Aramits offers several reasons to visit: historic church architecture, traces of pastoral culture, cheese, and routes for walkers and cyclists. When planning, it is worth noting the differences: the walking route to Bois de Gouloume is short and rated very easy, while cycling route N°29 is a long, difficult tour. There are also seasonal visits and activities, with dates that matter when planning your own travel period.
Church and historical traces
The parish church of Saint-Vincent in Aramits was rebuilt between 1884 and 1886 in the Romanesque-Byzantine style. An older trace is the rusticated portal from the 17th century. It is the only surviving element of the former lay abbey of Aramits. Together, these two architectural features represent different periods: the rebuilding of the church in the late 19th century and a surviving element from the time of the former abbey.
Le Cayolar and pastoral culture
Le Cayolar was reconstructed stone by stone from a shepherd’s hut that previously stood at Pierre Saint-Martin. The traditional summer-pasture hut was used to make cheese and served as the shepherd’s home during that time. This makes it possible to explore two aspects of pastoral life in one place: cheese-making and living on the summer pasture.
Le Cayolar can only be visited as part of a guided tour booked in advance. In summer, a guided visit is offered as part of the pastoral evening. If you plan to visit, confirm the date in advance.
The Fromagerie d'Aramits also offers an insight into the local cheese-making tradition. It offers a cheese tasting and is a cooperative that collects milk from around fifty shepherds from Barétous and Soule. It mainly makes cheese from cow’s milk, sheep’s milk, and a mixture of the two. This adds the perspective of contemporary cooperative cheese-making to the story of Le Cayolar.
Walking and cycling
Route N°7 Barétous – Bois de Gouloume is a very easy 5.9-kilometre walk with 250 metres of elevation gain. It takes about one hour and 30 minutes to walk and is accessible to everyone. The path to Bois de Gouloume above Aramits follows a ridge and passes through summer pastures and areas of fern where herds graze. The distance, elevation gain, and approximate duration provide a concrete basis for planning the walk.
Cycling route N°29 – La Pierre Jacques has a different profile. It starts at the crossroads by Aramits town hall and follows the D133 towards Arette and Spain. This difficult route is 122 kilometres long and includes 2,800 metres of elevation gain; it is intended for athletic cyclists. The contrast is useful when choosing a route: a very easy walk with an approximate duration given is set against a long, demanding cycling tour.
Activities and festival dates
Aventure Parc® Aramits has 17 treetop climbing courses and more than 150 treetop games; activities are open to visitors aged three and over. The park also offers jumps onto a giant airbag and paintball for visitors aged twelve and over. Activities may be seasonal, and the activity setup may change. Before your visit, check which activities are planned for your dates.
The Fête des Bergers takes place every year in Aramits on the third weekend of September. Check the dates for your travel year. The 2026 programme included a hike for experienced walkers, in which participants accompany a shepherd as he brings the flocks back down to the valley, as well as a pastoral evening featuring the “Souper du berger”. Specific programme items may vary from one edition to another.
Discover more destinations: Estialescq, Bayonne, Soumoulou, Arudy, Gourette, Saint-Jean-De-Luz, Anglet, LaĂ s
For the broader travel overview: Pyrenees-Atlantiques.
