum, in honour of Empire Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who was appointed King of Sweden and Norway. His family still reigns in Sweden. Admission to the museum is free, as the cost is covered in part by Pau, Sweden and France.
In the city of Pau, there are also three noteworthy churches to visit. The Église Saint-Jacques, the Église du Bout du Pont, and the Église de Saint-Martin. These are the high points of the Catholic religion in the south of France. In fact, the Église Saint-Jacques is part of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
Last but not least, there are always museums like the local Musée des Beaux-Arts, which brings together diverse works from all over the world. Another museum, a little out of town, is the Musée Mémorial des Parachutistes. Both are free but probably require a voluntary contribution. There is also the architecture of the buildings and the streetscape, which is splendid. They have done a lot of effort to preserve heritage buildings and edifices. A place well worth a visit.
You will probably have two and a half days to visit, considering that you are also travelling on the first day, as you always do. Plan three nights in a hotel before you leave. The next destination is the Bayonne & Biarritz metropolitan area. Given the proximity between the two towns, which could be described as twin cities, they are regrouped as one. The best way to get there is to take a train from France’s SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer). It takes just seventy-five minutes and costs between $15 and $20 dollars. Then you can enjoy what the region has to offer.
Bayonne & Biarritz
Being quite close to each other, and a seaside resort, there is a lot to do. There are plenty of places to stay, but the prices are expensive. The closer you get to Biarritz, the more expensive the accommodations will be since they are located on the coast. There are three hotels to consider; Adonis Hotel, ibis Styles, and Hôtel Le Bayonne.
Adonis Hotel Bayonne: 4,3/5
Price: Minimum of $70 CAD per Night
Good: Clean, Service Quality, Cost
Bad: Far from Downtown (BAYONNE)
ibis Styles Bayonne Centre Gare: 4,1/5
Price: Minimum of $119 CAD per Night
Good: Downtown
Bad: Cost
Hôtel Le Bayonne: 4/5
Price: Minimum of $107 $ CAD per Night
Good: Downtown, Service Quality
Bad: Cost
As you can see, prices are generally high, because you have to go further afield to pay less. There are not any hotels in this price range in Biarritz, or anywhere in between. The one that seems best is the Hôtel Le Bayonne, but if you are prepared to shell out a lot of money, there is for sure a hotel for you in Biarritz. Transport between downtown Bayonne and downtown Biarritz is well-structured and fast, so you can stay in one place and have a chance to visit the other.
Let us start with things to do in Bayonne. There are several religious monuments, including the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie. It was built and rebuilt many times due to major fires. The building no longer seems to occupy a religious function, being converted more into a museum to visit the interior. Either way, it seems to be free. Then there is l’Église Saint-André. It is still used as a place of worship, so it is free. Just a friendly piece of advice, it is not a good idea to visit in the middle of a service…
Then there are other interesting things to visit in Bayonne, such as the Rue Port Neuf, a pedestrian street with lots of stores. Not far from the area is the Arène de Bayonne. This is not just a bullfighting venue, but also a concert hall. As such, prices vary widely. The last place to visit in Bayonne is the Basque Museum, which tells the story of this region shared by France and Spain. Admission is $12 if you are over 26. It is free under that age and on the first Sunday of the month, like many other museums.
Once in Biarritz, there is plenty more to do. Probably one of the most beautiful places to visit is the Rocher de la Vierge on the coast. From this beachfront point of view, you can admire the city. You can also sunbathe on the Côte des Basques beach. If you find it too crowded, you can head for Plage de Milady or Miramar. As you continue along the coast, you can admire the Biarritz lighthouse, which can be seen from several different locations in the area.
If you are more into arts, you can visit the Galerie d’Art Barthélemy Bouscayrol. You can also visit the Asiatica Museum. The gallery is free, but the museum costs $15 dollars. Before you leave for Spain, you should finish off with a visit to the well-preserved Church of Saint-Alexandre.
You will probably have four and a half days to visit, so you will need to stay somewhere for five nights. This is longer because there is a lot to see in this conurbation. Then you are going to San Sebastian, Spain. As both nations are part of the Schengen Area, there are no borders like the one between Canada and the United States. However, make sure you have all your papers in order just in case. The fastest and cheapest way to travel is by bus with Flixbus. It is also less restrictive, whereas, by train, you are obliged to change at the border, as the company does not manage each side. By bus, it only takes seventy-five minutes and costs around $7.50. You can then conclude the French part of your tour and continue to Spain. The next time you return to France, it will be to fly home from Perpignan.
However, you can always decide to visit only the French side of the Pyrenees. This way, your trip would end in Bayonne & Biarritz. You could fly to Paris, and then back home. If so, I hope you have had a great trip!
Franco-Spanish border, (C) Département des Pyrénées-Atlantiques
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Sources:
- BlaBlaCar
- Chronoplus
- Expedia
- Flixbus
- Google Maps
- Rome2Rio
- SNCF
- Statista
- TripAdvisor
- Wikimédia
- Artistes d'Occitanie
- Centre de Droit et d'Économie du Sport
- Chambre de Métier et de l’Artisanat-Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée
- Département d'Ariège
- Département des Pyrénées Atlantique
- Département des Pyrénées-Orientales
- La Région Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée
- Métiers d'Art en Occitanie
- Union des Entreprises de la Filière du Sport, des Loisirs, du Cycle et de la mobilité active