Asporotsttipi, our neighbour | Camping Eskualduna

Asporotsttipi, La Maison de la Corniche Hendaye

This beautiful Basque house, which houses the ” Centre Permanent d’Initiative à l’Environnement “, is our neighbor. We present it to you…

This old farmhouse has just been renovated and inaugurated in September 2015 and is located opposite our Camping Village, so you can’t miss it!

Just a stone’s throw from the campsite, this large, beautiful house is the perfect place to discover the Corniche.

At the reception desk, you’ll find all the information you need to discover this protected natural site: maps, documentation, events program…

Then you’ll cross to the upper hall to enjoy the permanent exhibition: soundscape, didactic animated films, projections, touch screens…

Upstairs, two rooms house temporary exhibitions. Then, as you descend to the first floor, the projection/lecture room continuously screens films related to the site or the current exhibition.

Then, in the relaxation room, you’ll find information on other nearby natural sites on both sides of the border.

A Centre Permanent d’Initiative à l’Environnement :

They develop actions that involve ‘citizen participation’: stingray egg hunts, workshops to create natural cosmetics, and fruit tree grafting! So many positive initiatives for you and for the environment!

If you’d like to get an idea of the scenery surrounding this center… Follow Eski the campsite mascot, as he strolls along the coastal path, just a few steps from the campsite…

Whale Hendaye: a long history

In this article, you’ll learn lots of things… And above all, why the Whale is everywhere in Hendaye…

Illustration by Matthieu Ferrand And for that, we have to go back quite a long way, to the 11th century. Whalers rowed and harpooned marine mammals in coastal waters (sometimes right in front of Camping Village Eskualduna ). A catch as big as that could feed a lot of people, but it could also be used to make oil and bone-based materials… If you’re really interested in history, don’t hesitate to visit the Basque Museum , in Bayonne (open all year round). This was a poor part of the country, and the local Basques (especially the braver ones) went off to hunt it. This activity was at the origin of the fortune and glory of the town that has become Hendaye today.

So it’s only natural that the town’s coat of arms, created after 1660, should pick up on this story: “A silver whale swimming in a sea naturally moving from the point”. And even on the logos of the beach shuttles and the town’s basketball club!

If you’re wondering whether it’s still possible to see a whale off the Corniche d’Hendaye… The answer is Yes!

On the other hand, you’ll have to be very lucky, but it’s possible. We even have the video to prove it:

Watch the video

Château Abbadia Hendaye

A site beyond your imagination, just a stone’s throw from our Camping Village Eskualduna, is Château Abbadia, home to a marvellous observatory.

It’s an enchanting place, a must-see for tourism in the Basque Country, set on the steep cliffs of Hendaye in the middle of a moor. This vast and beautiful residence was built between 1864 and 1879 by Viollet-Le-Duc for Antoine d’Abbadie, ethnologist, geographer and man of science.

Guided tours of Château Abbadia

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re overwhelmed by the power of the place: memories of expeditions, Latin quotations and animal sculptures all come together in a castle that’s more than eclectic, just like its former owner. Oriental boudoirs and smoking rooms, baroque bedrooms and a chapel all come together to create a spectacle you won’t soon forget.

Abbadia Castle

Virtual tour

A little tour with Eski Follow Eski, our mascot, as he strolls around the Château, discovering the animal sculptures and enjoying the view of the Hendaye coastline.

Eski at Corniche d’Hendaye

La Rhune mini-train: a must-see in the Basque Country

La Rhune is a mythical peak in the Basque Country. It rises to 905 metres above sea level and is a popular meeting place for lovers of magnificent panoramas. From the top of La Rhune, you’ll discover a breathtaking 360° landscape, embracing the Pyrenees, the Basque coast and the Bidassoa valley. An obelisk commemorates the visit of Empress Eugénie in 1859. If you’re feeling sporty, you can climb the Rhune in around 2 hours 30 minutes, but the best part of this visit to the Basque country is taking the little cogwheel Rhune railway train, which takes you to the summit in 35 minutes.

Camping Village Eskualduna is 24 kilometers from the village of Sare and the little train. During your camping vacation in Hendaye, this is one of the must-see sites for young and old alike.

The charming little Rhune train

This little masterpiece of engineering was inaugurated in 1924 and receives almost 400,000 visitors every year, making the Rhune train one of the Basque Country’s most important attractions. The wooden carriages on this little train are all vintage, and the operating company takes great care to ensure that they look their best every year. You’ll travel in complete safety to enjoy an absolutely magical setting at the summit of La Rhune.

What you’ll see at La Rhune

As well as fantastic panoramic views, this beautiful mountain walk in the Basque Country will enable you to discover some amazing flora and fauna. You might even come across the famous Pottok, the Basque “little horse” that is emblematic of La Rhune. This vigorous little horse lives in a herd and tends the mountains. You’ll also see the red-headed ewes typical of the Basque region, whose milk is used in the famous Ossau-Iraty PDO. Last but not least, no mountain in the Basque Country is complete without the majestic griffon vulture , whose wingspan approaches 3 meters. At the summit, you’ll have plenty of time to stroll along the Rhune trail and use the virtual reality orientation table, an interesting innovation for exploring this marvellous environment. There is a Spanish Ventas store at the summit, as well as a food court.

Where to take the Rhune train

Le Train de La Rhune is located on the Col de Saint-Ignace in Sare, one of France’s “most beautiful villages”, 10 km from Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

Rhune train timetable:

Departures are every 40 minutes from 8.20 a.m. in season.

To find out more about the Little Train and the mythical Basque mountains

Learn more

Considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the Basque coast, Hendaye’s beach is very popular with holidaymakers. Its stretches of fine sand make for truly tranquil moments. Ahead of its neighbors Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz and Bidart, it attracts many holidaymakers in search of an escape. Together with the mouth of the Bidassoa River, the beach also forms the natural border with Spain. It’s in this little corner of paradise, at the very south-western tip of France’s Atlantic coast, that we invite you to discover Hendaye Plage, just 5 minutes from the Eskualduna campsite.

Plage Hendaye: the largest sandy beach on the Basque Coast

With its 3 kilometers of fine sand, Hendaye beach is certainly one of the most beautiful in southwest France. The Boulevard de la mer that runs alongside it is a meeting place for families and sports enthusiasts, who come to enjoy the magnificent views over the bay and Hendaye‘s exceptional heritage. Facing the sea, you’ll find shops and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets: local specialities, seafood, typical cuisine… Whether you’re looking for water sports or a family swim, this beach offers a wide range of activities for a pleasant stay by the sea.

To get to Hendaye Plage, we offer a free shuttle service, reserved for customers of Camping Eskualduna. It’s a bus that leaves from the campsite, making round trips every half-hour, from July 1ᵉʳ until August 31. This means you won’t have to waste time looking for a parking space on the port. Quite practical when you consider that every year, the beach welcomes thousands of visitors who come for a swim.

Your camping vacation 5 minutes from Hendaye beach

Camping Eskualduna in Hendaye is ideally located on the sea front, just 5 minutes from the main beach. It offers comfortable mobile home rentals and fully-equipped chalets to ensure you have a pleasant, comfortable stay in the Basque Country. After a day at the beach, you can relax in the campsite’s 2,000 m² aquatic area, with its heated pool, slides and massage jets. And in the evening, enjoy a wide range of entertainment and shows for the whole family.

A spacious, clean and safe beach

When summer is at its sunniest, the water on Hendaye beach reaches 23°! An ideal beach for families looking for space and safety.

Since 2021, our beach has been awarded the Blue Flag label, thanks to its A-quality bathing water, and its commitments to environmental improvement. Water analyses provide rapid results before bathing areas open to the public.

Last but not least, Hendaye beach is a “no-smoking” zone and our friends the dogs are forbidden, on pain of a fine.

Hendaye Plage’s water sports activities accessible to all

The Bay of Hendaye is particularly well-suited to water sports, especially for beginners. Low tides are a great time to play sports on the beach: young and old alike can get out their buckets and rakes to build the most beautiful sandcastle, fly a kite or go for an active walk on the hard coastal sands. And at mid-tide or high tide, it’s surf time! Hendaye’s piste verte offers a range of surf sports for beginners, from the sea wall to the 2 Jumeaux beach. The latter is further back from Hendaye’s main beach, towards the two rocks of the Corniche.

Looking for a thrill? Indulge in exciting activities on the water, such as towed buoys and jet skiing. You can also take a sailing or scuba-diving course. All these water sports activities at Hendaye Plage are just a stone’s throw from our campsite.

As well as being an incredible surfing spot, Hendaye’s “plage des deux jumeaux” is also classified as a “HandiPlage” beach. People with reduced mobility can enjoy access to the water in a secure area thanks to tiralos and surveillance posts. A PRM reception area guides holidaymakers who wish to take advantage of this free service while enjoying the dedicated facilities.