Mendive offers several distinct themes for a stay: the Chapel of Saint-Sauveur d’Iraty, hikes for different time budgets, and insights into the history of the Irati forests. On the Plateau d’Iraty-Cize, you can experience a landscape shaped over millennia by water, pastoralism and forestry.
Hiking by Time and Difficulty
Three circular hiking trails start on the Plateau d’Iraty-Cize. The Zurzai loop starts in Mendive, is 8 km long, is rated easy and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Erreka Idorra is 8.9 km long, takes about four hours and has an elevation gain of 315 m. The Okabe route starts on the Plateau d’Iraty-Cize in Mendive; it is 15.2 km long, takes about six hours and has an elevation gain of 535 m. The stated hiking times therefore range from just under three hours to a tour of around six hours, with Erreka Idorra falling between them. This makes for a clear difference in the amount of time needed to plan your day. Trail data and conditions may change; check them before setting out.
Forest History, Pastoralism and Nature
The Erreka Idorra interpretive trail explores historical uses of the Irati forests, including the production of masts, oars and charcoal. The trail also features scenes from an open-air museum. The focus is therefore not only on the landscape, but also on forest work and its history.
The Chalet de Cize is an information point and a place to learn about pastoralism on the Plateau d’Iraty-Cize. Visitors can learn about the lives of transhumant shepherds and sample their cheese. Pastoralism thus connects the landscape and its use with a specific visitor experience.
The Zurzai loop also offers opportunities to observe nature: for the first half, it follows a mountain stream where hikers may spot Pyrenean brook newts and other amphibians. At the Col de Zurzai pass, the route passes through wetlands; there, the hike may reveal sundews, carnivorous plants characteristic of these habitats. The loop ends with the discovery of cromlechs. These prehistoric remains bear witness to the very early settlement of the Basque mountains.
Chapel and Romanesque Heritage
The Chapel of Saint-Sauveur d’Iraty has a Romanesque foundation attested to since the 12th century. A Stations of the Cross surrounds its exterior; the final outdoor station is a monumental cross dating from 1805. The ensemble thus combines an early building history with a later-dated feature along the chapel’s Stations of the Cross. Saint-Vincent-de-Dax in Mendive is also among the examples of preserved Romanesque portals in the canton.
Getting There and Practical Planning
From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the drive to the Plateau d’Iraty-Cize runs through the Ergaraï valley in the commune of Mendive and along the D18. The journey takes about 35 minutes; road and traffic conditions may affect the travel time. Allow for this drive separately from the hiking times when planning your day. For Terra Aventura – Artzaina eta ardiak, a geocaching trail on the Plateau de Cize in Mendive, it is advisable to check the operating details locally.
Discover more destinations: Susmiou, Bunus, Bidart, Gotein-Libarrenx, Eysus, Ascain, Aubertin, Lées-Athas
For the broader travel guide: Pyrenees-Atlantiques.
