Redoutes / Gotorlekuak
The Amotz redoubts loop is a hike accessible to all and runs through the hills on the right bank of the Nivelle. In addition to their historical military past, the remains of these observation posts have kept the advantage of wide panoramic views over the surrounding ridges and valleys.
The rounded ridges that stretch from the heights of Sare (at the Saint-Ignace pass), to the gates of Espelette (at the Pinodieta pass), surround the valley of Sare and Aïnhoa to the north, shared geographically with the Spanish villages of Zugarramurdi and Urdax. These crests offer only one point of weakness, dug by the Nivelle, in the district of Amotz of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle. This is where the walk begins, near the remains of an old Romanesque bridge, half of which has now been amputated following various floods. The walk will quickly take you to the heights of Saint-Pée along comfortable paths and, if you take care to avoid the pigeon hunting season (October), you can enjoy the changing views from both Saint-Pée and Sare. Old Napoleonic military posts, the redoubts, add a heritage dimension to this walk.
