| 
    
    
    
     | St.-Jean-de-Luz has been an important fishing port 
    since the middle ages and is located on the Cote des Basques (Basque Coast), 
    which stretches from San Sebastian in Spain to Bayonne, the chief town of 
    the French Basque country. In the 13th and 14th century ships sailed from 
    the coast to points as far afield as Newfoundland, Greenland and Spitzbergen. 
    The coast was also wellÐknown for piracyÑthe Basque corsairs sailed under 
    the authority of the French king. Today, the town of St.-Jean-de-Luz is one 
    of the two principal bathing resorts of the region. | 
     |