Heritage Days 2026 in the Basque Country: dates, themes and program

Every year, Heritage Days in the Basque Country transform the region into a vast open-air museum : castles, secret gardens, artisans' workshops, and buildings usually closed to the public open their doors for a weekend. Here's what the Basque Country Guide can already tell you about the 2026 edition of the European Heritage Days, while awaiting the publication of the detailed program.

Key dates

The 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days will be held on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026. Friday 18 September will be reserved for school groups, as part of the national operation "Look up!", which allows students to discover the heritage of their territory off the beaten track.

Two themes are in the spotlight this year.

The 2026 edition highlights two main themes:

• The heritage of photography, the national theme chosen to celebrate the bicentenary of the invention of photography by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826. Museums, archives and local photographic collections will be invited to bring out their sometimes little-known holdings.
• "Heritage in peril: revive, resist, reimagine", a theme chosen at the European level by the Council of Europe, which invites us to consider the conservation of heritage in the face of contemporary threats (degradation, lack of resources, conflicts).

This will give a great boost to Basque initiatives focused on safeguarding built heritage, Basque linen, and local artisanal skills.

The program, city by city

Bayonne, Anglet, Biarritz

• Hermione dry dock (Anglet) : Visit the dock and enjoy activities related to the maritime world (naval combat, nautical knots, sailing maneuvers). From 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Admission: €2.
• Anglet vineyards, Izadia park : a trail to discover Anglet wine and the park's biodiversity. Two 1-hour sessions, at 10am and 11am. Free with reservation.
• Asiatica Museum (Biarritz) : a unique collection of Asian art in Europe. Reduced price of €5 instead of €10.
• Bonnat-Helleu Museum (Bayonne) : "The Life of a Drawing," a guided tour with the conservator-restorer revealing the secrets of conservation. Free admission, maximum 15 people.
• Bank of France (Bayonne) : exceptional behind-the-scenes tour and visit to the old vaults. Free, maximum 30 people at a time.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure

• Lohobiague Enea, known as "Maison Louis XIV" (Saint-Jean-de-Luz) : this 380-year-old shipowner's residence hosted Louis XIV for 40 days during his wedding in 1660. Self-guided and guided tours available. Admission: €4, free for those under 18 and for students.
• Socoa Fort and Semaphore (Ciboure) : exceptional openings, 360° panoramic view from the semaphore tower (24 meters high). Free with reservation through the CIAP or tourist offices.
• Socoa Lighthouse : privileged access to the rampart walk and the lens, with a focus on coastal erosion that threatens this heritage site. Saturday at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• Villa Egiategia (Ciboure) : Visit to the House of Blocks followed by a tasting. €5, free for under 16s.
• Exhibition "What the sea takes back" : silver gelatin photographs on the metamorphoses of the Basque coastline in the face of erosion.
• ARTha : 24th edition of this open-air visual art event on the Jacques-Thibaud promenade. Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm.

Hendaye and Urrugne

• Abbadia Castle (Hendaye) : 45-minute guided tour of the Castle-Observatory, at a special rate (€6.50 adult, €4.90 child, free for children under 6). Online booking required.
• Villa Mauresque (Hendaye) : former residence of Doctor Camino, with a family museum dedicated to the Légasse family, a famous line of Basque shipowners. Free admission with reservation, very limited places.
• Andaye, The City of Memories (Hendaye) : a fun and interactive journey through the history of Hendaye and the Basque Country, with copies of major works (Goya, Velázquez, Rubens).
• Urtubie Castle (Urrugne) : a building inhabited since the 14th century, featuring a chapel with an inverted boat-hull roof structure, a park, and an orangery. Adult admission: €7.50, free for children under 16.

Ustaritz and Larressore

• Haïtze Castle and Basque pelota (Ustaritz) : a lecture on the history of Basque pelota, followed by a visit to Haïtze Castle, a noble residence in Labourd listed as a historical monument. Free with reservation.
• Alki Workshop (Larressore) : inauguration of France Design Week Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with presentation of the Hemendik project around emblematic objects of the Basque Country.
• Demonstration of the makhila (Larressore) : discover the emblematic walking stick of the Basque Country, from the exhibition to the manufacturing workshop. Free.

Lower Navarre and Soule

• Museum of Lower Navarre and the Way of St. James (Saint-Palais) : collection dedicated to local skills and Basque traditions (pelota, Basque strength sports). Free with reservation.
• Haranbeltz Chapel (Ostabat-Asme) : guided tour of the architecture, paintings and sculptures, with a version specially adapted for children.
• Camou Castle (Aïcirits-Camou-Suhast) : guided tour focusing on rural history and models inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. Free.
• Banka Mines : a little-known mining heritage, active since Roman times. 2-hour guided tour; wear good walking shoes. Free with reservation, maximum 20 people.
• Lahonce Abbey : discovering the restoration work on the abbey church, as part of the "Look up!" operation.
• Plazako Errota Mill (Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle) : guided tour with live milling demonstration and tasting of homemade products. Free.

Practical information

Most activities are free, but many require prior booking, particularly through tourist offices or CIAPs (places are often limited). Remember to check the specific arrangements for each site before you travel, especially for castle visits and boat trips.