Labourd · Iparralde

Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle

Senpere

More than 7,000 inhabitants in the Nivelle valley, between Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Espelette. Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle means a lake and its leisure park, a small town of Labourdin houses and a dark chapter in Basque history: it was here that the judge Pierre de Lancre set up base in 1609 for his witch hunt.

Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle in 30 seconds

7,264 inhabitants (2023, according to Insee, France’s national statistics institute), 65 km², in inland Labourd (Lapurdi). 22 km from Bayonne (Baiona) and 14 km from Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune). The Nivelle flows through the municipality, which is also watered by the Basarun stream and the Uhabia. Its inhabitants are known as Senpertar.

The municipality is divided into several districts: Amotz, Cherchebruit, Helbarron, Serres, Hergaray, Ibarron, Le Lac, Olha, Urguri.

A little history

1609: the castle of Saint-Pée is taken over by Pierre de Rosteguy de Lancre, a councillor at the parlement of Bordeaux (a royal court of justice), sent by the king to conduct a witch hunt in Labourd. This was the same period as the Inquisition’s persecutions on the other side of the border, at Zugarramurdi.

1793: during the fighting around La Rhune (Larrun) in the war against Spain, the castle is ransacked and set on fire.

What to see

Saint-Pée lake

About 2 km from the old centre, this 12-hectare lake has a leisure park (base de loisirs): canoeing and kayaking, a water slide, pedalos, lifeguarded swimming in July and August, playgrounds, a fitness trail, fishing and picnic areas. An easy 3 km loop goes all the way round it.

The Church of Saint-Pierre

Massive, in pure regional style, and protected as a historic monument (monument historique). It houses a notable funerary slab, three tiers of galleries and, above all, an 18th-century baroque high-altar altarpiece.

The castle

Its ruins, in the centre of the village, recall the tribunal of 1609 and the destruction of 1793.

The wash house

Dating from the late 19th century, it was restored in 2005 and given a roof to protect its raised basins.

The chapel of Amotz

An 18th-century chapel in the Amotz district.

The mills

Several watermills are dotted around the municipality, including Plazako Errota, near the church.

Basque pelota

A trinquet (indoor court) on Place Xan Iturria means you can play whatever the season. According to the tourist office, the chistera was born in Saint-Pée, invented by a thirteen-year-old child who adapted a wicker basket into a pelota glove (Ascain also claims the invention). The Pelota and Xistera Ecomuseum (écomusée de la pelote et du xistera) shows how they are made.

Hikes

  • Sainte-Barbe: a 2-hour loop climbing to an altitude of 185 m.
  • The redoubts: 9 km from the Amotz district towards Sare.

Local produce

The municipality lies within the Espelette pepper PDO (AOP) area and the Ossau-Iraty PDO area.

Festivals

  • Senpereko Bestak, the town’s festivities: five days, late June to early July.
  • Herri Urrats: the festival of the ikastolas (Basque-medium schools), held around the lake, which usually draws some 30,000 people.
  • Lamb festival in April, with a craft fair, and a trail race one weekend in March.

People linked to Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle

  • Pierre de Lancre (1553–1631) — the judge behind the witch hunt of 1609
  • Annabella (1909–1996) — French actress
  • Maxime Lucu and Charles Ollivon — rugby players who came up through the town’s club (SPUC)

Around Saint-Pée

What’s on

Sources

Ongi etorri Senperera — Welcome to Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle.

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