Izpegi Pass

The Izpegi Pass is a 672 m high Pyrenean mountain pass located right on the border between Spain and France, linking the Baztan and Baigorri valleys in the Basque Country. The river Bidasoa, called Baztan on its upper stage, rises close by on the western side of the Iparla mountain range stretching out north to south. The name Izpegi applies also to a stream running on its eastern slopes.
The population nuclei closest to the saddle are the village of Erratzu and Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry. A sinuous narrow road that bears witness to a couple of Tour de France stages descends east to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, cutting its way through a spectacular grassy and giddy landscape.
The pass is frequented by hikers in order to gain access to the neighbouring mountain Hautza and other mounts of the ridgeline. Since the mid-2000s, a modest txalaparta festival is held at the spot on the first Sunday of September, which has become a meeting point for the instrument's players, especially locals. Money raised at the food stall arranged was destined in 2009 to helping the Basque language school of the neighbouring small town of Baigorri.

History

A battle was fought at this location during the War of the Pyrenees on 3 June 1794. A 2,300-strong republican French brigade led by General of Brigade Lavictoire attacked the 1,000 Spanish and French royalist troops and drove them from the pass. The defenders, one battalion of the Spanish Zamora Infantry Regiment, three companies of the Aldudes Rifles, and the Légion Royal French Émigré battalion, lost 94 killed and wounded, plus 307 captured. The French brigade, part of Jean Mauco's division of the Army of the western Pyrenees, suffered an unknown number of casualties.