Getting to know the Basque Country: Bastida (Lower Navarre)
Straight Lines Witness of History
- Bastida is located in the northwest of Lower Navarre, on the border with Lapurdi. A beautiful town, also recognized by public institutions. This small capital of craftsmen owns a history that has left a special architecture.
Ihintza Erremundegy
2008ko urriaren 13a
Ihintza Erremundeguy
Getting close to Bastida for a warm autumn weekend can be a good opportunity to get to know the beautiful village. Bastida is surrounded by Hazparne, Bidaxune, Urqueta, Bardoze and Aiherra. A town of just a thousand inhabitants, classified in the list of the most beautiful villages in France. In this way, Bastida preserves its image and its 700 years of history. The town of Villapuerta, located about 40 km from Pamplona, has been inhabited for three years. Both localities carry out cultural, tourist and sports exchanges.
It is possible to make a commented visit of the village thanks to the guides, which are also buses to go to. Throughout the summer, night farmers’ markets are organized every Friday from seven to ten o’clock in the afternoon in the Plaza del Arco. Local producers gather and propose axo, peppers, vegetable gardens, duck confites and foie grasa, shrimp, beef whistles, sheep gasna...
Bastida was founded by Louis I of Navarre in 1312 with the aim of becoming a strategic center. At the beginning of the 13th century, the kingdom of Navarre was driven away from the coast, from present-day Gipuzkoa, and thus lost its way to the sea. Since then, the connection with Aturri and the port of Bayonne has become indispensable. Bastida could have allowed the kingdom of Navarre a maritime route thanks to the Joyeuse River of Aturri, which crosses the village.
A bastide usually has a special architecture, as it respects a regular path. Thus, the village of Bastida is built around the central axis that goes from the old port to the church. The buildings and orchards are arranged perpendicularly and all have the same dimensions. Each new inhabitant was given a plot of land called “plaza”. In it he had to build the house and the garden called cazalot. The streets cut these areas of land at right angles, and the main street begins with a wider area: The Arch Square. At the beginning it had to be a market place, because today these plans have been conserved exactly.
The stone church was built in 1315, away from the neighborhood, as in most of the bastides. The church had a special function. The rulers of Navarre gathered under the church’s footstool as they passed through the village. The last congress was held in 1789, at which time Bastida decided to join the kingdom of France.
In the early 17th century, Seraphic Jews fled to the Inquisition from Spain and Portugal and entered Bastida. The Jews had a fairly autonomous status there. However, they had to offer the village a doctor and apothecary. From this period of history, today, only the cemetery and some surnames remain.
There are fifteen artisans in Bastida. “Today we are in the era of the production of formatted objects,” says J. Pineau, President of the Association of Artisan Arts, “especially when it comes to the industry. In the last twenty years, Labastida’s ammunition has contributed to the installation of craftsmen. Their ethics are to ensure the creation, guaranteeing the diversity and nobility of the materials. Its shops are located in the vicinity of the Plaza del Arco, in the hamlet of Darriex, next to the church and in the surrounding area. Workshops are open throughout the year. Be brave and you will be welcome.” The 13th and 14th of September is the Basque Country’s Clay Market in Bastida. About 50 French and European potters approach the village and show their works.
It is possible to make a commented visit of the village thanks to the guides, which are also buses to go to. Throughout the summer, night farmers’ markets are organized every Friday from seven to ten o’clock in the afternoon in the Plaza del Arco. Local producers gather and propose axo, peppers, vegetable gardens, duck confites and foie grasa, shrimp, beef whistles, sheep gasna...
The Navarrese bastide of the 14th century
Bastida was founded by Louis I of Navarre in 1312 with the aim of becoming a strategic center. At the beginning of the 13th century, the kingdom of Navarre was driven away from the coast, from present-day Gipuzkoa, and thus lost its way to the sea. Since then, the connection with Aturri and the port of Bayonne has become indispensable. Bastida could have allowed the kingdom of Navarre a maritime route thanks to the Joyeuse River of Aturri, which crosses the village.
A special architecture
A bastide usually has a special architecture, as it respects a regular path. Thus, the village of Bastida is built around the central axis that goes from the old port to the church. The buildings and orchards are arranged perpendicularly and all have the same dimensions. Each new inhabitant was given a plot of land called “plaza”. In it he had to build the house and the garden called cazalot. The streets cut these areas of land at right angles, and the main street begins with a wider area: The Arch Square. At the beginning it had to be a market place, because today these plans have been conserved exactly.
Church of Notre Dame de l'Assomption
The stone church was built in 1315, away from the neighborhood, as in most of the bastides. The church had a special function. The rulers of Navarre gathered under the church’s footstool as they passed through the village. The last congress was held in 1789, at which time Bastida decided to join the kingdom of France.
The Israeli Cemetery
In the early 17th century, Seraphic Jews fled to the Inquisition from Spain and Portugal and entered Bastida. The Jews had a fairly autonomous status there. However, they had to offer the village a doctor and apothecary. From this period of history, today, only the cemetery and some surnames remain.
Handicrafts in the village
There are fifteen artisans in Bastida. “Today we are in the era of the production of formatted objects,” says J. Pineau, President of the Association of Artisan Arts, “especially when it comes to the industry. In the last twenty years, Labastida’s ammunition has contributed to the installation of craftsmen. Their ethics are to ensure the creation, guaranteeing the diversity and nobility of the materials. Its shops are located in the vicinity of the Plaza del Arco, in the hamlet of Darriex, next to the church and in the surrounding area. Workshops are open throughout the year. Be brave and you will be welcome.” The 13th and 14th of September is the Basque Country’s Clay Market in Bastida. About 50 French and European potters approach the village and show their works.