Ile de la Conférence (ou Ile des Faisans)

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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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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.
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.
5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Krishna's musical vlogs on 11/11/2021

I have been there...The nature is utmost beautiful and pleasent. Mind gets fully recharged. Went with my girlfriend. She bagged lifelong memories over there.