Méritein walks

Forty-fourth stage of the Camino de Santiago. During this stage, you leave Béarn for the Basque Country. A very long stage, mostly along country roads and paths through woodland. As you do not pass through any large villages, it is best to stock up on provisions at the start.

A very pleasant short walk in the Béarn des Gaves, through woods, fields and villages. Beautiful views of the Pyrenees.

A beautiful stage that ends in a grand finale in a superb valley.

A pleasant walk starting from a Basque village in Béarn. Beautiful views of the Pyrenees range from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the Pic d’Orhy. Marked trail, a little muddy at the start, with lovely houses on the ridges all along the route.

This route follows paths that are open and maintained by local volunteers. Much of the walk is on dirt tracks with beautiful views of the region and the Pyrenees.

Forty-third stage of the Way of St James. A hilly stage awaits you, linking the Gave de Pau valley with that of the Gave d’Oloron to reach Navarrenx, a small village in Béarn that will charm you with its lands watered by the Gave d’Oloron and its tributaries, the Saleys, the Laus, the Arroder and the Lucq. Navarrenx has been awarded the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" label.

This walk takes you through the woods of Goes and Précilhon. It offers a beautiful view of the Oloron Valley and leads you to a dolmen.

Discover, during a return trip through the forest, a little spot steeped in history: Caesar’s Camp. These are the remains of an oppidum (a fortification built on high ground and surrounded by ditches, serving as a refuge and a meeting place) lost in the heart of the Bois de Pée forest, 10 minutes from the town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie.

A short, easy walk next to the Aramits adventure park. Beautiful views over the plain and the mountains: Anie, Madeleine, etc. Picnics possible at the summit. The route alternates between woodland and meadows, with a few signposts except for the summit.

This hike takes you along one of the most beautiful sections of the Compostela trails in the Basque Country. You will pass by the Stele of Gibraltar at the crossroads of several paths and you can enjoy a stop at the open chapel of Soyarce, ideal for taking in the panorama of the Basque Pyrenees and for a picnic break.

A short, pleasant walk where you can have a picnic at the summit. Beautiful views of the Anie and the scattered settlements on the borders of Béarn. No difficulty. A few yellow markers to help you find your way.

A lovely circular route a few kilometres from Oloron. Walk along the Gave d'Ossau before discovering the Pont du Diable and venturing along the edge of fields and through the undergrowth.

This circular route allows you to discover a farming world that is still very much alive. The farms scattered across the valley floor are still in operation, with their numerous meadows. You can gain a better understanding of this multifaceted agro-pastoral culture as you cross the forests and then the pastures of the mid-mountains. The Saint-Antoine chapel overlooks the Col d'Osquich, a popular spot for wood pigeon hunting in autumn. From the summit, there is a breathtaking view of the Soule Valley, the Haute-Soule mountains, the Arbailles karst massif and Basse-Navarre.

Forty-fifth stage of the Camino de Santiago. This stage is the last of the French section. The ever-changing landscapes of the Basque Country, each more wonderful than the last, will leave you with unforgettable memories. By the time you arrive in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you will have already covered approximately 1,150 kilometres in 45 days of walking, with 12,750 metres of elevation gain. Something to be proud of! Remember to visit the pilgrims’ reception office with your pilgrim’s passport to have your visit to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port certified, before crossing the Pyrenees, and to pick up useful information for your journey through Spain. Make the most of a rest day to recharge your batteries and enjoy the town, which is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France thanks to its typical and well-preserved Basque architecture, its green landscapes opening out onto the Pyrenees, and the expertise of its producers and craftspeople.

A lovely shaded circuit around Aubertin, on the banks of the Baïse, on the ridges facing the Pyrenees and in the vineyards of Jurançon.

Circular route offering views of the Pyrenees and the Pont-Long plain.

Circular passing over the ridges between the Gave de Pau and Pont-Long plains with beautiful views of the Pyrenees, from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the Basque mountains and the Pont-Long plain from Momas to Serres-Castet.

On a sunny plateau overlooking the Bidouze river, Arancou is a village with white walls and a remarkable architectural and human heritage. A historic stop on one of the hiking trails to Santiago de Compostela, the Via Turonensis, Arancou built its reputation around a hospital-priory that welcomed pilgrims from the 13thcentury onwards. There are also a few mansions, once dedicated to hospitality, whose architectural details can still be appreciated. In the village, the Church of Notre-Dame is also worth a visit for its style, which combines a long Romanesque plan with Gothic vaults and capitals. Along the trails, the surrounding hills promise fresh air in the forest, where you can see beautiful hundred-year-old oak trees, while the Bidouze valley offers peace and quiet and cool riverbanks.

Located between the provinces of Basse-Navarre and Soule, the secret Arbailles massif offers many attractions for curious hikers. This limestone massif is renowned for its karstic relief, which is ideal for caving. Located in the northern part of the massif, the Beltxu route offers beautiful views and a challenging and varied hike. The view stretches far into the distance and is well worth the extra effort.

This peaceful route through the woods offers walkers the chance to discover a rich natural heritage. The flora and fauna along the route are particularly rich, with white-backed woodpeckers, Alpine longhorn beetles, beautiful specimens of beech trees and a wide variety of ferns. In addition to these natural curiosities, information panels on Basque mythology are dotted along the route. Finally, the arrival at the source of the Bidouze and its resurgence in a porch carved into the cliff will delight young and old alike.

A beautiful walk with a surprising highlight: a splendid view of the valley from the highest point!

A lovely hike in the hills between the village of Ogeu-les-Bains and the Gave d'Ossau, facing the Bois du Bager and the Pic d'Escurets. There is a beautiful view of the first ridge and the entrances to the Ossau and Aspe valleys.

The Arbailles massif is one of the limestone ranges that lie just before the Pyrenees proper. Rising to an altitude of nearly 1,300 metres, this mountain offers a magical panorama of the border peaks. The proposed route winds its way through high-altitude pastures and dark forests, until it plunges into the heart of the massif, with plenty of sheep, cows and horses as companions on the walk.