Ciboure and the Quai Maurice Ravel
Separated from Saint-Jean-de-Luz by only the width of the Nivelle river, the small port of Ciboure is where composer Maurice Ravel was born in 1875 and where the fishing fleet still ties up at day's end. Cross the bridge and you enter a quieter, less touristed world of painted timber houses and working quays.
A Stroll Along the Quai
The Quai Maurice Ravel runs along the waterfront and is lined with traditional Basque houses in deep red, green and blue — the colours are not decorative whim but historical convention, each hue once signifying the owner's trade or religious affiliation. The facades are best photographed in the soft morning light before the tour groups cross the bridge.
At number 27 Quai Maurice Ravel, a modest plaque marks the house where Ravel was born. The composer credited his Basque heritage — his mother was from the region — with the rhythmic precision and dance-like quality of works like Boléro and the Piano Trio in A minor.
Beyond the Quai
Walk up from the waterfront into the old village and you'll find the 16th-century Église Saint-Vincent, a Basque-style church with the characteristic wooden galleries and a fortified tower that served as a lookout against pirates. The interior is simpler than Saint-Jean-Baptiste across the river but arguably more atmospheric.
The small fish restaurant terraces on the Ciboure side of the bridge tend to be cheaper and less crowded than their equivalents in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, yet the catch comes off the same boats. Try a table at one of the informal spots on the quay for grilled sardines and a glass of Txakoli, the local Basque white wine.
More of Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Saint-Jean-de-Luz →
