The historic capital of the Basque Country, Bayonne deserves more than a quick visit: the Nive quays, Petit Bayonne, the cathedral. It's also an ideal starting point, ocean on one side and the first Basque hills on the other, for a day in a classic car.
Bayonne is a city of rivers: the Adour and the Nive meet here, and the Nive divides Grand Bayonne, gathered around Sainte-Marie cathedral, from Petit Bayonne and its Basque Museum. Narrow façades with red, green or blue shutters are mirrored in the water, and Vauban's ramparts still wrap around the old town. It's a foodie city too: chocolate has been made here since the 17th century, and Bayonne ham is best sampled at the covered market on the banks of the Nive.
For a vintage car hire in Bayonne, our cars come from our Biarritz base, fifteen minutes away: the Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda and the Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7L Targa at €690 per day, the Fiat 600 Multipla at €390. Delivered to your hotel or collected on Allée du Moura, the car is ready with a full tank and a proper briefing.
Above all, Bayonne is the gateway to the Basque hinterland. Within twenty minutes you swap the quays for fern-lined hill roads with the Pyrenees as a backdrop: the Nive valley, Cambo-les-Bains, Espelette, the Route des Cimes. If you prefer villages to beaches, there's no better starting point.
Up the Nive valley to Espelette and Ainhoa
Half a day to a full day, about 75 km
Leave Bayonne on the D932, which follows the Nive through Ustaritz to Cambo-les-Bains. Here you can visit Villa Arnaga, the grand neo-Basque house Edmond Rostand had built after the triumph of Cyrano de Bergerac, with its formal French gardens. Carry on to Itxassou, famous for its cherries, and the Pas de Roland, a rock arch right by the river. Then head for Espelette, where strings of chilli peppers dry on the façades in autumn, and Ainhoa, ten minutes further. Return via Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle and Arcangues.
The Route Impériale des Cimes and La Bastide-Clairence
About 2 hrs 30, 60 km
Looking for a ridge road in the Basque Country just twenty minutes from the ocean? This is the one. Built under Napoleon I to link Bayonne with Hasparren, the Route Impériale des Cimes runs along a crest above the green valleys of the Labourd, with the Pyrenees lined up to the south and La Rhune at their head. It bends just enough to make a straight-six or flat-six sing. From Hasparren, once a shoemaking town, continue to La Bastide-Clairence, a bastide founded in 1312 and one of the most beautiful villages in France, with half-timbered houses and an arcaded square. Back to Bayonne in about half an hour.
- Delivery and handover
- Our cars are based on Allée du Moura in Biarritz, fifteen minutes away. We deliver in Bayonne and Anglet, to your hotel, the train station or your venue, with a quote on request and the full briefing on the spot.
- Seasons and the Fêtes de Bayonne
- Rentals run from 9am to 8pm. Spring and autumn are perfect for the hinterland, when the hills are green or the peppers are drying in Espelette. During the Fêtes de Bayonne, five days at the end of July, much of the centre is closed to traffic: not the time to drive in town.
- Getting around and parking
- Grand and Petit Bayonne are all narrow, often pedestrianised streets: park on the edge of the centre and cross the Nive on foot. Inland, roads are narrow and shared with tractors and livestock, so drive the old-fashioned way, with time to spare.
- Rental conditions
- Drivers must be 25 or over with a licence held for 3 years; two-driver insurance and 150 km per day are included. Deposit on booking, balance and security deposit (€4,000 for the Fiat, €5,000 for the Porsche or Mercedes) at handover. Full tank out, full tank back.
Do you deliver to Bayonne?
Yes, delivery on request from Biarritz, to your hotel or event venue.
For a corporate event in Bayonne?
Vintage-convoy rallies and team buildings across the Basque hinterland, tailored quotes based on fleet size.
How much does it cost?
From €390 a day for the Fiat 600 Multipla to €690 for the Porsche 911 Targa or the Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda, two-driver insurance included.
Can I rent a classic car during the Fêtes de Bayonne?
Yes, but to get out of town rather than into it: the centre is practically off-limits to cars for those five days. We'll suggest a day in the hills instead, far from the crowds.
How long does it take to drive from Bayonne to Espelette?
About thirty minutes via the Nive valley and Cambo-les-Bains, a little longer if you stop at Villa Arnaga on the way.
Do you provide wedding cars in Bayonne?
Yes: a decorated car, arrival at the town hall or cathedral timed with you, and a chauffeur on request. For a procession, several cars from the Basque fleet can travel together, subject to availability.
Which car is best for the Route des Cimes?
The Porsche 911 Targa to enjoy the curves with the roof off, the Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda for an elegant cruise facing the Pyrenees. The Fiat 600 Multipla can do it too, at its own pace, and that's half the fun.
Can I combine Bayonne, the hinterland and the coast in one day?
Yes: the Nive valley and Espelette in the morning, Ainhoa for lunch, then back via Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle to the ocean at Biarritz, about 80 km in all, well within the 150 km included.
Ready to take the wheel in Bayonne?
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