Baïgorry Valley, Valley in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
Baïgorry Valley is a valley in the western Pyrenees through which flows the Nive des Aldudes, a tributary of the Nive. It lies in the French Basque Country near the Spanish border and includes eight communes: Aldudes, Anhaux, Ascarat, Banca, Irouléguy, Lasse, Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry and Urepel. The Aldudes massif is dominated by the 1,570-metre Orzanzourièta, and its Paleozoic rocks form steep escarpments above the valley.
The valley was inhabited in the Middle Ages and served as one of the few crossing points through the western Pyrenees between France and Spain. In the 18th century, it was the site of border disputes between the two countries, which were settled by an official treaty.
The valley's name appears in Basque as Aldudeko ibarra, and the Pays Quint at its southern end is called Kintoa in Basque and Quinto Real in Spanish. Eight communes share the valley, among them Aldudes, Banca and Urepel. The local economy rests on pastoral summer grazing in the Aldudes, Baztan, Erro and Valcarlos valleys.
A main road links all the villages in the valley and makes them easy to reach by car or on foot. Hiking trails start directly from the villages and lead up the surrounding slopes, so you can see the valley from many different angles.
The vineyards around the village of Irouléguy produce one of the only red wines from the French Basque Country, sold under its own label. The vines grow on steep terraces and are clearly visible from the road as you pass through the valley.
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