Part of the D510 forms the western border of the commune as it goes south to join the D10 near Hasparren.

[7][8] La Joyeuse stream flows from the south through the village and continues north to become the Aran which joins the Adour at Urt.

[19] A Navarrese fortified village was founded in 1288 by Claire de Rabastens on a hillside next to the Aran river hence its Gascon name Bastida Clarença.

The birth of the village corresponds to a need for Navarre to create a strong town in the forested frontier area.

La Bastide-Clairence slowly accumulated a population of shop-keepers from south-western France then from Spanish refugees fleeing the Inquisition, and also from Basque towns and villages nearby.

Another version of the origin of the town exists: it was populated by settlers from diverse backgrounds including pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela called the Francos.

Today, the Place des Arceaux and its half-timbered houses attract many art craftsmen.

The houses are very typical of the region - there are two architectural types: The commune was formerly known as Labastide-Clairence and was renamed La Bastide-Clairence on 25 June 1988.

Refugees who came from Spain and especially Portugal, the Sephardi Jews, settled in Bayonne at the end of the 16th century from where they spread to the three small towns of Peyrehorade (where they were welcomed by the Lord of Aspremont), Bidache, and La Bastide-Clairence which were protected by the Duke of Gramont.

They lived in a relatively autonomous community designated by the expression "Jewish Nation" on the municipal records and had their own separate cemetery that was opened at the beginning of the 17th century.