France – Basque Country : La Bastide Clairence , the old blacksmith shop – 40 photos

La Bastide Clairence is located in Southwestern France, Basque Country. “Bastida de Clarenza” was founded in 1314 by Louis I King of Navarre and future King of France because he needed an outlet onto the sea. It still bears the marks of the different peoples and religions that came here as a result of its position. White facades striped with green or red  remind visitors that here they are in Basque country ( read more )

Cycling around Basque Country with Ici & Là Nature : Click here !

 

Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate’er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.

 

Week in, week out, from morn till night,
You can hear his bellows blow;
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

 

He goes on Sunday to the church,
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach,
He hears his daughter’s voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.

Cycling around Basque Country with Ici & Là Nature : Click here !

 

It sounds to him like her mother’s voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more,
How in the grave she lies;
And with his hard, rough hand he wipes
A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,–rejoicing,–sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night’s repose.

 

 

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.

HENRY WADSWORTH

Cycling around Basque Country with Ici & Là Nature : Click here !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cycling around Basque Country with Ici & Là Nature : Click here !

 

 

 

 

Cycling around Basque Country with Ici & Là Nature : Click here !

This cycling trip in Basque Country combines both inland and beautiful coastal scenery:towering cliffs, rugged rocks, sandy bays and an ocean as far as the eye can see.Your trip starts in unrivalled charming Biarritz its energy rising from the ocean.

Then you will ride off the Basque coast to enjoy dramatic mountain views, get away on the Spanish side over the Bidassoa. Lush, green hills and unforgettable landscapes dotted with red timber frame houses built centuries ago, many villages like Sare, Ainhoa or Saint Jean Pied de Port. The Basque renown cultural dynamism will amaze you as well as their gorgeous tasty food.(axoa, piperade, Espelette Pepper is the emblematic spice ! ) – Ici & Là Nature.

 

 

France is a  hiking  and cycling paradise and our goal is to share our passion for the diversity of our country…..Ici & Là Nature is a Website giving access to English speaking travelers to local hiking and cycling Companies experts of a region of  France or Spain.

Discover France off the beaten paths….Discover some of the most beautiful regions of France : Provence, Atlantic Coast, Perigord,  Bordeaux , the Alps , Alsace , Mount St Michel ,Brittany,Cevennes and of  Spain : Catalonia, the Camino de Santiago, Andalucia.( Read more : Ici & Là Nature )