Béarn and the Basque Country

Read blog: http://www.eurodestination.com/Short%20Breaks/France/bearn-and-the-basque-cou...
Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66816105@N03/sets/72157627745033807/

This video is essentially the result of my tour through the heart of the Basque and Béarn regions.
I started the journey by landing at Biarritz airport from where I took a hire car. I then drove for about 1 hour east, finally arriving at the small town of Monein, which is a short distance from the city of Pau. Here, I had the great pleasure of meeting many local people in and around Monein, including the owners of a new wine bar in the village, the owners of two delightful "Chambre d'Hote" (what most of us know as B&B's) and two brothers, Fabrice and Sebastien Bordenave, local winegrowers (00:22).
From Monein I travelled cross-country through Navarrenx, Sauveterre-de-bearn, Sain-Palais, Hasparren, Cambo-les-Bains, Bayonne and finally back into central Biarritz, which I have to say is a world away from Monein.
In the video the fortified walls are of the town of Navarrenx (1:25), the medieval buildings next to the river are from Sauveterre-de-bearn (1:45), the beautiful waterside views are from Saint Palais (2:20), the Basque houses are mainly in the Hasparren area (2:45). The opening scene is of Eglise St Girons, at Monein, which is unique in that it was fully financed by local people when it was built back in the 16th century rather than by the French King. Monein was a very wealthy area at the time because of its wine-making, and had a population of 5000 when Pau only had 500.
Also in the video is Lacommande (0:40) a medieval settlement where pilgrims used to rest on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
Famous people from the Bearne include rugby players Philippe Bernat-Salles, Damien Traille, Robert Paparemborde, and Henry the IV of France.

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