Fêtes d'Ainhoa

Ainhoa, a Basque gem for authentic festivals

Ainhoa, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in France, is a jewel of Labourd with its unique street lined with Basque houses with white facades and colorful half-timbers, its 17th-century church, and its pelota court. This village, founded in the 13th century as a bastide on the Way of Saint James of Compostela, retains a rare authenticity that is fully reflected in its mid-August patronal festival.

Four days of traditional festivities

The Fêtes d'Ainhoa unfold over four days around August 15th, the Assumption Day. The program respects the tradition of Basque patronal festivals while offering entertainment for all audiences. Thursday evening opens the festivities with a barbecue at the fronton accompanied by live music. Friday, August 15th, the central day of the festival, features a solemn mass at 10:30 AM, followed by a bare-hand pelota match at noon, a Basque dance performance with the group Alaiki at 5 PM, mutxiko (collective dances) at the fronton at 6 PM, and a kantaldi (Basque singing) at 7 PM.

Moments of conviviality

Saturday features a clay pigeon shoot in the morning, followed by a festive evening with a concert by the group Andoni Oilokiegi. Sunday, the highlight of the festival, brings the village together for a grand paella at the fronton at 12:30 PM, followed by a kantaldi at 6 PM, a torchlight procession at 10 PM, and a concert with the group Xutik at 10:30 PM. These communal meals at the fronton, prepared by village volunteers, embody the spirit of sharing and solidarity that characterizes the community of Ainhoa.

A living village between tradition and modernity

Despite its small size and tourist classification, Ainhoa remains a vibrant village whose patronal festival testifies to its community vitality. Traditional dance groups, Basque singers, and pelota players perpetuate age-old traditions that the village's exceptional architectural setting enhances. The proximity of the Spanish border adds a cross-border dimension to these festivities, attracting visitors from both sides of the Bidassoa.