What to do in Hondarribia

Hondarribia (Fuenterrabía) is a walled town at the mouth of the Bidasoa, facing Hendaye (France). Its historic quarter, declared a Monumental Site, is one of the best preserved in the Basque Country: cobblestone streets, noble houses with wrought-iron balconies, the Gothic church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano and the Castle of Charles V (now a Parador). The La Marina quarter, by the harbour, is the gastronomic heart: colourful fishermen's houses with the finest restaurants and pintxos bars on the Basque coast. Hondarribia has been repeatedly recognised as one of Spain's top gastronomic destinations. Hondarribia beach, in the Bay of Txingudi, offers swimming with views of France. The lighthouse walk and the route to Mount Jaizkibel (543 m) with views of the Cantabrian Sea and Pyrenees complete the offering. The Alarde de Hondarribia (September) commemorates the 1638 siege and is one of the most distinctive festivals in the Basque Country. 20 km from San Sebastián and 15 min from the French border.