Casco Medieval (Old Town)
Hondarribia's UNESCO-listed medieval quarter is one of the best-preserved walled towns in the Basque Country, its steep cobbled lanes lined with 15th-century mansions draped in cascading geraniums. Step through the Puerta de Santa María gate and you enter a living film set of heraldic stone facades, wrought-iron balconies and flower-smothered windowsills.
The walls and the gate
The monumental Puerta de Santa María, flanked by two octagonal towers, has guarded the town since the 14th century and remains the most photographed entrance in the Basque coast. Walk the intact ramparts for a panoramic sweep over the Bidasoa estuary and the French town of Hendaye just across the water.
Inside the walls, Calle Mayor is the spine of the old town, climbing from the gate up to the Plaza de Armas. Every building seems to compete for the most extravagant floral display, making the street a riot of red, pink and orange from spring through autumn.
Plaza de Armas and the Parador
At the top of Calle Mayor, the broad Plaza de Armas is anchored by the Castillo de Carlos V, a 10th-century fortress that Carlos I of Spain converted into a royal residence and that today operates as a Parador hotel. Even if you are not staying, walk into the courtyard for a look at the Renaissance stonework.
The Gothic church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción y del Manzano faces the square, its ornate portal worth a close inspection before you settle at one of the plaza's terrace bars for a cold Txakoli wine.
Best time to visit
The old town is magical year-round but reaches peak beauty in June and July when the geraniums are at full bloom and the evening light turns the sandstone facades amber. Arrive before 10 am or after 6 pm to photograph the streets without tour-group crowds.
The Alarde festival on 8 September — a centuries-old military parade through these very streets — is one of the most visceral local traditions in the Basque Country and worth planning a trip around.
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