This site requires Javascript enabled to operate correctly. Please enable Javascript in your browser, or click here

The  Basque Country: Between the mountains and the sea.

Pont d'Esprit, Bayonne
Pont d'Esprit, Bayonne

In the far South-West of France lies the Basque country, home to colourful, half-timbered houses, dramatic coastline and the majestic Pyrenees. It really has got everything!   We'll be based in the stunning seaside town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the perfect base to explore the area. 

We'll spend our time exploring the dramatic Atlantic coast and the picturesque mountains that border France and Spain. Depending on the weather conditions, we'll head to different locations to capture a variety of seascapes and landscape.

The coastal towns of Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Bidart are exquisite. They seem to have been designed for artists and photographers with their immaculate buildings and colourful exteriors. Grand merchants houses line the waterfronts and form beautiful reflections in the calm water. Pretty fishing boats fill the harbour at Saint-Jean-de-Luz often covered in large red fishing nets to add a splash of colour. The square in Bidart and the half-timbered houses in Bayonne are wonderful examples of traditional Basque architecture. The elegant seaside town of Biarritz is full of opportunities for photography with the Rocher de la Vierge, Lighthouse, rocky beach and grand architecture.

Biarritz
Biarritz

A short distance from the coast, the foothills to the Pyrenees offer a complete contrast. We'll photograph different villages which are located in pretty valleys surrounded by rolling hills and meadows. Sare, Ainhoa, La Bastide-Clairence,   Espelette….each village is a masterpiece. Red chilli peppers, a symbol of this proud region, cover the facades of many of the houses and embellish the already picture-perfect buildings.

 The weather is always changing in this corner of France as the weather fronts cross the Atlantic ocean and hit the Pyrenees. This means we often experience stormy seas and moody skies: perfect for dramatic images. You can practise long exposure to create ethereal photographs which can also work well in black and white. 

The Pays Basque is a fantastic photo destination, which is relatively unknown by photographers, so come and discover it before the word gets out!