Elorrimendi
A cocoon of greenery
The 17.5-hectare “Espace Naturel Sensible” is located on the heights of Cambo-les-Bains, offering 180° views of the Basque peaks of Artzamendi, Ursuia, Mondarrain and La Rhune.
The Bergerie hill has been the site of various occupations and uses over the centuries. It bears witness to successive lifestyles and the characteristic uses of different eras. From a grazing area for cattle, it became a park and pleasure garden, and changed owners several times, notably during the 20th century.
The top of the hill is only accessible on foot. It’s a 20-minute walk from the Allée du Berger parking lot at the foot of the estate. The gentle, easy ascent in the shade of a variety of trees is sure to please.
Not to be missed
Originally owned by the Osborne family, the hilltop residence was bought by Charles Wendel, a naturalized English German. Buying up most of the hillside, he created a true estate, creating a park with a wide variety of trees. Today, the scale of the building that once stood here can be seen in the remains of the exterior staircase that still stand at the top.
This estate now belongs to the Pyrénées Atlantiques department, which has installed information totems to inform the public about the flora present in this sensitive natural area.
Focus on 
The Elondare house, with its singular wooden architecture, informs and educates the public about biodiversity, heritage management of the site and the role of wild pollinators.
For those who want to stretch their legs a little longer, there’s a 2.5km signposted hike up the Colline de la Bergerie. This easy loop takes around 1h15.
The hill is also home to the Tèrra Aventura trail, a fun and educational treasure hunt that takes around 2 hours to complete. The route focuses on the natural and historical heritage of the Colline de la Bergerie. All you need to do is download the Tèrra Aventura application and the data for the “Aux cîmes de la Bergerie” route.
Useful information 
The Centre Permanent d’Initiatives pour l’Environnement Pays Basque organizes many events around the biodiversity of the Colline de la Bergerie. Find out more about them and their program on their website www.cpiepaysbasque.fr.
La Colline de la Bergerie
La Colline de la Bergerie, a former estate now classified as a sensitive natural area of 17.5 hectares, is located on the heights of Cambo-les-Bains and is endowed with late-mown meadows and…
CAMBO-LES-BAINS
