Sare is a picturesque village set in Basque Country and framed by the Pyrenees mountains. The fortified village is one of the most beautiful in the region and features cobbled streets lined with centuries-old buildings. Stop by Ortillopitz House to learn more about life in Basque Country in the 17th century. The traditional house is reimagined as a local history museum and furnished with original antiques.
Join a guided tour and venture into the Grottes de Sare. Inhabited more than 20,000 years ago, the subterranean grottoes are a fascinating glimpse of life in prehistoric France. Follow narrow passageways to the cavernous main grotto lit with LED lights.
Dine at local bistros and enjoy classic Basque country cuisine. Order dishes like “merlu koskera” fish soup and “poulet Basquaise” chicken stew. Pair your meal with a glass of dry white produced in the Jurançon winemaking region. Emerald-green “izarra” herbal liqueur is an excellent digestif.
Getting there
Sare is in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, a 30-minute drive from Saint-Jean-de-Luz and 45 minutes from Biarritz. Bilbao in Spain is a two-hour drive away. Rental cars offer the freedom to visit Sare and explore Basque Country at your own pace. Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is a three-hour drive away.