Very nearby Casa Labetxea

Our little village of Baraibar is one of 17 rural villages in the Larraun Valley. It is all of 20 houses strong and has a population of 85 people (as well as a considerably larger number of sheep and cattle). It is well-known locally as it is the gateway to the Aralar Mountains, and is the last village on the road to the Sanctuary of St. Michael in Excelsis (San Miguel de Aralar), a highly venerated saint in Navarre that takes an itinerant journey throughout the province annually in a series of processions.

The village proper of Baraibar also houses our own horse stable -- we have been organizing outings on horseback here in the spectacular Aralar Mountains for 25 years! The village also has an indoor, traditional frontón where Basque Jai Alai or "pelota" is played (open to the public), a children's playground, a bar-restaurant and a traditional local steakhouse, where you can eat the famously delicious meat of the locally-grazed cattle.

3 kms (2 miles) away in Lekunberri, you will find all services, including all kinds of restaurants, from the good to the very good. You can also visit the impressive Cave of Mendukilo or take a stroll along the Plazaola "Greenway", and we always recommend the lovely walk to the nearby source of the Larraun River.

Immediately opposite Casa Labetxea, an artisan sheep's milk cheese, with the famous denominación de origen (apellation) of Idiazabal, is handcrafted and sold.

Photo gallery: Fields, enormous beech forests, charming walks, caves, source of the Larraun river, the Plazaola "Greenway"...

Click on the photo below to start a slideshow of photos of the lovely areas nearby Casa Labetxea. Or, if you prefer, see a thumbnail layout of all the photos of the Baraibar area on a single page (click on a thumbnail to see at full size).