Route to the Holtzarte Footbridge

The Holtzarte footbridge, over the Olhadubi ravine, is one of those places that we cannot miss. A wonderful walk in a small paradise of steep mountains and lush vegetation that ends on a suspension bridge, suspended 150 metres above the abyss.

This place is located in Zuberoa, one of the 3 historical provinces of the northern Basque Country (Iparralde), in the French department of the Atlantic Pyrenees. It is very close to the border with Navarre.

The bridge is made of wood and reinforced iron cables, secured to two pillars that support a crossing arch. The bridge dates from 1920 and was built to provide easier access to the area's forest resources.

How to get there:

See in Google Maps.

To get there by car from Spain, take Ochagavía (Navarre) as a reference point. From here, on the NA2011, we cross into France via the Larrau Pass (1,575m) to descend along the D26 to the village of Larrau. About 3kms from Larrau is the Logibar hostel, where a car park has been set up just above it for people who come to visit the footbridge. In total, 34 kms from Ochagavía.

Excursion to the Holtzarte footbridge

The route starts at the Mouline bridge car park. A car park set up for visitors who come to see the footbridge, just above the Logibar hostel (obligatory start/finish of the stage for mountaineers who make the GR10).

The hike lasts approximately two hours (approximately one and a half hours of walking over 200 metres of unevenness). Along the way, the humidity of the forest and the sound of water will accompany the walkers.

Once on the bridge, the only thing left to do is to cross it. The bridge is very safe and stable, however, for those who suffer from altitude, crossing the 50 metres that separate one end of the bridge from the other, suspended 150 metres above the bottom of the ravine, can be a long crossing.

A bit of history

The Holtzarte footbridge was built in 1920 so that the workers of the Italian steelworks Lombarda Morillo could have easier access to the trees to convert them into fuel.

In 2010, the footbridge was rebuilt due to the damage it received after Cyclone Xynthia, which devastated a large part of France.

To be taken into account

This walk can be done in about two hours, at any time of the year. On wet days (which is normal here), you should be careful at some points that may be slippery. Although it is a route that can be considered simple, well signposted and very popular in summer, you have to climb 200 metres up a narrow mountain path.

Other routes

Once we reach the Holtzarte footbridge, we may want to extend the excursion and get to know this area better. From this point there are two good options, somewhat more demanding, to spend the morning (or afternoon) walking.

• Cascade Track (4 and a half hours). After crossing the Holzarte bridge, the path continues along the Holtzarte gorge through the Olhado ravine until it connects with the GRT11, which we leave further on. Although there are some signs, the path to the Pista waterfall is not very clear and at some points it is quite slippery.
• Boucle Holtzarte - Ardakotxea (4-5 hours in total). After crossing the Holtzarte footbridge we go up the Olhadubi ravine on the left bank until we reach a small bridge over which we cross the ravine and start to return. The route is well signposted with signs and timetables in between.