Hotel Arraya

The French Basque Country village of Sare, amid the peaks of the Pyrénées barely a mile from the Spanish border, is the setting for the Hôtel Arraya, a 17th-century structure that formerly served as a waystation for travelers on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, and has been a family-owned hotel since the middle of the 20th century. While it’s seen some technical upgrades in the intervening years, the spirit and aesthetic of the place would look familiar enough to guests from any era; the exterior is pure Basque Country charm and the interiors follow along in a similarly warm and cozy style.

Many of the rooms feature their original ceiling beams and other antique features, while those of more recent vintage nevertheless remain true to the hotel’s historical inspiration. Modern technological interventions are welcome, and subtle — an elevator is handy, for instance, as are modern bathrooms. The restaurant serves everything from a hearty breakfast to modern Basque-inspired lunch and a beautifully presented gastronomic dinner, all in a lovely dining room or out on the terrace, beneath the shade of the hotel’s old plane trees. Among Sare’s claims to fame: the Musée du Gâteau Basque, whose namesake cake is available at the Arraya.