Hendaye's position on the French-Spanish border has meant that a number of pivotal
historic meetings have taken place there, in particular on the Isle de Faisans
which straddles the border in the estuary of the river Bidassoa.
Kings have discussed the future of Europe, treaties have been signed and royal
prisoners exchanged, and Franco reiterated his neutrality at a meeting with Hitler
at the local station.
In 1660 Spanish and French delegations met for the
signing of a contract of marriage between Louis XIV and the Spanish princess,
Marie-Thérèse, and each stayed on their own side of an imaginary
border down the centre of the Pavilion where the meeting took place.
Still today the island is policed for six months of the year by the French, and
for the other six by the Spanish. Hendaye itself has good beaches and some fine
trees and shrubs which alleviate the onward march of tasteless modern buildings.