Bayonneis a city andcommuneand one of the twosub-prefecturesof thedepartmentofPyrénées-Atlantiques, in the Aquitaineregion of south-western France.It is located at the confluence of theNiveandAdourrivers in the northern part of thecultural regionofBasque Countryas well as the southern part ofGasconywhere the Aquitaine basin joins the beginning of thePre-Pyrenees.The inhabitants of the commune are known asBayonnaisorBayonnaises.
Bayonneis an important part of the BasqueBayonne-San Sebastián Eurocityand it plays the role of economic capital of the Adour basin. Modern industry—metallurgy and chemicals—are established to take advantage of procurement opportunities and sea shipments through the harbour. It is now mostly business services which today represent the largest source of employment. Bayonne is also a cultural capital, a city with strong Basque and Gascon influences and a rich historical past. Its heritage lies in its architecture, the diversity of collections in museums, its gastronomic specialties, and traditional events such as the famousFêtes de Bayonne.