Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle: A Basque Cultural Haven
Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, France is a village on the Nivelle River. It is well-known for its Herri Urrats festival. In fact, the village has one of the largest of such festivals around the world.
Best Time to Visit
The perfect time to visit Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle is during the months of April through October, for the best weather. Peak tourist season is usually during the months of February, April, and October. Tourists are least likely to visit in November. Herri Urrats is one of the most famous events in the village. Held every second Sunday of May, it aims to reach out to the ikastolak or Basque language schools. Mainly, it is a celebration of the Basque culture and language. One of the most prominent features of the event is walking around the Saint-Pée Lake. It is also celebrated in various cities around the world, such as Buenos Aires, London, and Paris.
What to Do & Area Attractions
One of the most popular attractions in the area is Larrun, a mountain perfect for hikes and walks. Wandering the slopes are cows, manech sheep, and pottok ponies. It is believed to be the home of the first serpent, Lehensugea. Another popular nearby attraction is The Aquarium of Biarritz or le Musée de la Mer, which has been around since 1933. It features Carribean exhibit, different marine life tanks, Indo-Pacific exhibit, north Atlantic tanks, and turtle tank. Visitors will learn more about cetaceans, fishing, and history of whaling during their visit. Also visit the nearby Aquazone. There is a lot of fine Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle hotels offering affordable services. The L’Auberge Basque has an outdoor pool, a library, a restaurant and even offers wedding services. Other options include the 4-star Hotel Arraya and the Hotel Restaurant Du Pont D’Ascain.