LES GORGES DE KAKUETTA
A prestigious site steeped in history, located in Sainte-Engrace, and distinguished by its lush natural beauty.
Until it reopens, here's the story. In the bowels of the inland Basque country, in the small Souletin village of Sainte-Engrâce, the Kakuetta gorges are a veritable treasure trove delivered by nature; one of the most prestigious sites in Europe. First explored in 1906 by Edouard-Alfred Martel, a specialist in scientific expeditions, they are now protected. In bygone days, farmers hauled wheat down from the high cliffs to the water mill at the entrance to the gorge, then hauled the heavy sacks of flour up the same route. During the 2nd World War, this mountainous passage between France and Spain became synonymous with freedom for many fleeing the occupied zone. Basque shepherds, with their intimate knowledge of the rocky escarpments, became smugglers, braving German patrols at the risk of their lives. A wild and spectacular place: "we are here in the Amazon of temperate latitudes, yet in the heart of the Basque mountains", we hear the professionals say. A luxuriant, fiercely beautiful landscape that keeps the secret of these gorges, which only trained and equipped athletes would attempt to climb. 2,000 m long, between 30 and 350 m deep, with a particularly narrow passage known as the "Grand Etroit". The village of Sainte-Engrâce is also famous for its Romanesque church dating from the 11th century, the Grotte de La Verna for underground exploration, and its many hiking trails.
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