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Town · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Nova Aquitânia
Ciboure
The village on the other side of the port, with painted wooden Basque houses facing the water, the house where Maurice Ravel was born, the church of Saint-Vincent and the fort of Socoa at the bay entrance.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Ciboure
Ciboure lies on the left bank of the Nivelle, facing Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and the two together form a single town, linked by the bridge over the port. From Ciboure's quay you get one of the loveliest views of the bay, with the white painted wooden Basque houses in red and green reflected in the water.
On the quay that now bears his name, in the Maison Estebania (a 17th-century house), the composer Maurice Ravel was born in 1875; he was the son of a Basque mother and the author of the Bolero. The house is private and can be seen from the outside, with a plaque. Behind the quay, the church of Saint-Vincent, completed at the end of the 16th century, has a Basque interior with wooden galleries. The former Recollects convent near the port is protected as a historic monument.
Following the bay westward brings you to the Socoa district, with the 17th-century fort that defends the bay entrance and the Socoa breakwater. From the fort the road of the Corniche basca runs along the cliffed coast to Hendaye.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours, including the walk to the fort of Socoa.
Best time
In the late afternoon, with the sun on the quay houses and the bay. By day, the walk to Socoa is pleasant in spring and summer.
How to get there
Cross the bridge over the Nivelle from the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, about a 5-minute walk from praça Louis XIV. The fort of Socoa is around 2 km from the center of Ciboure along the bay.
Tip
Ravel's birthplace and the fort of Socoa are visible from the outside. For the Corniche basca to Hendaye, go by car or bicycle, with stops at the viewpoints. The fish restaurants on Ciboure's quay are an alternative to those in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Ciboure
Was Maurice Ravel born in Ciboure?
Yes. The composer of Boléro was born in 1875 in the Maison Estebania, on the quay of Ciboure, opposite the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The house is private and can be seen from the outside.
Is Ciboure far from Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
No. The two sit opposite each other, separated by the port and the river Nivelle; just cross the bridge, a few minutes on foot.
Can you visit the fort of Socoa?
The fort can be seen from the edge of the bay and from the Socoa breakwater. It is a good walking destination from Ciboure.