Lower Navarre

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Basse-Navarre (Nafarroa Beherea or Baxenabarre in Basque) is a part of the present day Pyrénées Atlantiques french département. Along with Navarre of Spain, it was once ruled by the Kings of Navarre. Basse-Navarre was historically one of the seven provinces of the Basque Country. Its capital were Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Donibane Garazi in Basque) and Saint-Palais(Donapaleu in Basque). In the extreme north there was the little sovereign principality of Bidache.

Its extent is of 1.284 sq.km., and has a decreasing population of 44.450 (in 1901), 25.356 (in 1990).

Although this denomination is not completely correct from the historical point of view, it is also known as Merindad de Ultrapuertos ("the regions beyond the mountain passes") by the southerners, and Deça-ports ("this side of the mountain passes") by the gascon-speakers.

Basse-Navarre is a collection of valleys in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The Aldudes valley, around the town of Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry in the south of Basse-Navarre, preserves many old traditions, with houses of pink sandstone and contests of 'Force Basque', the games of strength. The AOC wine Irouléguy, is produced in the Aldudes.

The river Nive rises in Basse-Navarre and flows through the province and on to Bayonne, where it meets the Adour. Beyond Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port itself, the Nive enters the Ossès valley, with many beautiful old houses with carved lintels in the villages of Ossès, Irisarry and Bidarray. A reserve for the pottok, the wild Basque Pyrennean pony, in the valley conserves this rare breed.

North of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the Mixe region around the town of Saint-Palais, a former Navarrese capital. Although close to Béarn, Basque influence and traditions are strong. Lower Navarrese is a dialect of the Basque language spoken in the region. Just south of Saint-Palais, the three principal routes to Santiago de Compostela on the Way of St James met at the hamlet of Ostabat, bringing much wealth and trade to the area in medieval times.

The Way of St James headed south from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port towards the mountain pass above Roncesvalles. Pilgrims travelled across the Cixe region of Basse-Navarre on their way to Navarre across the mountains. In these rolling hills, ewes' milk cheese, pur brebis, is commonly made, including Ossau-Iraty cheese. Villages like Estérençuby and Lecumberry are popular for agro-tourism and the Iraty beech forest on the Spanish border is known for its views and history. Dolmens and other neolithic monuments dot the landscape, including the Tour d'Urculu high in the mountains at 1,149m - a 2,000-year-old circular platform of huge stone blocks.