Saint-Jean-de-Luz

From CruisersWiki

St Jean de Luz is the French gateway to the Basque country, its architecture an interesting blend of French provincial and Basque and its cuisine an equally individual mix. Other than Hendaye, it is the closest French harbour to the Spanish border. Space for visiting yachts is limited, but a stay here is very rewarding and there is much to see and do in and around the town.

Charts

Please provide a good map or chart that clearly shows details (depths, where to dock, scale etc.) of the harbor.

Give charts applicable to this port or refer to a Chart section of another page (Country or Region) that lists the charts.

Source

Chart Number - Chart Name

Chart Number - Chart Name

Source

Chart Number - Chart Name

Weather

Give local weather conditions or refer to another page (a region or island group) that covers these conditions.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

Passages

• France Coastal Passages Channel/Atlantic Section

Islands

This section does not apply for most ports, if that is the case for this one remove it. You may, however, list ismall islands near this port.

Communication

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation

The approach is straightforward, entering the bay past the town of Socoa with its protective breakwater to starboard. The moorings for pleasure craft are in the small basin of Ciboure to the SW of the town; the main basin is for fishing boats only.

Berthing

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Yachts tie up in Ciboure on a Mediterranean moor, stern-to with a pick-up line for the bow. For many yachtsmen, this will be the first place they will encounter this style of mooring. Water and electricity points are available on the quay. Space is very limited and it is best to tie up where you can and seek out the harbour authorities.

Anchorages

It is possible to anchor in the bay of St Jean, clear of any mooring buoys, where there is some shelter under the breakwater of Socoa. It would, however, be very uncomfortable and possibly even untenable in strong onshore winds.

Yacht Repairs and Services

List services. If no services are available on the island write "None" and remove all the subsections (Marine Stores, & Repairs/Yards, & Fuel, Water, & Electricity.

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

Give details on fuel

Water

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Electricity

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Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Gallery

St Jean de Luz

The castle and breakwater of Socoa

The historic village of St Pied de Port

One of the great pleasures of a stay here is admiring the distinctive Basque stone-built houses of Ciboure and St Jean de Luz with their wooden balconies and the unusual church architecture. Many of the churches feature ornate gilt altar screens and tiered wooden balconies around the walls. An excellent example of the latter is the Eglise St Jean Baptiste, where Louis XIV married the infanta Marie Therese in 1660. A walk round the bay to Socoa, with its Vauban-designed fort and breakwater, is a good plan for fresh air. In the evening, you might even catch a game of cesta punta. A game unique to the Basque countray, cesta punta is very exciting to watch, with the four players hurling a small, hard ball at the end wall of the court from wicker ‘hand extensions’ shaped like huge uncut fingernails. The speed of the ball reaches in excess of 200 kph. Finally, St Jean de Luz is perfectly placed for a train journey inland to St Jean Pied de Port, a stop on the pilgrims’ trail to Santiago de Compostella. A very attractive hilltop town, St Jean Pied de Port boasts mediaeval walls, steep cobbled streets leading down to the River Neve and old stone houses dating back to the 16th century.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Parillada de poissons, a special Basque mixed fish grill, is available at a number of restaurants in the town and is not to be missed. Grilled sardines at the fishermen's co-operative restaurant, the Grillerie du Port, were also very good value (in 2000).

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

?

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Saint-Jean-de-Luz at the Wikipedia

References

See France.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

• On a visit here in June 2000, we were fortunate enough to moor up alongside a fishing motoryacht belonging to one of the Martell brothers, who now spent his time tuna fishing in the Bay of Biscay following the sale of the Martell business to Seagrams. A highly entertaining character, he would spend days drifting out in the Bay landing tuna and keeping up his spirits with Pernod. However, he confessed to a personal hatred for the fish and gave all he caught to his professional skipper - S/Y Athene of Lymington.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and this page's details validated:

• June 2000 --Atheneoflymington 18:39, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Atheneoflymington