La Villa Catarie ★★★★

Step inside the Villa Catarie. A 13th century typical Basque villa with just 15 bedrooms, the staff are really able to get to know each of their visitors and treat everyone like their most honoured guests, or rather like an old friend. Whether you opt for Kaixo, Bonjour or even Hello, you will be greeted with a warm smile and welcomed as if arriving at your own family home.

And what a home it is! The outside is straight off a postcard, with whitewashed walls dazzling in the sunshine, and burgundy beams, shutters and woodwork giving it a lively splash of colour. The interior is a painting, resplendent with beautifully warm pastel colours. The rustic, country house feel is in keeping with the charming facades, which is not to say that it makes any sacrifices on standards of comfort. Our room was certainly conducive to the sweetest of dreams, with a cosy bed, antique furniture, luxurious fabrics and plenty of character.

You do not have far to go to find the iconic Basque coastline, with vast beaches and rocky coves withstanding the relentless crashing of the Atlantic waves. To the north lies the glittering resort of glitzy Biarritz; to the south is the more quintessential seaside town and fishing port of Saint-Jean-de Luz. Meanwhile, all around are breath-taking seascapes, rolling lush-green plains and the long-reaching shadow of the mighty Pyrenees to the south.

Aside from natural beauty, there is plenty of culture, from the major towns to the tiniest village, where old traditions have endured throughout the ages. Then there is the cuisine, slightly different to the Spanish half of the region but equally superb, as you would expect from any region of the foodie heaven that is France.

It was Victor Hugo who was quoted as saying that “everyone who has visited the Basque Country longs to return; it is a blessed land.” He is not wrong, and when I come back I will be sure to return to La Villa Catarie, the prettiest and most authentic way to enjoy the best of the French Basque Country.