THE RIVERS AND ITS WATERS

The Errobi river, called La Nive in French, cuts across the northern Basque Country. It comes down under the bridges of Donibane Garazi (St. Jean Pied-de-Port en Franc,ais) and it ends in the Atturri river in Baiona, the capital of Lapurdi (Labourd).

The amazing origins of this river are found in the Urkulu massif (a compact region of a mountain range), under the protection of the great Errozate and in the shades of the forest of Orion, surfacing with great force, but only in the spring and in time of rain.

It's waters are soon increased by the Harpea branch of the river, which is born in a very special cavern by the same name a little bit higher. This excursion gives us an incomparable opportunity to get to know this part of Iparralde (Northern Basque Country): After a short visit to the springs of the Errobi, we will go the beginning of the Harpea cliffs, following the banks of the river.

THE WALKWAY

We shall depart from the parking lot of the hotel "Source de La Nive" ("Source of The Nive" in French [1]) and we will walk up the path to our left (as we arrive at the hotel). A sign saying "Source de la Nive" will point the way. It used to be that using that dirt road one could walk up to another parking lot which is 300 meters from the river's source, but the 1992 floods deteriorated the ground condition; but besides, using that path the walk up would be much too short, especially if one gets here by car.

We go along the right hand side of the Errobi river, going through places very similar to the shepherd's passageway. Let's not cross the bridge to the right, which goes to a farm house, keep going straight, before crossing a stream, up a hill that goes up to a reconstructed hut ("borda").

We get finally to the parking lot we mentioned earlier. We're now very close to the river's source. To the left starts the path that goes to the summit of Errozate (1,343 meters), quite suitable for a nice hike. But since that's not what we're after, we'll keep going straight, between metal bars. This slippery shortcut, goes down through a forest which has trees of different kinds, but mostly beech and box trees.

In periods of rain, Errobi's roaring can be heard there, at the bottom of the ravine, despite its being so young, as if wanting to announce its wildness. In dry periods, however, the lack of water keeps the river in a somnolent state.

At the end of the shortcut we are at the river already. But watch out, don't do what we did: for after crossing the water, we were under the impression that Errobi was the stream to the left, without realizing that the source of Errobi was a few meters to the right. A lot of people make that mistake, especially when they go there in the summer, that is, where no water is coming out of the spring and it's very hard to even guess that that's the source or origin of a river. When there is water, however, the opposite happens, cause it comes out everywhere from among the rocks covered with green moss. ...

THE HARPEA ("CAVE") CAVE

After visiting the visit to the source of the Errobi, you can stick around this area for a little bit longer and go visit the Harpea cave, one of the most incredible places of the Basque geography. First you get back to the parking lot of the hotel, get in the car and take the road that goes to the Organbide land("cart trail") mountain pass, all the way to the junction where a dolmen and boundary marker 212 which artificially divides the Basque Country.

If we followed the path to the right, we would get to the Orbaizta factory. But to see the cave you must continue straight. With Errozate to the left and Saiarre to the right, and the Harpea stream below.

Leave your car at the end of the paved road, next to a hut ("borda") and take a path there is that goes to the left. In less than ten minutes you will be in one the most original places in the Basque Country.

Note:

[1] source: Word borrowed by English speakers from French speakers: 1300-50; Middle English sours (n.) < Old French sors (masc.), sourse, source (fem.), n. use of past participle of sourdre < Latin surgere "to spring up or forth"]

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