Day 1 : URRUGNE - SAINT-ETIENNE-DE-BAIGORRY (96 on 274 km)
Between the sea and the mountain in a six hectare park you will discover the Urtubie castle a family property since 1341.
To tour the Pays basque mountain you will follow the Preux road then you will cross the small vacation resort of Ascain and at the Saint-Ignace pass you will follow the rack railway leading to the Rhune. From the top of this peak-border you will discover a unique panorama over the ocean stretches on the west, forest stretches on the north, mountainous ones on the east and hilly ones on the south.
you will reach the town of Sare and its picturesque streets described by Pierre Loti. You will drive on through typical villages such as Aïnhoa with its right half-timbered houses, ringdove huts, prairies inhabited with ewes. After the Pinodiéta pass you will cross the trade town Espelette famous for the trade of these small wild horses called Pottoks.
When travelling down towards Cambo-les-Bains will provide the visitor with a new magnificent view over the Basque Pyrénées and the Nive valley. The spa-resort Cambo found fame at the beginning of the XXth century. Edmond Rostand who was appealed by the mildness of its climate settled an immense Basque-Labourdin style cottage, Arnage is now open to the public.
Driving up the Nive valley you will go around the humpback bridge from the XIth century to visit the Roman chapel of Bidarray. Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry will be the end of your journey.
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