Larun, “Lookout Point on the Basque Coast”
On the border between Navarre and Lapurdi, at an elevation of 905 meters, lies Larun, the “viewpoint of the Basque Coast.” It is the westernmost peak of any significance in the Pyrenees, and from there you can see both sides of the Bidasoa River.
There are numerous routes to the summit. A wide variety of trails start from both sides of the mountain (Bera, Sara, Ascain, Olhette…). The GR 10 long-distance trail also passes through the foothills. Along the way, you may come across bunkers and a cromlech.
However, even though it is a mountain, it is not exactly mountaineers who visit it most often, but rather tourists. In fact, it has become one of the most visited places in the Basque Country. The main reason is the breathtaking panoramic view from the summit, at an elevation of 905 meters. Larun is the “viewpoint of the Basque Coast”—a 360° vantage point from which you can see the entire Labortan coast, as well as Txingudi Bay. It’s no surprise, then, that its 3*** rating in the Michelin Green Guide attests to its quality as a tourist destination.
Le Petit Train, which departs from Saint-Ignace—between Askain and Sara—is the most popular way for visitors to reach the summit. It is a charming rack-and-pinion train built in 1925. The “station” is located just a few kilometers from Urdax and Zugarramurdi and 10 kilometers from Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The 35-minute ride takes us to the summit, and along the way, we can spot pottokas (ponies native to the area), sheep, wild vultures, and more…
The breathtaking panoramic view from the summit is truly striking, which is why Larun is known as the “viewpoint of the Basque Coast” and the “viewpoint of the Bidasoa.” But the large buildings on the summit are also eye-catching. Las Ventas, where visitors can eat, have a coffee, or even buy souvenirs.
A Brief History
Juan Peña, a young man from Bera, was the one who, in 1947, decided to start a small business in a stone cabin near the summit of Mount Larun. There, he sold oranges, drinks, espadrilles, and other items to the French tourists who rode up on the little train. After all, following World War II, the borders were closed and there was a shortage of supplies in France.
As things stood, in the 1950s, he built a wooden cabin closer to the summit, and by the end of that decade, he would settle permanently at the very top of the mountain.
At first, construction materials and goods were hauled up on the backs of mules or pulled by oxen. Later, however, a cable system powered by pulleys was installed, featuring 12 cages that transported the goods on a rotating basis. In the 1970s, the road leading to the summit was built, making it possible to use all-terrain vehicles for transport.