Banca combines the history of copper mining with hiking options of varying lengths: from a 1.2-kilometre loop through the village to a 37-kilometre route between Banca and Eugi. This gives you a choice between a compact village walk and a much longer route.
Copper mining in Olhaberri
Banca’s metallurgical facilities flourished under the reign of Louis XV. The Olhaberri Interpretation Center presents the history of the copper mines from antiquity to the present day. Rare historical documents on the history of mining and a 1:100-scale model of the forge add to the display. The model is one hundredth the size of the original. Olhaberri thus brings together historical development, documents and a scale model.
The interpretation trail on mining and metallurgical heritage starts in Olhaberri and forms a 1.2-kilometre loop through the village. Around ten information panels line the route. They complement the center’s exhibits with a trail through Banca. Comparing the two formats, visitors will find documents and a model in the center, and a short walk through the village with explanatory panels on the loop.
Hiking short and long routes
Two yellow-marked PLR hiking trails for walkers also start at Place Olhaberri. The Kintoan-Barna trail is on a different scale: it is 37 kilometres long, designated for hiking and mountain biking, and runs from Banca to Eugi via Urepel along the Kintoa. The Olhaberri route is a loop through the village; the Kintoan-Barna trail connects two villages. Their lengths and route types clearly distinguish the two options.
Mountain terrain and village character
Banca is a mountain commune with highly varied terrain. Elevations range from 230 to 1,278 metres, with Pic de Laurina as the highest point. The difference between these elevations is more than 1,000 metres, giving a sense of the range across the commune.
An old blast furnace still stands at the entrance to the village, a surviving trace of its metallurgical history. The church in Banca was built in 1774. A road passes through the church’s fronton. The village thus displays different architectural connections: its industrial past and a distinctive feature of the church’s architecture.
Another highlight: trout
The Circuit Truite de Banka offers a visit to the fish farm and its small museum. This adds an introduction to aquaculture alongside Olhaberri’s mining and metallurgical history. Visitors can choose from cultural topics and different types of hiking, as well as a visit focused on fish farming.
Discover more destinations: Lanne-En-Barétous, Lohitzun-Oyhercq, Gotein-Libarrenx, Larceveau-Arros-Cibits, Estérençuby, Asson, Billère, Baudreix.
For the broader travel overview: Pyrenees-Atlantiques.
