Basque Village Guéthary and La Rhune Peak See Surge in Visitor Interest

Guéthary, a coastal village of about 1,300 residents in the French Basque Country, is experiencing a rapid rise in tourism. Visitors are drawn by its white‑washed houses with green or burgundy shutters, a surf‑friendly beach, authentic Basque cuisine at family‑run establishments like Briketenia, and boutique accommodations such as Villa Catarie. Google Trends data shows a 40 % increase in searches for "Basque villages to visit" since 2023, and the village remains much less crowded than nearby Biarritz.

The nearby La Rhune (905 m) mountain also attracts travelers. From its summit, a short train ride on a historic rack‑railway offers panoramic views of the French and Spanish Atlantic coasts, the Pyrenean foothills, and verdant valleys. The slow ascent, lasting about 35 minutes, lets visitors appreciate the contrasting sea‑and‑mountain scenery that defines the Basque region.