Ile de la Conférence (ou Ile des Faisans) Nature Reserve in Hendaye

Useful information

Province : Labourd

  • English
    • The Conference Island in French or the Pheasant Island in Spanish is a small river island, in the center of the Bidassoa, this river which marks the border between France and Spain. It is therefore part of the commune of Hendaye, on the French side. But it is above all its status and its management that makes it very unusual. Divided in two by the border, it is administered for six months by France, then during the following six months by Spain! Alas, it cannot be visited.

      Did you know : It is this very special place that hosted the exchange of French and Spanish princesses in 1615. Elisabeth, the daughter of Henri IV, therefore became Spanish there, while Anne crossed the border there to become the wife of Louis XIII and the future queen of France. This is where the conferences prior to the Treaty of the Pyrenees are mainly held, organizing the marriage of Marie-Thérèse of Austria (Spanish) with Louis XIV, hence its French name.

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Traveller Reviews Ile de la Conférence (ou Ile des Faisans)

4.4 sur 5 181 reviews

  • Mohd Zulkifli Hashim

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Mohd Zulkifli Hashim on 27/02/2024

    Very unique Island. It’s belong to Spain & France according to seasons/ months. But nobody live there.

  • Rikki Rikki

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Rikki Rikki on 21/11/2022

    I visited the island in the early 1980s in late July just days before the six monthly hand over from Spain to France. Due to the restrictions on accessing the island it had at that time a good range of undisturbed wildlife. The island is however subject to erosion so is shrinking over the years. At the time I visited there were no efforts to reduce or prevent erosion, but not sure if either authority have since taken steps to preserve this unique and historic place, the site of treaty signings and royal betrothals.

  • The Rocky Boys

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by The Rocky Boys on 23/01/2019

    I haven't been to the island because I am not allowed to unless I am part of the French or Spanish national park services, nor am I part of royalty of either nation, but this island is cool because it is the only island that switches countries every half-year. It is French from August 1st to January 31st and is Spanish from February 1st to July 31st.

Ride around

Balades à Roulettes n° 26 l'île des Faisans à Hendaye

Balades à Roulettes n° 26 l'île des Faisans à Hendaye
Balades à Roulettes n° 26 l'île des Faisans à  ...

242 m - Hendaye

Walking

Balades à Roulettes n° 26 l'île des Faisans à Hendaye

Balades à Roulettes n° 26 l'île des Faisans à Hendaye
Balades à Roulettes n° 26 l'île des Faisans à  ...

279 m - Hendaye

Walking Roller

Des 2 côtés de la Bidassoa

Des 2 côtés de la Bidassoa
Des 2 côtés de la Bidassoa

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Velo hybrid Bike / road

To discover around

Church of Santa María del Juncal in Irun

Church of Santa María del Juncal in Irun
Church of Santa María del Juncal in Irun

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Hendaye

Hendaye
Hendaye

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Hermitage of Saint-Martial in Irun

Hermitage of Saint-Martial in Irun
Hermitage of Saint-Martial in Irun

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Hermitage of Ama Xantalen

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Hondarribia-Irun

Hondarribia-Irun
Hondarribia-Irun

HONDARRIBIA is an invitation to forget time and stroll through the historic center, to enjoy the terraces, the ...

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Ile de la Conférence (ou Ile des Faisans)

Address

Île des Faisans
64700 Hendaye

GPS coordinates

43° 20'34.05"N, 1° 45'55.89"W

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