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Beyond Biarritz: Eco-luxury on France’s southwestern coast

By: Molly Heintz

Getting to L’Auberge Basque in the French Pyrenees may require the help of jet fuel, but once you’re there, the living is all about simple and sustainable luxury. Like a traditional inn, L’Auberge Basque is run by a single proprietor, Cédric Béchade, who is the chef of the inn’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Béchade makes a point of sourcing his ingredients locally, so expect Basque-inspired delicacies such as sole au Txangurro (spider crab) or braised Ibaïona pork.

The kitchen of the restaurant is separated from the inn’s “living room” by a glass wall, so guests feel right at home, but the setting and grounds of L’Auberge Basque are so stunning that no one is likely to spend much time indoors. Situated on a hill facing the Rhune Mountains, the inn is just seven kilometers from the coastal resort town of Saint Jean de Luz, a southern neighbor of Biarritz on France’s Côte Basque. Guests can take in the dramatic landscape while relaxing on a generous patio filled with cushy armchairs.

Each guestroom is decorated differently but all appear to be comfortable and casual. At L’Auberge, old and new are integrated seamlessly: clean and modern furnishings by Flamant Home, antique wood floors, free wi-fi and sustainable features such as geothermal heating and cooling and a water-saving “rain dance” shower system. Most rooms have a balcony or private terrace, so the outdoors is never more than a few steps away.

L’Auberge Basque’s eco-management policy promises recycling as well as the use of natural cleaning products and energy-efficient lighting. And guests staying at the well-managed inn in its bountiful setting leave with a perfect souvenir: a reminder of how it’s possible to live lightly—and beautifully—on the earth.

L’Auberge Basque

Rooms start at 90 Euros/night. For current rates, check the inn’s website, www.aubergebasque.com.

D 307 vieille route de St Jean de Luz
64310 Helbarron / Saint-Pée – France

Phone :
+33 (0)5 59 51 70 00

Fax :
+33 (0)5 59 51 70 17

Email :
contact@aubergebasque.com