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Bayonne owes its chocolate tradition indirectly to Portugal. In 1496 the Portuguese monarchy expelled the Jewish community, depriving the country of its trading and financial elite.
Many Jewish families settled in the Saint-Esprit quarter of Bayonne and began producing the chocolate drink, quickly acquiring a reputation for the quality of the chocolate and the precision of their blends.
Bayonne was thus the first town in the kingdom to successfully work the cocoa bean and today still enjoys a reputation for its famous chocolate.
Chocolate Days
Faithful to its tradition Bayonne celebrates its chocolate every year during the Ascension weekend in May. The chocolate centres are dipped in their coating in the streets of the town and enthusiasts are invited to partake in the delights produced by the master craftsmen.
Guided visits are available from the Tourist Office and retrace the history of chocolate and the town via the streets and quaysides. Every year a chocolate producing country is invited as a special guest of honour to the chocolate festival.
OT BAYONNE - Place des Basques - BP 819 64108 Bayonne cedex - France Tél. : +33 (0) 820 42 64 64 - Fax. : +33 (0)5 59 59 37 55