Itxassou, a Labourdin village which is 23 kilometers from Bayonne and specializes in its black cherry, is our setting this morning for our program “A Sunday in…”. Nestled between the Mondarrain and Artzamendi mountains, we went to discover actors and inhabitants who make this village an ideal place for a Sunday with family or friends.
The Etchepare Inn
A typical restaurant in a Basque village, the Etchepare inn welcomed us this morning; Installed in the middle of the town of Itxassou for three generations, Jean-Michel Etchepare tells us that he has been behind the stove for more than forty years. In this restaurant you will have the opportunity to find a unique worker’s menu every lunchtime with a formula offered with a starter, a main course and a dessert. But also other themed dishes (eg the Donald plate with duck sleeves). A particularity of this place is the exhibition of several paintings by various local artists on the walls of the establishment.
Jean-Michel Etchepare, a child of the village is also a great enthusiast of old vehicles and is part of the association “Les Vieux Machins” which, throughout the year, organizes various events, such as, for example, a garage sale on next Sunday, April 10 at the wall to the left of Itxassou, with free spaces to raise funds for an association that helps Ukrainians.
Jean-Paul Iriquin, follower of sheepdog competitions
Himself a sheep breeder for all years, he has always used the dog to help him in his work, which for him is essential. He tells us that he has been participating more or less regularly in sheepdog competitions for about twenty years now. At the base he started in order to render service to the festival committee of his village on the occasion of patronal feasts then he discovered a real passion for this discipline as much as it participates in his daily life as a shepherd. In his herd, Jean-Paul Iriquin has, among others, xaxi-ardi, an ancient breed of sheep typical of the Basque Country that he grazes on the slopes of Mondarrain, a mountain that borders the village of Itxassou.
Do not hesitate to go and see the next sheepdog competitions if you want to discuss it with him, you will see that it is quite an art to give instructions to a herding dog.
NCKD 64
Jakes Olaizola takes us with him in his rafts this morning. Passionate about water sports, he has created a mobile base in which he offers all types of aquatic excursions in fresh water or sea water. NCKD 64 offers rafting, canoraft, kayak raft and aquarando in fresh water on the waters of the Nive, departing from Itxassou or Bidarray depending on the formula chosen. Jakes also offers to take off on the Basque coast with sea kayaking, to go to Hendaye or even Fontarrabie, he also offers Kayak surfing, a different way of understanding this discipline that is surfing with waterfalls and figures that will make you have a great time.
Do not hesitate to contact Jakes by email at [email protected] for more information on all the activities he offers !!
Mountain races
Julen Olaizola grew up in Itxassou and actively participates in village life. With the riches of the Artzamendi and Mondarrain mountains, several organizations have asked themselves the question of organizing races there. That’s how Hirukasko and Itsasuko Itzulia were born. Hirukasko, originally on the initiative of several associations, offers a race during which three peaks are to be climbed one after the other, Iparla, Hirubela and Artzamendi. This year, this race will take place on June 18!
Itsasuko Itzulia is also a 24 kilometer race which is offered all around the village of Itxassou and starting from Atharri, created 5 years ago now, it is one of the unmissable meetings for trail runners in the Basque Country and surroundings. This year, Itsasuko Itzulia invites you on Sunday, September 11!