Stories Pyrenees by people (Territories by People)

A travel exploratory journey through the Pyrenees in search of new ways of inhabiting the territory and understanding the world.

Hibaika Rowing Club in Trintxerpe

The Pyrenees are born of the sea and the exploratory journey could not begin in any other way than touching the salt water of the Bay of Biscay with our own hands. The Hibaika Rowing Club innovate in something as traditional as the rowing boats, developing 3D printed parts that are applied to the regulation of the oars and their adaptation to the rower and the conditions of the sea.

Amarenak' in Donostia San Sebastián

Oihane saw it clearly. This architect went from designing buildings in Shanghai to returning to her homeland with an idea for her grandmother's Kaiku - the one that accompanied her on her adventure in China. The idea was none other than a rebirth for this traditional garment: to rethink the kaiku with new designs for the new times, all from the local and with local materials. Stories can also be worn.

Lakaxita' in Irún

A self-managed space, which started as an old Gaztetxe 11 years ago and which has evolved over the years as a driving force for collaborative economy initiatives such as consumer groups, community vegetable gardens, etc.; and business activities such as Hiritik At, which brings together architects and engineers, taking social entrepreneurship to the business field.

Aldatsa Baratza' in Hondarribia

Community garden and consumer group. Each week its members receive a basket of garden produce. It brings together more than 40 families and generates local employment. It adapts the 'Bajo el Asfalto está la Huerta!' model with its own philosophy.

Bidazi' in Bera

A consumer group in Bera de Bidasoa, in which involvement and participation leads its members to stock up on local and ecological products. But Bidazi is much more than that, it is a meeting point for initiatives and people, who face life in this Pyrenean village from a new perspective.

EHKOlektiboa' in Etxalar

Throughout the Basque Pyrenees, this cooperative brings together producers and citizens under the philosophy of agroecology. Aloña welcomes us to Etxalar to talk to us about new, more participatory and sustainable ways of working with the environment and the territory.

Bihotzkada Kolektiboa' in Lesaka

A space and meeting place for artists and artisans in Lesaka. Gabri works with leather and metal and transforms them into accessories. She tells us how they came together in this collective and their philosophy of contributing to and disseminating the culture of Lesaka.

Aurelien (Ornithologist)' in the Port of Lizaieta

"People are not aware of the European heritage that passes through this place every year", Aurelien tells us. This ornithologist from Brittany welcomes us at the Port of Lizaieta to tell us about his passion, which shines in his eyes as he watches cranes, pigeons, storks, etc. pass through the sky with his lens...

Puppeteers and witches in Zugarramurdi

Zugarramurdi is known as the territory of witches and covens. Marifa tells us the story behind the legend and reveals the legacy that the 'puppeteers of Zugarramurdi', Mikel Diez and Estefanía Erro, left in the area and in the profession. An Association pays tribute to these two puppeteers every two years at the meeting of the puppeteers of Euskal Herria.

Jon Harbouchet in Buzunaritze

Jon Harbouchet has a farm with 34 cows that he runs entirely organically. Jon is one of the references for agroecology among producers in the North Basque Country and beyond. He talks about new models for livestock farming that involve taking care of the product and moving towards higher value end products - on his farm the milk is used to make organic yoghurts that can even be found in restaurants in Paris itself. This commitment to local and organic products has led him to another of his facets: his work in the recovery of forgotten and lost varieties of maize.

Iratiko Ekoizpenak in Orbara (Aezkoa)

This cooperative arose from the idea of a consumer group that links producers with consumers. While we have lunch in the Orbara bar - run by the cooperative - Carlos and Josi talk to us about how the initiative came about and the new ideas for the project, which facilitates new economic initiatives for the valley through the transformation of local raw materials.

Clean Wheat Cooperative in Aezkoa

Meat from local breeds and organic potatoes in the Aezkoa Valley. Patxi tells us how they came together with the same philosophy and methods of production. The cooperative has premises in Aribe and sells online through its website.

Squatted villages of Uli Alto and Arizkuren in the Maple Valley

An endless track starts from Elkoaz. As the kilometres go by, it puts more and more strain on the underbody. van We had no choice but to leave it parked to one side and continue on foot. At night, under the stars, we arrive at Uli Alto; one of the squatted villages of the Maple Valley, our destination. The Maple Valley is dotted with abandoned villages, which have seen a new resurgence in groups of people who have decided to leave their urban life behind and begin the challenge of an isolated life in the natural environment. Neo-rural. We meet Eneko in his wooden hut - he started to build it a few months ago with his brother - "But are you programming...", our voice shows surprise. Eneko explains that fortunately he can earn some money programming mobile applications from Uli itself - although it seems unthinkable, the Internet reaches this isolated place without any problems. Others in the village have to go away for a while to pick apples or other tasks. But this is not the norm, the daily chores in the village are different, working for the community in the vegetable garden, milking the goat, building new houses ..... Eneko tells us that winter is coming and many people leave here and there for different reasons. He will have to spend part of the winter months as the village guardian.

Arterra in Artieda

Sometimes dreams can be felt, you just have to walk towards them. This is how this life initiative of a group of people in Artieda was born. Arterra is a co-housing where economic initiatives are beginning to emerge within the framework of this work and life project. It houses the headquarters of the European Ecovillage Association.

Ekosua cookers in Bigüezal

Juan Luis has dedicated his whole life to bio-construction. We found him in Bigüezal full of clay building his straw house. Together with his daughter Sara they are dedicated to the construction of "Kachelofen" storage cookers. Efficiency, warmth and aesthetics. After a long coffee they tell us what it is like to live in a completely self-sufficient building.

Iñaki Urkia and Carmen, bio-construction in Bigüezal.

In the Bigüezal ecovillage you can breathe in a different way. After dinner with Iñaki, Carmen and their family at the borda, which is the heart of this place dotted with cabins, we walk along a path to reach one that awaits us. This is where we will sleep. Iñaki is the national reference architect in terms of bio-construction in general, and straw in particular. He talks to us about the importance of all these small constructions that we see in the ecovillage as a laboratory for experimentation.

Pirineos Bier, Valle de Hecho

Next to the Hotel Uson, in the heart of the Hecho Valley, is the Pirineos Bier microbrewery. If there is one thing that is important in a beer, it is the water, and that of the valley is special. Fernando and Imanol had it clear to start this activity in the valley, a pioneer at a time when craft beers did not proliferate, and which is an example of new paths beyond the more traditional activities.