Step inside the 17th-century merchant mansion where Louis XIV stayed before his 1660 marriage to the Infanta of Spain — a geopolitical watershed that ended decades of Franco-Spanish war. Then enter the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the grandest Basque church in France, where the royal wedding was celebrated.
What to expect
A knowledgeable guide ushers you through carved oak doorways into a mansion frozen in 1660: the great salon where Louis XIV received the French court, his private bedchamber with original four-poster, and cabinets displaying royal correspondence. The story of the Treaty of the Pyrenees — engineered in this very building — comes dramatically to life. Crossing the sun-drenched Place Louis XIV, you then enter the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, whose tiers of gilded wooden galleries are among the finest Baroque interiors in southwest France; the door through which the newlyweds exited was famously sealed behind them, never to be opened again. The whole experience is deeply atmospheric and refreshingly unhurried.
Good to know
Tours of the Maison run at set times (check the operator's website for the English-language schedule, typically June–September). The church is free and open daily; no pre-booking required for entry, though a small donation is appreciated. Both sites are a 5-minute stroll from the tender pier — perfectly self-guided in the afternoon after your mansion tour.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at St. Jean de Luz — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in St. Jean de Luz
- La Rhune: Vintage Rack Railway to the Summit of the Basque Pyrenees
- Basque Coast Whale & Dolphin Watching: Expert Naturalist Expedition
- Private Guided Day in Biarritz: Imperial Villas, Rocher de la Vierge & Surf Culture
- Hondarribia by Sea: Small-Group Basque Cross-Border Coastal Escape
- Basque Gastronomy Immersion: Market, Pintxos Workshop & Txakoli Tasting