Ongi Etorri!

Irouléguy the place

The eponymous village still has a priory built by the "fathers" of the wine area, the monks from Roncevaux Abbey who settled in the region in the 12th century. The chapel cemetery has a few discoid steles, symbols of the passage from earth to heaven. From the village you can go off hiking in the surrounding mountains with donkeys as your porters, and will probably meet some pottocks, the ancestral Basque horses roaming freely in the mountains.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

This is not a port, but actually a "porte" - a gateway to the mountains. Spain is just a stone’s throw away! And there are two gateways in the town, vestiges of the fortifications, part of which you can walk along and get a great view of the Pyrenees. Porte Saint-Jacques is UNESCO-listed in tribute to the pilgrims on their way to Compostela, who have gone through it for centuries. Even without going on a pilgrimage, a stroll past the ancestral houses is a moment to be treasured.

Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry

In the neighbouring valley, on the road to Aldudes, Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry is another charming village typical of the Basque Country. The well-worn paving stones on the Roman bridge take you back to a long-lost era. The bridge also gives you the best view of Etxauz Castle, the attic of which should be visited so that you can see the beams. The village is also the headquarters of the Irouléguy winery, where you can taste some wine. Cheers!

Elsewhere in the appellation

Aldudes is a village that has given its name to the valley. It is where the famous "cul noir" pigs are bred for their delicious pork and Basque salt meat. Banca is strongly reminiscent of Spain and has the remains of a copper mine. It is also the starting point for climbing, mountain biking or snow-shoe hikes. Heading northeast, Ostabat is famous because the three main roads to Compostela meet there. Towards Itxassou, the springs of three valleys converge in Bidarray. Stop off and taste a Gateau Basque before going off to do some whitewater sports!