Espelette
Home of the Piment d’Espelette
Located a little to the east of St-Jean-de-Luz in the old Labourd Province of the Basque Country this distinctive village is famous for producing the Espelette Pepper known as the Piment d’Espelette.
They can be seen drying dangling from the traditional half timbered Basque houses painted red and white as they have been for centuries. The peppers are grown in other villages too, notably Ainhoa, but they are protected by the Apellation Controllée regualations and they are always known by the same name.
Celebrating the May Queen in Traditional Basque Costume
Apart from Chillis and Basque houses look out for the 16th C Castle that is now the Mairie and the 17th C Église St-Etienne which is unusual in that it has three level of galeries round the walls.