Loop 8: Col d'Arnosteguy – Basque Country passes
Loop 8: Col d'Arnosteguy – Basque Country passes
5.0
(2)
46
riders
Loop 8: Col d'Arnosteguy – Basque Country passes
03:04
47.6km
1,360m
Road cycling
Located on the Franco-Spanish border, the Col d'Arnosteguy peaks at 1,236 meters above sea level. At the cost of a long and beautiful ascent, the pass reveals wonderful views of the Basque Country and its mountains.
The start is in the historic village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, whose location makes it an important crossroads in the Basque Country. At the crossroads of historic roads, the village offers many shops and restaurants in a bucolic setting.
The route escapes via a small road that leads to Estérençuby, the starting point of the climb towards the Arnosteguy pass. The ascent begins in the hollow of a beautiful wooded valley before climbing through large hairpin bends. Little by little, as you gain height, the landscape opens up and beautiful panoramas are revealed.
The road then meanders on grassy plateaus according to the different peaks it crosses. You evaluate on increasingly spectacular slopes. At the bottom of one of them, all you have to do is leave the main road to complete your ascent of more than 18 kilometers from Estérençuby.
The descent which begins the return begins quietly before plunging towards Arnéguy. Approaching the village, the slope becomes steeper and several hairpin bends require you to hold the brakes firmly. The Nive d'Arnéguy guides you and brings you back to your starting point to conclude this beautiful outing.
Last updated: June 8, 2024
Waypoints
Start point
Get Directions
13 m
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Highlight • Settlement
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Tip by
8.21 km
Estérençuby
Highlight • Settlement
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Tip by
26.3 km
Col d'Arnosteguy
Highlight • Mountain Pass
The landscape is wild and wonderful. You can breathe absolute tranquility and you can dedicate yourself exclusively to enjoying the views, the horses, the sheep, the cows and the suffering on the bike. The summit is on the border with Spain, although there is no road that crosses the border, so the pass runs entirely in France.
I have climbed it on 2 of its slopes. The first time I climbed it on the slope that crosses the Col d'Orgambide, on the D428 road, which starts from Estérençuby. The first 3 km are very easy, until you cross the detour to go up to Artaburu, where the road begins to have slopes of more than 10%. From there, to the summit, the climb is very hard, around 9%, on a very rough and bumpy road, with a lot of humidity and crossing a wonderful beech forest. Once you reach the top of the Col d'Orgambide, you turn right and continue climbing for another half kilometre with a gradient of 11%. There comes a small descent, to face the last 3 kms, the first 2 very hard with several 13% gradients. The last kilometre is very easy and has panoramic views that are simply wonderful.
The second time I climbed it on the side that starts from Arneguy and Ondarolle. This side is harder than the previous one, with a central section that is hellish, being 6 kms at an average of 10%, and a very hard km at 12% and 18% gradients!!! The final part is more gentle. You cross the Croix de Thibault in the penultimate kilometre of the climb. The final kilometre is very gentle and with beautiful and exciting panoramic views.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
47.6 km
End point
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
39.4 km
7.70 km
387 m
104 m
Surfaces
39.6 km
7.90 km
104 m
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Elevation
Highest point (1,250 m)
Lowest point (170 m)
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Weather
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Wednesday 8 July
34°C
18°C
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This route was planned by komoot.
Comments
June 6, 2023
Located on the Franco-Spanish border, the Col d'Arnosteguy peaks at 1,236 meters above sea level. At the cost of a long and beautiful ascent, the pass reveals wonderful views of the Basque Country and its mountains.
The start is in the historic village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, whose location makes
Translated by Google •
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