Baïgorry Valley, Mountain valley in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France.
Baïgorry Valley is a mountain valley in the western Pyrenees, running along the Aldudes River and linking several small Basque villages including Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, Aldudes, Urepel, Banca, and Irouléguy. The slopes are covered with pastures and forest, while the villages are made up of traditional white houses with red or green timber facades.
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 sits in the heart of the Basque Country, and road signs and village names appear in both French and Basque. In Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, a old stone bridge marks the center of the village and is still used by locals every day.
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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