{"id":88024,"date":"2025-05-30T09:33:06","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T09:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/non-categorise\/a-la-decouverte-de-la-foret-diraty-joyau-naturel-du-pays-basque\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T08:46:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T08:46:16","slug":"discover-the-iraty-forest-the-natural-jewel-of-the-basque-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/blog\/discover-the-iraty-forest-the-natural-jewel-of-the-basque-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover the Iraty forest, the natural jewel of the Basque Country"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Iraty is not only the name of a famous Basque cheese (Ossau-Iraty), it&#8217;s also a magnificent forest clinging to the <strong>Pyrenees<\/strong> mountains. Friendly hikers and nature lovers, let us guide you along the paths of the <strong>Iraty<\/strong> forest, the largest beech forest in <strong>Europe<\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/joyau-naturel-du-pays-basque.jpg\" alt=\"natural jewel of the basque country\" class=\"wp-image-79867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/joyau-naturel-du-pays-basque.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/joyau-naturel-du-pays-basque-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A journey to the roots of the Basque Country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Perched on the slopes of the <strong>Pyrenees<\/strong>, on either side of the Franco-Spanish border, the <strong>Iraty<\/strong> forest is the largest beech forest in <strong>Western Europe<\/strong>. Framed by the summit of <g id=\"gid_3\">Okabe<\/g> and the <g id=\"gid_4\">Pic d&#8217;Orhi<\/g>, the <g id=\"gid_5\">Iraty<\/g> forest extends over some 17,000 ha between <g id=\"gid_6\">Soule<\/g> (Larrau), <g id=\"gid_7\">Lower Navarre<\/g> (Mendive) and <g id=\"gid_8\">Spanish Navarre<\/g>. In the heart of the <strong>Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es-Atlantiques<\/strong> region, covered with beech and fir trees as far as the eye can see, this thousand-year-old forest massif in the <strong>Basque country<\/strong> is home to griffon vultures, deer and roe deer, but also, according to legend, a legendary wild man and fantastic creatures half fairy, half lute.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hiking in the Iraty forest<\/h2>\n\n<p>Starting out from <strong>Larrau<\/strong>, a small mountain village nestled at the foot of the <strong>Pic d&#8217;Orhi<\/strong>, there are several hiking trails through the <strong>Iraty<\/strong> forest. Here are just a few of them. <\/p>\n\n<p>The Pic des Escaliers via the <strong>Chalets d&#8217;Iraty<\/strong>: a beautiful loop from the <strong>Chalets d&#8217;Iraty<\/strong> to the summit of <strong>Arthanolatze<\/strong> and the <strong>Pic des Escaliers<\/strong>. Highlight of the hike: views of the Pyrenean chain, the <strong>Arbailles<\/strong> forest and the landscape stretching from <strong>Maul\u00e9on<\/strong> to <strong>Oloron<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start in Larrau, distance: 7.5 km, duration: 3h30.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>From the <strong>Col d&#8217;Orgabidexka<\/strong> to the <strong>Iraty<\/strong> ski resort: a short, easy hike to the Organbidexka ridge, a bird migration mecca. The highlight of the hike is the panoramic view of the Pic d&#8217;Orhy, rising to 2,000 m (the highest peak in the Basque Country), the Pic d&#8217;Anie and the neighbouring peaks of B\u00e9arn. <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start in Larrau, distance: 3 km, duration: 1h20.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong> Lac d&#8217;Iraty<\/strong>: from the <strong>chalets d&#8217;Iraty<\/strong>, this trail follows the GR10 down to Lac d&#8217;<strong>Iraty<\/strong>. An easy loop with a beautiful forest section. Highlight of the hike: the discovery of Lac d&#8217;<strong>Iraty<\/strong> and its dam, and the view of the ridges overlooking the valley.  <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Departure from Chalets d&#8217;<strong>Iraty<\/strong> (Col de Bagargiak), distance: 11 km, duration: 3h30.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet the wild man of the Pyrenees<\/h2>\n\n<p>The <strong>Basajaun<\/strong>(Basa Jaun or Baxajaun, meaning &#8220;Lord of the forest&#8221; in Basque) is a legendary creature that lives in the <strong>Basque Pyrenees<\/strong>, particularly in the <strong>Iraty<\/strong> forest. A fast runner, he has the appearance of a wild, hairy man, and hides in the depths of the forest or in caves. The <g id=\"gid_3\">Iraty<\/g> massif is also inhabited by laminak, the little goblins of Basque mythology, half fairies, half elves. Essentially nocturnal creatures, these spirits of nature often gather under stone bridges, beside fountains and rivers.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Did you know?<\/h2>\n\n<p>For a long time, the <strong>Iraty<\/strong> forest was one of the most remote and mysterious parts of the <strong>Basque Country<\/strong>, and one that was difficult to access and little exploited. In the 17th century, <g id=\"gid_2\">Cardinal Richelieu<\/g>, anxious to supply the kingdom with wood for shipbuilding, began exploiting the forests of the <g id=\"gid_3\">Pyrenees<\/g>. The <g id=\"gid_4\">Iraty<\/g> forest was the first to be exploited. The trunks of these giant hardwoods were used to make masts for the ships of the Royal Navy.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things to see and do near Iraty forest<\/h2>\n\n<p>The <strong>Holzarte<\/strong> footbridge: in the commune of <strong>Larrau<\/strong>, the vertiginous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/blog\/the-holzarte-footbridge-a-thrill-on-the-mountainside-of-the-basque-country\/\">Holzarte footbridge<\/a> overlooks the <strong>Olhadubi<\/strong> gorges, 180 metres above the void. A spectacular site accessible to all hikers, whether beginners or advanced.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Gorges de Kakuetta<\/strong>: near the village of <strong>Sainte-Engr\u00e2ce<\/strong>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/blog\/the-kakuetta-gorge-in-the-heart-of-the-basque-mountains\/\">Gorges de Kakuetta<\/a> &#8211; nicknamed the &#8220;little Amazon&#8221; of upper Basque Soule &#8211; are among the wildest in <strong>Europe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>Looking for a campsite in the <strong>Basque country<\/strong>, near <strong>Larrau<\/strong> and the <strong>Iraty<\/strong> forest? The ideal starting point for discovering the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/basque-country-tourism\/\">Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es-Atlantiques<\/a>, our 4-star Le Biper Gorri campsite in <strong>Espelette<\/strong> welcomes you between ocean, mountain and forest. It&#8217;s the perfect place to soak up nature in the <strong>Basque Country<\/strong>!  <\/p>\n\n<p>photo@Coline Buch<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer gt-hide-mobile\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iraty is not only the name of a famous Basque cheese (Ossau-Iraty), it&#8217;s also a magnificent forest clinging to the Pyrenees mountains. Hikers and nature lovers, let us guide you along the paths of the Iraty forest, the largest beech forest in Europe! A true journey to the roots of the Basque country Perched on the slopes of the [&#8230;] <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":79864,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"wp-custom-template-mod-le-article-blog","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Discovering the iraty forest, the natural jewel of the Basque Country","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover the Iraty forest, the natural jewel of the Basque Country. Published: 14\/09\/2021 Iraty is not only the name of a famous Basque cheese (Ossau-Iraty), it's also a magnificent forest clinging to the Pyrenees mountains. Friendly hikers and nature lovers, let yourself be guided along...  ","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"gt_fse_maillage_image":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/a-la-decouverte-de-la-foret-diraty.jpg","gt_fse_maillage_titre":"Discover the Iraty forest, the natural jewel of the Basque Country","gt_fse_maillage_alt":"Discover the Iraty forest, the natural jewel of the Basque Country","gt_fse_maillage_resume":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88024"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90946,"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88024\/revisions\/90946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.camping-biper-gorri.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}