Ainhoa has been listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Its secret lies in its half-timbered houses, with their colourful shutters and corbelled storeys, whose shades of white, green and red blend so beautifully with the surrounding hills.

The lintels above the doors tell the story of the houses, sometimes in a rather picturesque way. Ainhoa was also an important stop for pilgrims on the Way of St James.

Many other villages in the Basque Country share these same characteristics.

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