Basque Country: six must-see activities and visits to discover this summer

Taking the famous and soon-to-be-century-old Rhune train to reach the summit of the Basques' sacred mountain is an essential part of any stay in the Basque Country. From the Col de Saint-Ignace station, board this vintage cogwheel train, which travels over 4 kilometers to the summit of La Rhune, at an altitude of 905 meters, in thirty-five minutes. The moderate pace allows travelers to observe the pottoks, the transhumance Manech sheep, or even admire the flight of birds of prey. At the summit, take advantage of the time spent there (1 hour 20 minutes) to admire the exceptional 360-degree panorama of the Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range from this Natura 2000 site.

Hospital in Irissarry

Housed in the former commandery of the Order of Malta, a superb 17th ^- century Bas-Navarrese farmhouse listed as a Historic Monument and renovated by the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departmental Council, Ospitalea offers visitors the chance to discover the rich heritage, culture, and history of the inland Basque Country. This summer, the heritage education center invites visitors to step back in time with the exhibition "Before and After the Inland Basque Country," in partnership with the Basque Museum of Bayonne. Through a game of comparison, photographs and postcards tell the story of the evolution of landscapes and practices in Irissarry and the villages of the interior.

Free self-guided tour. Guided tour 4, free for children under 14. Information at 05 59 37 97 20 or [email protected]

Andurain Castle

With its remarkable Renaissance façade, the Château d'Andurain is one of the most beautiful architectural gems in the lower town of Mauléon. Listed as a Historic Monument, this beautiful residence, built at the very end of the ^16th century and the beginning of the 17th ^century by Pierre de Maytie from Mauléon, is still inhabited by his descendants. They passionately guide the tour of the castle, which houses marvels of the Grand Siècle, from sculpted fireplaces to period furniture, including the monumental roof structure and the beautiful library stocked with antique books. A true immersion in the past.

1, rue du Jeu-de-Paume, 64130 Mauléon-Licharre. Information and reservations at 05 59 28 04 18 and at www.chateaudandurain.com

Fully signposted and easy to access, the coastal path is one of the best ways to appreciate the diversity of the Basque Coast's landscapes, alternating between beaches, coves, and headlands. While the section along the Corniche, between Urrugne and Hendaye, is closed for safety reasons, the path that runs from the cliffs of Erretegia, in Bidart, to the Pointe de Sainte-Barbe, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, offers breathtaking panoramas of the ocean, the mountains, and the villages of the Basque Coast. Best done at low tide to easily navigate the passages along the beaches.

Caves of Isturitz and Oxocelhaya

The Basque Country has always been a land appreciated by humans. The Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves in Saint-Martin-d'Arberoue, in the heart of Lower Navarre, bear witness to this. A guided tour allows you to discover the Isturitz cave, whose remains attest to the presence of man in the valley since the Paleolithic era, and the Oxocelhaya cave, a true cathedral of time, which captivates with the grandiose spectacle of its concretions. Listed as Historic Monuments, the caves can be visited every day in summer. A "Cro-Mignon" tour is even reserved for 4-8 year-olds.

Quartier Hiribehere, 64640 Saint-Martin-d'Arberoue. Rates and reservations on their website www.grottes-isturitz.com . [email protected] - 05 59 47 30 17

Facing the Rocher de la Vierge, in a splendid Art Deco building, the Biarritz Aquarium invites young and old to discover the richness of the seabed. Around fifty aquariums house a total of more than 10,000 residents of more than 600 different species, not forgetting the stars of the aquarium, the seals, which are best seen at feeding time (10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.). Not far away, between the beaches of Milady and Ilbarritz, the Cité de l'Océan offers a fun and original way to discover the deep blue sea (from 6 years old), thanks to interactive and immersive experiences, in augmented reality or in 4D.

Aquarium: Esplanade du Rocher-de-la-Vierge, 64200 Biarritz. Information and reservations at www.aquariumbiarritz.com