The Holzarte footbridge (from the Basque word "Holtzearte" which means "between walls") crosses the Olhadubi gorge
Located in the municipality of Larrau, it overlooks the Olhadubi Gorge, at a height of 180 meters.
It is one of the most spectacular, grandiose, exotic and popular natural sites in the Western Pyrenees,
This monkey bridge is as much a technological feat as an attraction for hikers in need of adrenaline.
The 70 meter long bridge is entirely secure and is subject to restoration and permanent maintenance for the safety of hikers.
A bit of history...
In this wooded region, with one of the largest beech forests in Europe, lumberjacks and workers in the "wood" industry used to have to go around the gorges in order to transport the tree trunks from one side of the valley to the other. A laborious and perilous work that professionals to build a bridge in 1920.
This one was built by the Italian workers of the Lombardi Morello sawmill of Tardets.
The bridge was built by the Italian workers of the Lombardi Morello sawmill in Tardets, and became a popular transit bridge for lumberjacks with their mules loaded with wood, quickly linking the sawmills to the logging sites in the surrounding forests.
At the end of the war, the bridge was used as a crossing point for smugglers operating between France and Spain. Today, this suspension bridge is one of the most spectacular attractions in Europe and attracts more than 50,000 visitors per year!
At the end of the bridge, it is possible to continue to the Pitxa waterfall and the Olhadibi bridge on the route that goes around the gorge.
Also worth visiting are the beautiful Kakuetta Gorge, which is very close by.
The beginning of the hike is from the Logibar hostel, located on the D26 road, 14km from Tardets. You can park your car there or take the next road on the left going up to Larrau to reach the small parking lot on the spot which brings you closer to the site. From this parking place, the signs indicate 45 minutes to reach the bridge of Holzarte.
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