Home Exchange in Pyrenees Atlantiques

The Pyrenees-Atlantiques, a delightful slice of France between the ocean and the mountains, offers a wide range of possibilities. They rise gently from the sea and offer landscapes in all shades of green. You should stroll through the small villages... Read More

The Pyrenees-Atlantiques, a delightful slice of France between the ocean and the mountains, offers a wide range of possibilities. They rise gently from the sea and offer landscapes in all shades of green. You should stroll through the small villages with their green and red frames before hiking in the Mondarrain or the Rhune. Hiking enthusiasts often repeat the villages of the Béarn, the Basque Country, and the unique in the world Pyrenean mountains. Enjoy the seaside resorts surrounded by fine sandy beaches. Rich in art and culture, this region will delight everyone. Many decide to visit the historical sites of Béarn Pays Basque, such as the medieval castles, the castle of Pau, the Basque corniche, the rock of the Virgin in Biarritz, and the forest of Iraty. What else is impossible to miss here? Well, Rhune massif, naturally. It dominates the Atlantic coast, and the Basque landscapes, and offers an incomparable panorama aboard the famous Rhune rack railway. Nearby, in the village of Sare, people tend to admire the magnificent half-timbered houses, red or green, typical of the province of Labourd, and visit the Ortillopitz house, built in the XVII century. Next to the village, the prehistoric caves tell 45,000 years of history. Here we also have the castle of Pau, an impressive medieval fortress housing art collections and tapestries from the 16th century. Afterward, take a stroll through the streets of Pau, which reveal the history of the city, and enjoy the exceptional view of the mountain range. We never say that we are going to the Atlantic Pyrenees, but that we are going to spend a weekend in the Béarn or in the Basque Country. These two territories with a strong identity have certainly come together in a department, but each lives a little on its own, sharing however this mountain range that borders Spain. A little further inland, there is Iraty, its cross-country ski resort, and its enchanting landscape in autumn, when the leaves of the immense forests are covered with gold. Finally, we come to the mountain of peaks, near Gourette, Artouste, or La Pierre-Saint-Martin. In winter, you can ski on the snowy slopes; in summer, you can go for sporty walks around the lakes, where the water is fresh and pure. But this department is also one of the cities that are undergoing beautiful metamorphoses. Pau, the city of King Henri IV, is on the move since the Halles and some neighborhoods were renovated. In Bayonne, you have to follow the itinerary in search of street art walls that show a city freed from its folklore (although the richness and staging of the works of the Basque museum make this step unavoidable!) Finally, on the coast, from Biarritz to Hendaye, fashionable locals abound, often overlooking the sea. The picture would be incomplete without mentioning the typical French ”Art de Vivre”, erected almost like a religion. In Béarn as in the Basque Country, gastronomy is a serious business, between the garbage, of which Oloron is the cradle, and the renowned addresses, which give prominence to local products. Here, too, there is a sense of festivities: those of Bayonne are inescapable. However, accommodation is not cheap at all. But People Like Us is the perfect solution for finding affordable accommodation. We are one of the largest, safest and most reliable home exchange platforms in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques. There are thousands of home listings with friendly and helpful local hosts across the region for you to browse. Sign up, chat with them and exchange your homes today.