Passerelle d'Holzarte, Via ferrata near Larrau, France
The Passerelle d'Holzarte is a narrow metal bridge suspended high above the Olhadübi gorge, hanging roughly 140 meters (460 feet) above the canyon floor with sheer rock walls and rushing water visible on all sides. The bridge sways slightly as you walk across, and from this vantage point the gorge reveals limestone walls carved by the torrent over millions of years.
The Passerelle d'Holzarte was built in 1925 by Italian workers to aid forest operations in the gorge, replacing earlier methods of crossing. The gorge itself formed roughly 80 million years ago as the Olhadübi torrent carved its way through the surrounding rock, creating the dramatic landscape that still frames the bridge today.
The Passerelle d'Holzarte sits in Basque country where shepherds have long brought their animals to graze on summer pastures, a practice that shapes the landscape and local life. Traditional stone shelters called cayolars dot the slopes, and some produce cheese using methods that connect visitors to centuries of mountain herding traditions still visible today.
The walk to the bridge starts near Logibar inn and takes about one hour through forests and alongside mountain streams, with some sections equipped with fixed cables for support. Wear sturdy hiking boots because the path is rocky and uneven, becoming slippery when wet, especially on steeper slopes.
The bridge was engineered to sway gently as you walk across, creating an additional thrill for visitors while remaining perfectly safe. This movement adds to the sense of floating above the gorge and is the reason many hikers return repeatedly to experience that heart-pounding sensation.
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