Neighborhood
Quartier Saint-Esprit
Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
Quartier Saint-Esprit lies on the north bank of the Adour River, connected to Grand Bayonne by the Pont Saint-Esprit. This neighborhood is historically significant as the site of the Citadel of Bayonne, a 17th-century fortress designed by Vauban that now houses a school and offers panoramic views. Saint-Esprit is also the heart of Bayonne's chocolate-making tradition, with several artisanal chocolatiers and the Chocolate Museum (Musée du Chocolat). The area has a more residential and relaxed feel than Grand Bayonne, with wide boulevards and a mix of Basque and 19th-century architecture. Visitors can explore the citadel's ramparts, visit a chocolate workshop, and enjoy river views.
Don't miss
- Vauban Citadel (Citadelle de Bayonne) and its ramparts
- Musée du Chocolat (Chocolate Museum)
- Artisanal chocolate shops like Cazenave
- Views of the Adour River and Grand Bayonne from the citadel
- Église Saint-Esprit, a 19th-century neo-Gothic church
More attractions in Bayonne