Sare, a Basque village at the foot of the legendary Rhune mountain
During your camping holiday in the Basque Country, discover the small village of Sare nestled on the legendary mountains of La Rhune and L'Axuria, on the French-Spanish border. Let yourself be charmed by the picturesque red and white houses with balconies, the Saint-Martin church, the little train of the Rhune and the caves of Sare, more than 2 million years old....
A short walk in the village and its hamlets
Labelled "Plus Beaux Villages de France" and "Village préféré des Français" in 2016, Sare is made up of several small traditional hamlets, most of which have retained their former character. Some of the buildings are more than 500 years old, perfectly illustrating the image that we have of "Basque houses". The house known as the Ihartze Artea, built in the 18th century, is certainly worth a look, as is the remarkable fortified church of Saint-Martin with its three floors of carved oak galleries.
If you are camping near Sare this summer, you will have the opportunity to watch a game of Basque pelota on the pediment. It is the beating heart of the village where we meet to hit the ball, but also to dance and sing during the traditional Sare festivals that take place at the beginning of September.
One last thing! Don't leave the village without a visit to the Basque Cake Museum at Haranea House. All the manufacturing secrets of this famous cake will be revealed to you!
The Rhune train
From the Col de Saint-Ignace in Sare, a small cogwheel train dating from 1924 takes passengers to the summit of the Rhune, at an altitude of 905 m.
With a top speed of 9 km/h, this gives you time to admire the magnificent landscapes, the old smugglers' paths, but also the fauna and flora of the Pyrenees mountains such as the redheaded "Manech" sheep, griffon vultures, not to mention the pottoks, these robust Basque ponies that live here in semi-liberty. An unforgettable memory of your camping trip in the Basque Country!
The Caves of Sare
A long time ago, the prehistoric caves of Sare were occupied by cave bears. Today, thousands of tourists visit the area all year round to discover an amazing "sound and light" tour and the galleries that have been set up.
Outside, a megalithic reconstruction park and a museum provide more information on the geological history of the site, the evolution of man from prehistory to the present day and the legends of Basque mythology.
* Pottok pony ride: April, May, June, Sept, Oct:
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10 am to 5 pm. School holidays: every day from 10 am to 5 pm. July and August: every day from 10 am to 6 pm. 15-minute tour €4, 30 minutes €8, 1 hour €14. Tel: 06.15.06.89.51
* Etxola Animal Park:
April, May, June: every day from 10 am to 6 pm. July and August: every day from 10 am to 7 pm. Sept, Oct: every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission for ages 4 & over: €5. Tel 06 15 06 89 51
* Venta Antton Restaurant:
From April to early November, open only at weekend and on public holidays. July and August, open every day. Set menu: €18. Tél : 00 34 948 599 161
* Sare Caves: open all the year round.
From April to October: every day from 10 am to 6 pm for the last guided visit of the day. Out of season, only in the afternoon from 2 to 5 pm.
Prices: €8.50 adults and €5 children.
* Witches Cave:
Open from 11 am to 7 pm. Closed on Mondays in June and September. €4 adults, €2 children.
