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Ordiarp

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Ordiarp is a municipality in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the Aquitaine region, 9 km south of Mauleon and 35 km east of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

The vast territory of nearly 30 km² is located in the middle mountains, ranging from 131 to 1209 m altitude, at the foot of the massif des Arbailles.

The locality belongs historically and culturally also to the Soule, the smallest of the Basque provinces.

Ordiarp, where a fortified camp was laid out even before the Roman occupation, saw the establishment in the Middle Ages of a hospital commandery dependent on the Roncesvalles Abbey.

Ferruginous sources were exploited from the 19th century to the 1930s, but most of the economic activity of the town, which has many hamlets and gaps, remains agricultural (pastoralism, cheese production).

The historical heritage of the locality, which has some 550 inhabitants, the picturesque charm of its hamlets and its preserved environment will delight lovers of green tourism.

Geographical information

MunicipalityOrdiarp
Postcode64130
Latitude43.1865800 (N 43° 11’ 12”)
Longitude-0.9449460 (W 0° 56’ 42”)
AltitudeFrom 131m to 1209m
Surface area29.71 km²
Population547 inhabitants
Density18 inhabitants/km²
PrefecturePau (73 km, 1:16)
Insee code64424
IntercommunalityCA du Pays Basque
DepartmentPyrénées-Atlantiques
TerritoriesAquitaine, Béarn-Basque Country, Pyrenees
RegionNew-Aquitaine

Nearest cities & towns

Musculdy2.3 km (3 min)
Garindein4.5 km (7 min)
Idaux-Mendy5 km (8 min)
Mauléon-Licharre6.4 km (10 min)
Pagolle7.3 km (12 min)
Menditte8.1 km (14 min)
Chéraute8.5 km (14 min)
Gotein-Libarrenx9.2 km (13 min)
Aussurucq9.6 km (13 min)
Berrogain-Laruns11.1 km (16 min)
Viodos-Abense-de-Bas11.3 km (14 min)
Saint-Just-Ibarre13.2 km (16 min)
Juxue13.3 km (21 min)
Moncayolle-Larrory-Mendibieu13.7 km (17 min)

Things to see and do

Visitors who are keen on history and heritage will find in the town of Ordiarp several sites and buildings worth visiting. A discovery trail can begin with the Romanesque church of Saint-Michel, which dates from the 12th century and was then dependent on the hospital commandery where pilgrims came to Saint Jacques de Compostela. The choir and the two culbs of apsidal furnaces date from this time but the building classified as a Historical Monument since 1922 was redesigned after a fire in 1570. We notice the bell-wall, quite rare in the region, and inside, the altarpiece is carved and dating back to the eighteenth century, and classified grandstands in the eighteenth to cope with the rise of the population. Tradition had it that it should be occupied by men.

On the site of Gastelusare, overlooking the town, a chapel is dedicated to Saint Gregory. Of sober construction, covered with slates, it houses a large painting of Saint Gregory. The stripped-down style of the chapel, isolated in the meadows, contrasts with the remarkable point of view of the Arbailles massif and the Pyrenean peaks.

A few steps away are the traces of the fortified camp of Gastelusare, listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments in 1980. We distinguish the bases of what was a circular enclosure. Archaeologists estimate that these remains date from at least - 3000 BC.

To see again, the castle of Ahetzia, seat of a former stronghold mentioned since the fourteenth century. The current building, redesigned in the 18th century, has ornaments on the façade (coat of arms, inscriptions in Basque, carved hunting scenes).

In the village, several old houses with medieval traces are also to be noticed (lintels, bas-reliefs).

On the natural side, the environment of the town is characteristic of the massif of Arbailles, dotted with wooded plateaus, rocky areas, caves, springs and meadows dedicated to pastoral farming. The massif is dominated by the peak Ihatia which rises to 1,286 m.

In addition to the shepherds and their flocks that crisscross this massif from May to November, this environment is also known to be conducive to the hunting of the pigeon whose tradition is alive in the locality.

For visitors and tourists, the village, the hamlets and the Arbailles are a great hiking area. Several circuits are traced from the main square, but it is also possible to take the old road of Saint-Jacques and the GR 78 (way of Piedmont Pyrenean). Maps and information on +33 5 59 46 52 46.

Note also that the town is a member of the Association of Raconteurs Country, passionate can be solicited to accompany groups or families and "tell" the history and heritage of Ordiarp and its region in a friendly atmosphere. Information on +33 5 59 28 07 63 or +33 5 59 46 52 46.

Places of interest

Monuments
Natural sites

Events and festivities

In May or June, during the four-day Whitsun weekend, the Müsikaren Egüna festival will screen cinema screenings, concerts and dance performances. His philosophy is to promote exchanges between Basque culture and other regions and cultures with strong traditions.

The village and the hamlets celebrate "their feast" at the end of the year (gourmet and musical events): the 3rd and 4th weekends of September for the village, the 3rd weekend of October for the hamlet of Garaybie and the weekend near November 11 for the district of Lambarre.

Mascarade

Weather

Friday 29 march
Min. 4°C - Max. 18°C
Day
Night
Saturday 30 march
Min. 4°C - Max. 16°C
Day
Night
Sunday 31 march
Min. 7°C - Max. 15°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Visit to an artisanal espadrilles manufacturing workshop
Arts and Crafts5 € Mauléon-Licharre (6.2 km)
Show at Cabaret La fourmi rouge
Entertainment35 € to 70 € Laàs (23 km)
Rafting or hydrospeed in Basque Country
Sports sensations35 € to 60 € Bidarray (33 km)
Canoe ride along the Gave d’Oloron
Sports sensations11 € to 120 € Sorde-l'Abbaye (39 km)
Canyoning in the Ossau Valley
Sports sensations45 € to 320 € Castet (45 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Ahargo
HikeAthletic5:00Barcus (14.2 km)
Peak of the stairs/ Eskaleta
HikeIntermediate3:35Larrau (18.2 km)
Stairs Peak/ Eskaleta - Trail
HikeIntermediate3:35Larrau (18.2 km)
Zurzai
HikeIntermediate2:50Mendive (18.6 km)
N°11 Barétous - Crêtes d'Issarbe
HikeIntermediate3:20Lanne-en-Barétous (22 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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