Bayonne, the capital of the northern Basque country, sits at the confluence of the Adour and Nive rivers and has been, for centuries, a port of great significance. There are a number of quartiers but the most lively and picturesque are Le Grand Bayonne, Saint Esprit with its Romanesque church and le Petit Bayonne with its typical Bayonne houses with beams and shutters painted red, green or blue. The Saturday market is a must. Both indoor and out, the fresh produce, cheeses and fish are, as always in France, remarkable. And the petit cafe taken at the end of the shopping with croissant, is part of the early morning ritual.