Passemillon Street

You can’t help but look up on this street – the buildings here are just stunning! It’s truly a feast for the eyes, with all the half-timbered houses and their colorful shutters. It’s a textbook example of Bayonne architecture! Here, you’ll find some of the town’s most beautiful homes, with blue, red and green timber framing that contrasts beautifully with the white stone façades it rests on. Whatever the origin of its name, Passemillon Street was once home to cider merchants. Indeed, cider-making is an age-old tradition in the Basque Country. They’ve been making it since Antiquity! It’s called Sagarno, meaning apple wine in Basque, and technically speaking, it’s not really a cider, as some of its features don’t quite fit the French textbook definition of the term. But as you’ll discover once you’ve drunk it, the taste is very similar. Apple trees have grown here for centuries! Sagarno was mass-produced up until the 18th century; sailors would take some with them on their travels, as it had a number of health benefits that helped them fight off illnesses. It’s become less popular over the last few centuries, overshadowed by beer and wine, but it’s making a comeback here thanks to a number of locals who have resumed production. You’ll find many cider mills in the area, where you can sample and buy this famous local beverage! In the meantime, let’s continue along Passemillon Street and make our way to the city’s covered market.