Forêt d'Iraty

The Iraty Forest is the largest beech grove in Europe . It is a vast forest of 17,000 hectares which occupies a large part of the Iraty valley . It straddles the Basque Country, Béarn and Spain. Beeches and fir trees are the dominant species in this forest. Many hiking trails crisscross it. Its glades welcome pastures for the flocks of sheep. “Cayolars”, these traditional shepherds huts from the Basque Country, dot the valley. Some are open to visitors and offer you a tasting of the famous Ossau-Iraty sheep cheese.

Did you know ? Ossau-Iraty is a cheese made from a mixture of sheep milk from the Ossau Valley and that of Iraty. A great diversity of flowers, typical of the Pyrenean mountains, grow in the Iraty Valley. They bring a floral side to this Basque cheese.

Find out more : Read our article on Ossau Iraty cheese.(FR)