Banca: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Banca’s metallurgical industries flourished under the reign of Louis XV. An old blast furnace still stands at the entrance to Banca.

Those choosing Banca as a holiday destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.

Culture

The Olhaberri Interpretation Centre presents the history of the copper mines from antiquity to the present day. It houses a 1:100 scale model of the forge, and the centre also displays rare historical documents relating to Banca’s mining history.

Starting at Olhaberri, the interpretation trail devoted to the area’s mining and metallurgical heritage follows a 1.2 km loop through the village. Around ten information panels are located along the route. Two yellow-marked PLR hiking trails for walkers also start from Place Olhaberri.

The church in Banca was built in 1774. A road runs across the church’s fronton.

Landscape

Banca is a mountain commune with a highly varied relief. Elevations range from 230 m to 1,278 m, with Pic de Laurina forming the highest point.

The Kintoan-Barna trail is a 37 km hiking and mountain-biking route from Banca to Eugi. It passes through Urepel along the Kintoa.

Local life

The Circuit Truite de Banka offers a visit to the fish farm and its small museum. The museum beside the ponds shows the trout’s various stages of life.

The patron saint festivals in Banca take place on the last weekend of June.

More village pages: Urcuit, Gan, Sainte-Engrâce, Escos, Rontignon, Béguios, Baudreix, Sauvelade

For the overview of the wider travel region: Pyrenees-Atlantiques.