Irissarry’s village square lies between the Church of Saint John the Baptist and the Ospitalea commandery. Cultural and local offerings also include two routes with different themes, farm-gate sales, and a seasonal visit about duck farming. This gives you a choice when planning your trip, from learning about history and solving puzzles to street art and a farm visit with a tasting.

Ospitalea and Local Heritage

Ospitalea is a former commandery of the Knights of Malta and is protected as a historic monument. The site offers exhibitions, tours, workshops, and events that showcase local heritage, history, and culture. The program and visiting arrangements may change; check the latest information before your visit.

A small visitor guide lets you explore Ospitalea independently and at your own pace. This kind of visit differs from the scheduled exhibitions, workshops, and events: it gives you the freedom to explore at your own rhythm. The activities at the site and the independent exploration thus offer different ways to engage with the heritage.

Two Routes, Different Ways to Explore

The Terra Aventura route “Les laminak cherchent la « Baigarre »” takes you through Irissarry and to its commandery. Along the way, visitors solve treasure-hunt-style puzzles. The focus here is on the challenge along the route: it combines exploring the area with solving questions in a fun way.

The sound art route “L’éternel mouvement/Betiko mugimenduan” runs through Irissarry and the area around Ospitalea. It combines local heritage with five street-art frescoes by the artist duo Sismikazot, dedicated to Basque culture and language. The route can be explored year-round, free of charge, and independently using a downloadable app. Check in advance whether the app is available.

The two activities have different focuses: on Terra Aventura, you solve treasure-hunt-style puzzles, while the sound art route brings together heritage, art, and Basque culture. So your choice depends on whether you are more interested in solving puzzles or in the combination of culture and street art.

Farm-Gate Sales and a Seasonal Farm Visit

In Irissarry, poultry and AOC Ossau-Iraty cheese are sold directly from the farm. The selection may change; if shopping is part of your plans, check what is currently available in advance.

At the Arnabar farm, Mixel leads tours of the duck-rearing operation on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m., from mid-July to mid-September. Visitors see ducklings and adult ducks, followed by a tasting. Before your trip, check that the seasonal tour dates fit your travel plans. If the tour is important to your trip, it’s best to check the current schedule against your plans before booking accommodation.

Farm-gate sales and the tour offer different ways to learn about local produce and farming: one focuses on poultry and cheese sold directly from the farm, while the other is a guided tour of the duck-rearing operation followed by a tasting. The tour is available during a specific season and on set days of the week, while farm-gate sales offer a different way to shop.

Media Library and Internet Access

The Médiathèque d’Irissarry – CDEP Ospitalea lends books, magazines, audio CDs, and CD-ROMs, and also offers facilities and internet access. This means that local amenities include media and internet access, in addition to cultural routes and visits to the historic monument. Services may change; check in advance which facilities are currently available.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Issor, Aïnhoa, Larceveau-Arros-Cibits, Angous, Lasseube, Ahetze, Aramits, Bugnein.

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