Whether you are heading south to Spain or heading for the Pyrenees, Bayonne is a good option to change trains or switch to coach, especially if you have a thing for chocolate and/or piment-cured pork.
Interactive map
Strolls
Wander around Bayonne (3k blue)
Leave the railway station and walk straight ahead and follow the road around to the Saint-Esprit bridge stay on the right hand side of the road which is meant to be for pedestrians (the other side for cyclists).
On the far side cross the road at the crossing but continue in the same direction crossing the river Nive. If you are planning to stop for a bite to eat, you might want to take note of the little wooden shed to your right before you cross selling grilled seafood - you can watch what's happening on the river whilst being able to see the station clock from the upper seating area.
Carry straight on down Rue Victor Hugo which takes you into the narrow lanes of the old town. Continue to the right up Rue Argenterie up to the Cathedral (signposted). Feel free to have a wander around it and when you are finished, continue up Rue Notre Dame and then turn right on to Rue des Gouverneurs. The first street on your right (Pl. du Château Vieux) takes you up to the top of the ramparts, but you could instead follow the next right down to the Japanese Garden (see below).
Walk to the end of Pl. du Château Vieux and turn left - see if you can work out the numbering system for the houses along this street. Turn left down Rue des Prébendes and continue back down to the Cathedral and cloister. There's a cafe down here that you can listen to records while you drink - what will they think of next with this new fangled technology.
Follow the walls of the cloister on to Rue du Luc and then wiggle left on to Rue Poissonnerie. If you ant to know more about Bayonne ham and why they like to put piment d'Espelette in it, you can visit the Musée du Jambon Aubard on the left. At the bottom of the street is the Halles de Bayonne on the left where you can get all the produce you want. Either walk through or around it. We need to cross the river to see one more speciality of Bayonne. You can take either bridge. but onece crossed tunr right on to Rue Marengo. Then take the first left on to Rue Jacques Lafitte. Down this road on our right is Monsieur Txokola where you can learn all about chocolate making and why they also like to put piment d'Espelette in it.
Japanese Garden and Ramparts (1k red)
From the Rue des Gouverneurs take the second left which leads down to La Poterne and through to the wrong side of the walls from an attackers point of view. It's just a short walk up to the Japanese garden and then a pleasant stroll around to the Avenue de Pampelune. Follow the Rue d'Espagne back towards the Cathedral and then right on to Rue Poissonnerie to rejoin the wander around Bayonne.