TouchScreenTravels

Our Touch, your Travels…

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St-Jean-de-Luz

A Royal Marriage and a Treaty

St-Jean-de-Luz is a Basque fishing port and resort between Biarritz and the Spanish border located at the mouth of the Nivelle River where it forms a protective natural harbour. Elegant, large traditional Basque houses grace the old town which make it a very pleasant place for a stroll and some chic shopping at the luxury shops in rue Léon Gambetta.

During the 17th C. St-Jean was a very prosperous place due to being the main fishing port in the region and the activities of the Basque Corsairs who preyed on Spanish and English ships. The French King turned a blind-eye to this - indeed it suited him as both countries were traditional enemies of France.

Rue Léon Gambetta and Tower of St-Jean-Baptiste

In November 1659 the Treaty of the Pyrénées was signed on Pheasant Island, a shared island on the nearby Bidasoa River which marks the border between France and Spain. This ended hostilities between the two and led to the marriage of Louis XIV of France to the King of Spain’s daughter Maria-Theresa in June 1660.

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Basque Country

Images by Daniel Villafruela, Shaund@wikivoyage.old