Hendaye, a town historically linked to Spain
Opposite Hondarribia, Caneta old port lets you relive the history of fishing and the conflicts between France and Spain.
A historic gem preserved in the middle of the Bidasoa, Île des Faisans, also known as “Conference Island”, is renowned for a singular feature…
Immerse yourself in Caneta’s fascinating history and the authentic charm of the town center as a whole, during our Tuesday morning guided tours! Only in french !
Canéta and its old port
Below the city center, on the banks of the Bidassoa, is hiden Caneta.
It houses Vauban’s ramparts (there are still 3 cannons pointing towards Hondarribia in Spain!) and two houses listed as Monuments Historiques since 2011.
The first, named Bakhar Etchea, is the villa where writer Pierre Loti (1850 – 1923) Bakhar Etchea, is the villa where writer Pierre Loti. He administered the Bidasoa naval base, settling disputes between fishermen. There, he wrote his novel Ramuntxo.
The second villa, the Maison Mauresque, is characterized by its atypical architecture.
In pictures
Île des Faisans
A few hundred metres further along the Chemin de la Baie, you’ll come across Île des Faisans (or Île de la Conférence). A small 3,000 m² piece of land in the middle of the Bidasoa (the river that forms the border between France and Spain), in 1659, the “Pyrenees” peace treaty was signed here.“This was the prelude to Louis XIV’s wedding to the daughter of King Philippe IV of Spain. Negotiations were conducted for 3 months by Cardinal Mazarin and Don Luis de Haro.
A monument commemorating the conference was erected here in 1861.
Since the Treaty of the Pyrenees, the islet has been a condominium (divided property) under the authority of France and Spain, changing every 6 months. The island can no longer be visited today, but can be easily observed from the Joncaux shore, on the Chemin de la Baie.