Saint-Jean-de-Luz has kept its human scale and Basque-harbour charm: the sheltered bay, Place Louis XIV, the shipowners' houses. A classic car parks here as if in its own era. We deliver from Biarritz to your hotel or venue.
It was in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, in June 1660, that Louis XIV married the Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa at the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. The Maison Louis XIV, where the king stayed, still looks out over the harbour, and local tradition says the door the newlyweds walked through was bricked up after the ceremony. A classic car rental in Saint-Jean-de-Luz fits right into the setting: the bay promenade, the fishing boats, Rue Gambetta and its Basque linen shops.
Our cars come from our Biarritz base, about twenty minutes up the coast. We can deliver them on request, or you can collect from Allée du Moura and drive down the coast road, which makes a lovely first outing in itself. Choose between the Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda and the Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7L Targa at €690 per day, or the Fiat 600 Multipla at €390.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is where the Basque Country tips from sea to mountain: the corniche and Hendaye on one side, La Rhune, Ascain and Sare on the other, Spain twenty minutes away over the Ibardin pass. Few places take you from surf to summit in so few kilometres, and that is exactly what a vintage car does best.
Ciboure, Socoa and the corniche road to Hendaye
1 hr 30 to 2 hrs, about 30 km
Cross the Nivelle into Ciboure, where Maurice Ravel was born in 1875 in a quayside house on the street now named after him, then follow the bay round to Socoa fort, tucked behind its sea wall. This is where the D912 corniche road begins. It climbs above the flysch cliffs, layers of grey and ochre rock laid bare by the Atlantic, with a few viewpoints where you can pull over and watch the swell roll in. Drop down into Hendaye, pass the Abbadia estate and carry on to the Deux Jumeaux rocks, then head home via Urrugne.
Ascain, La Rhune, Sare and Ainhoa
Half a day, about 50 km
Take the road to Ascain, with its old bridge over the Nivelle and its pelota square, then climb to the Col de Saint-Ignace. This is the starting point of the Petit Train de la Rhune, a wooden rack railway that has been hauling visitors to the 905 m summit since 1924. Leave the car at the pass and enjoy views over the ocean, the Basque coast and the Pyrenees; allow at least an hour and a half for the round trip. Then roll down to Sare, listed among the most beautiful villages in France, and on to Ainhoa with its main street of white, red-shuttered houses. Head back via Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle and its lake.
The Ibardin pass via Urrugne
1 hr to 1 hr 30, about 25 km
A short, twisty escape towards the border. Drive through Urrugne, whose church is known for its sundial, then follow the Ibardin road as it hairpins up through the forest to the 317 m pass, where the ventas await: shops and inns just over the Spanish side. The road is narrow: the Porsche loves it, the Pagoda takes it at its own pace. On the way down, the coastline keeps reappearing between the bends.
- Delivery from Biarritz
- Our cars are based on Allée du Moura in Biarritz. We can deliver to your hotel, villa or venue in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure or Guéthary, with a quote on request, and run the full briefing on the spot.
- Best season and hours
- Rentals run from 9am to 8pm. September and October are ideal: a calm bay and a quiet corniche. In summer, do the corniche early in the morning. The La Rhune train runs seasonally, from spring to autumn, so check its timetable before planning the climb.
- Getting around and parking
- Much of the town centre around Rue Gambetta is pedestrianised: leave the car in a central car park and explore on foot. On the corniche, only stop in marked lay-bys, never on the verge.
- Rental conditions
- Drivers must be 25 or over with a licence held for 3 years; insurance for two drivers and 150 km per day are included. Deposit on booking, balance at handover, security deposit of €4,000 (Fiat) or €5,000 (Porsche, Mercedes). Full tank out, full tank back.
Do you deliver to Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
Yes, delivery on request from Biarritz: hotel, villa or reception venue.
For a Basque wedding?
A car decorated in your wedding colours, church or town-hall arrival timed to the minute, chauffeur option.
What budget should I plan?
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 drive a classic car up La Rhune?
Not to the top: the road ends at the Col de Saint-Ignace, about fifteen minutes from Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Park at the train station there and finish the climb on the rack railway, in season.
Can I take the car into Spain?
The Ibardin pass is around twenty minutes away and San Sebastián about forty minutes by motorway. If you are thinking of crossing the border, mention it in your booking request and we'll tell you what is possible with your chosen car.
Which car is best for the corniche road?
The Porsche 911 Targa, roof panel off, was made for those bends above the ocean. The Mercedes Pagoda cruises it in style, and the Fiat 600 Multipla enjoys it at a gentle pace: its 21 hp prefer the view to the speedometer.
When is the best time of day for the corniche?
Morning for an empty road, late afternoon for golden cliffs. The car is due back at 8pm, so in autumn the sunset fits comfortably into your day.
What can I do in one day from Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
The corniche to Hendaye in the morning, lunch on the harbour, then La Rhune and Sare in the afternoon: about 90 km in total, well within the 150 km included.
Ready to take the wheel in Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
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