Although I have taken a couple day trips to Bayonne previously, I wanted to check out Bayonne in depth, so I booked a hotel for a couple nights…just to get a feel for it at my leisure and at night.
What a great city! It has been inhabited for thirteen centuries, with evidence dating back to the First Century and Roman settlements from 4AD as a strategic stronghold at the confluence of the Nive and Adour Rivers.
Bayonne is famous for its ham, and is well known for its chocolate, first arriving from the New World more than four hundred years ago by Portuguese traders when Bayonne was a major shipping port.
The architecture of half-timbered buildings, popular in France since the Middle Ages are punctuated with typical red shutters, as the famous Basque red was a stain made of olive oil, ochre and ox blood used to protect wooden doors, shutters and timbers from insects and moisture.
Bayonne is a beautiful and elegant old city and I could easily see myself living there someday and until then I will continue to visit frequently. I highly recommend checking out this amazing place!
Bayonne is bad ass!
https://mctrohn.com/bayonne-in-april
