On page 345 of the 2026 Spain Guidebook (French Basque Villages, Ainhoa, France) , a scenic detour to Chapelle de Notre-Dame d"Aranazau (d'Auberpine)/oratoire is mentioned, "worth the steep detour for drivers". Best I can tell after looking at Google Maps & Google Street View, this dirt road is prohibited for cars and motorcycles.
Can anyone confirm this route is for hikers only?
-Bruce
It does appear it is a walking path only. At least it’s only a mile from the church in town and there appear to be a few free parking lots.
It does seem to be mostly a hiking route, Randonee. Though like many of the rural chapels, there is vehicle access. In the last picture in this blogpost you can see a vehicle, https://lalumierededieu.blogspot.com/2016/04/ainhoa-notre-dame-darantzazu.html
If you have a car, and want a great view with some interesting history, just over the border in Spain is Gorramendi. Part of the history is that Mount Gorramendi (1,074 m high), was home to an American military base between 1959 and 1966. It was a Cold War radar and listening post. The area is also full of cromleches, which are small neolithic stone circles. You can drive all most all the way and then there is short walk (200yds) up to the site of the radar installation.
