The area of Etchebar is limited to a small valley through which a tributary of the Gave Uhaitza flows; agriculture gives it a varied landscape.
Etchebar is part of the 8,600-hectare Montagnes du Pic des Escaliers Natura 2000 site.
Nature
The Tour d'Etchebar passes through the Erbexe Forest, whose very old trees contribute to its wilder character.
From a slope of Pic Salhagañe, the Tour d'Etchebar offers panoramic views over a large part of the valley and nearby Béarn.
The Tour d'Etchebar also reaches Pic Bizay.
Hiking
The Tour d'Etchebar/Etxebarreko üngürua is a 12.3-kilometre hiking route with 550 metres of elevation gain, a moderate level of difficulty and a stated duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes.
To take the Tour d'Etchebar, drive from Tardets via Lichans; 500 metres before the centre of Etchebar, you can park directly behind the turnoff to the fish farm.
Culture
The disc-shaped stelae of Etchebar stand between the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the cemetery. A small platform offers an elevated view of the artistically carved stones.
The disc-shaped stele of Berteretxe dates from the 15th century and commemorates the murder of a farmer from Larrau by the Viscount of Mauléon in front of his fiancée's house.
Gastelariko botxia is a protohistoric site near Pic Bizay that served to monitor newcomers arriving in the valley.
The ruins of the house “Aretalepoa” are a secluded place where people lived during the last century.
Local character
La Kabane à Kabris is a farm above the village of Etchebar with Poitevine goats, several Jersey cattle and Konik ponies.
La Kabane à Kabris milks the animals by hand, processes all the milk on the farm and sells goat's cheese and mixed-milk cheese on site.
Visits to La Kabane à Kabris are exclusively guided and are only possible by prior appointment.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Etchebar can save the destination for later.
