Markigarro

A short circular route along the river with the sweet name of Joyeuse. This route is recommended by the tourist office and is reproduced here for use with Visorando.

Details

11233783
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 116 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 114 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 218 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 102 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The walk starts from the car park near the church in Gréciette.

(S/E) Walk down from the church towards the intersection between an electrical substation and a water catchment. Turn right onto Rue Garrobico Elica and head north for about 150 metres. At the crossroads, take the street on the left for 100 metres until you reach the stone cross of Harriaga.

(1) Leave the road and turn left onto a grassy path along the edge of the property. The path enters the undergrowth and begins to descend towards the valley (close the gate behind you). Walk under large chestnut trees, along a fenced meadow, then descend into the woods in two wide curves, ignoring a path coming from the right. Once in the valley, the path runs alongside the stream and reaches a Y-shaped intersection.

(2) Take the path on the left, heading south-east, and follow the Joyeuse stream until you reach the tarmac road Behere ko Plaça et Garro near the beautiful Etxetoa house. Close the gates behind you.

(3) Take the road on the left, which becomes a farm track for a while. Follow this track to return to the car park (S/E), admiring the Château de Garroa on your right.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 216 m - Église Saint-Martin (Greciette)
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 192 m - Stone cross in Harriaga
  3. 2 : km 1.66 - alt. 105 m - The Joyeuse or - Joyeuse (rivère)
  4. 3 : km 2.72 - alt. 136 m - Etxetoa lodge
  5. S/E : km 3.8 - alt. 218 m - Église Saint-Martin (Greciette)

Worth a visit

The Joyeuse is also called the Aran on the Sandre website (National Service for Water Data and Reference Systems) and another river bears the name Joyeuse.

This explains why, depending on the map chosen, the same watercourse has different names.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
hilaire.vachon
hilaire.vachon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short stroll on a Sunday afternoon in the woods and green landscapes of the Basque Country.

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User 2031360

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy and pleasant hike.

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Pantxica
Pantxica

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short walk. A little muddy at the start of the path after rain, but no problem otherwise. The ladder mentioned for climbing over a fence no longer exists; it has been replaced by a gate. You can park under the church. There is a picnic table and toilets behind the fronton.

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Natacha Mazé
Natacha Mazé

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent walk in the woods. Very wet ground, possibly muddy in heavy rain. You will discover the village of Mendionde. A peaceful place. I recommend it.

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sebmiren
sebmiren

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A circular loop, the route is well maintained. We went there after several days of rain, and despite this, most of the route was passable. The section along the river is particularly pleasant.

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Khor
Khor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant walk, shaded route. Lovely view after point 3.
Some muddy sections mean that walking shoes (or trainers that can handle mud) are recommended. On the way back to the car, the church car park has a shaded bench, which is very welcome after the final fairly steep climb to get there (a climb that you will have descended at the start of the walk, giving you a taste of what's to come on the way back).

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Bazus
Bazus

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route in the sunshine
View of Garro Castle
Nothing to complain about

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Tioub
Tioub

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk

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Elli
Elli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through forests and hills.

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