Pelota traditions, waterside paths and historic buildings give Saint-Pée-Sur-Nivelle a broad appeal for a trip with a variety of interests. If you would rather spend your days outdoors, you’ll find walking paths by the lake and in the Forêt de Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle. Cultural attractions include the Ecomusée, the Église Saint-Pierre and the Parcours Patrimoine. Local crafts are also part of the town’s character. You can tailor your stay to whether you want to discover Basque culture, explore on foot or combine the two.

Walk by the lake and enjoy the outdoors

The Lac de Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle is fed by four waterways and covers twelve hectares. An easy walking path, described as such, runs for three kilometers around the lake. The leisure area offers canoeing and kayaking, a water slide and pedal boats; seasonal operations may vary. This means you can choose between a walk and activities on the water at the same lake. If you plan to take part in the water activities, bear in mind that availability depends on the season.

For a longer hike, consider the Redoutes / Gotorlekuak route. It is 8.9 kilometers long, rated easy, takes 2 hours and 45 minutes, and is suitable for all audiences. By comparison, the lakeside loop is shorter; the hike is listed as taking just under three hours. As trail conditions can change, it is a good idea to check them before setting out.

The Forêt de Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle covers 1,300 hectares. Walking paths with picnic tables, small streams and wooded trails characterize the area, which is also home to a wide variety of animal and plant species. This offers a different way to experience the landscape than a walk around the lake: instead of following a route along the water, you can choose forest paths and use the picnic areas as a guide for where to take a break.

Discover pelota and historic buildings

The Chistera, the large wicker glove used in the Basque game of pelota, originated in Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle. In the town center, the Ecomusée de la Pelote et du Xistera Pilotari is housed in the tourist information office building. A 45-minute sound and light presentation covers how Xistera and pelota are made; pelota demonstrations are also shown on a large screen. The presentation and the Redoutes / Gotorlekuak hike suit different time frames: 45 minutes for the pelota presentation, compared with 2 hours and 45 minutes of walking time for the route.

The Église Saint-Pierre also offers a glimpse of regional architecture: it is listed as a historic monument and has three levels of traditional regional wooden galleries. In the Ibarron district, the Pont de la Vierge dates back to the 14th century. The bridge has been listed as a historic monument since 1987 and lies on the Way of St. James. The Parcours Patrimoine Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle complements these individual buildings with themes relating to the municipality: it presents architecture, traditional crafts, ways of life and historical figures.

The Memorial Oroit Mina offers another way to engage with history. It was built to commemorate a dark period in the history of the Basque Country. The sculpture stands for tolerance and remembrance of the innocent victims of these events. A visit can therefore complement the town’s architectural and cultural heritage with a place of remembrance.

Plan crafts and events into your trip

At Huilerie Errota – La Noisette Basque, guided tours led by the company’s founder are available. Visitors can also sample 21 products independently and explore interactive trails about organic hazelnuts and the oil mill. In Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, MayiElu makes soap by hand in small batches using the traditional cold saponification process. MayiElu soaps are available at the Ferme Salaberry farm shop; availability for sale may change.

The Fêtes de Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle is an annual five-day festival held between late June and early July; the exact dates vary from year to year. If you want to time your stay to coincide with the festival, check the dates for the relevant year. Outside these dates, you can choose activities based on the mix of nature, pelota and heritage you’re looking for.

Discover more destinations: Macaye, Navarrenx, Came, Castetnau-Camblong, Bardos, Saint-Palais, Etchebar, Ledeuix.

For the broader travel overview: Pyrenees-Atlantiques.