Excursions available
La Rhune (alt. 905 m) on Le Petit Train cog railway
Take Le Petit Train de La Rhune to see...
The magnificent panorama from the summit of La Rhune (*** in the Michelin Green Guide). The first summit in the Pyrenean range, at 905 metres La Rhune dominates the French and Spanish Basque coast and provides a stunning panorama. All around you can see the 7 Basque provinces, the peaks of the Pyrenees, the endless beaches of Les Landes and the Basque coast from Biarritz to San Sebastián. On the summit there are also 3 ventas (Spanish restaurant and souvenir shop) providing a Spanish atmosphere.
This character cog railway train, an authentic collector's cogwheel train dating from 1924, takes you on a 35-minute journey at a speed of 8 km/h through unspoilt countryside. During the ascent you can see animals and plants that are unique to the Basque mountains. The mountain is home to small wild ponies called pottocks, sheep that cling to the steep rocks and griffon vultures.
SARE
Le Petit Train de La Rhune is near the village of Sare, which is 10 km from Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Take the time to explore Sare, officially recognised as "one of the most beautiful villages in France."
"Saran Astia" as the old proverb has it: "In Sare there's plenty of time." It is well worth lingering in this village in the traditional Basque province of Labourd, only 15 km from the coast, to experience the unspoilt atmosphere. Life here is wonderfully authentic.
Napoleon III and Eugénie, Winston Churchill, Pierre Loti, Luis Mariano... All have fallen for Sare's Basque authenticity.
White houses with red half-timbering, some of which date from the 16th century, the first mountains of the Pyrenees, a rich green colour, offering some beautiful, unspoiled and different countryside for walking.
The village's delicious gastronomy and many festivals encourage visitors to stay a while.
Things to see in the village of Sare
- Sare caves : open all year round - Tel. 33 (0)5 59 54 21 88 - Fax 33 (0)5 59 54 20 69
- Ortillopitz, the Basque House in Sare : open from March to November - Tel. 33 (0)5 59 85 91 92 -
Fax 33 (0)5 59 85 91 93
- Museum of the Gâteau Basque : open all year round - Tel. 33 (0)5 59 54 22 09 - Fax 33 (0)5 59 54 29 36
- Animal Park : open all year round - Tel. : 33 (0)6 15 06 89 51
Feel free to contact us; we will be delighted to help you put together your own excursion.
Accommodation : 6 hotels up to 3-star, 33 official "Gîtes de France" holiday properties to rent, 43 furnished apartments listed by the Tourist Office
(tel. 33 (0)5 59 54 20 14), 24 welcoming chambres d'hôtes, a holiday village with 300 beds in the village centre and 3 camp sites up to 3-star.
