DISCOVER
The Port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Ranked among France’s major ports, the Port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, just a short walk from our Basque Country campsite, has shaped the history of Basque fishing.
An ancestral fishing port where cod was caught in the 15th century and where ships set off to hunt whales on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, with its recently renovated fish auction and its colourful boats, it is an integral part of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s heritage.
One of France’s major ports, it’s part of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s historic heritage!
It brings the town to life with boat trips and its distinctive local atmosphere. Anchovies, tuna and hake are caught here. A real economic driver for the Basque Country, with active fish wholesalers and regular deep-sea trawlers.
Around 10,000 tonnes of fish from about a hundred different species are landed and sold at the Saint-Jean-de-Luz/Ciboure fish auction every year.
Fish in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
At the Port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, fish are the stars! They’re here to be sold: tuna, anchovies and fresh sardines have made this port famous. Another speciality of Saint-Jean-de-Luz: line-caught hake. Also known as whiting, it’s a deep-sea fish that can measure over 1 m.
This is an artisanal fishery carried out aboard a line-fishing boat (a small boat fitted with hook lines) that focuses on quality selection rather than quantity. Considered the noblest fish in the Basque Country, top chefs always give it pride of place on their menus.
So take your pick: enjoy them in one of the best restaurants in St Jean de Luz, or buy some at one of the Basque Country markets!
Would you like to see more?
Visit Saint-Jean-de-Luz
