L’exte: the Basque soul
If you want to feel the Basque soul, you need to see one of these traditional houses. An etxe in Basque is much more than a house, it’s a home, the soul of a family. Its volumes, layout, key rooms and grounds are all values that are skilfully showcased. You have the chance to visit a traditional house, Ortillopitz, whose walls date back to 1540. The house in its current form was built in 1660. It sits high above Sare, overlooking a landscape of gentle hills and fertile fields.
The house’s grounds have all the trappings of tradition: a vineyard, a flax field, an old-fashioned vegetable garden (17th century), a stone washhouse several hundred years old and even a spring. These elements reflect an ancestral way of life, deeply rooted in respect for nature and the cycles of life.
Immerse yourself in Basque authenticity
Inside the house, vast rooms decorated with furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries, a reception room, an attic and many other treasures await you. The guided tour will take you into the history of the Basque people, their daily life and, through it, their particularities, character and authenticity.
This immersion will enable you to understand the close bond between the Basques and their habitat, a bond forged over the centuries and visible in every detail of the etxe. Each visit is a unique opportunity to discover a rich, living culture, embodied in the walls and objects of Ortillopitz.
Don’t miss this opportunity to live an authentic experience and leave with a deep understanding of the Basque soul.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
875 Igeltsutegiko bidea, Col de Saint-Ignace, 64310 SARE
CONTACT
+33 5 59 85 91 92
See the website
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
French, Spanish, English, Basque
Accessibility
- Car parking
- Bus stops