In the rolling foothills of the Pyrenees looking out across the Nive valley, secreted away amongst a 45-hectare estate of meadows and forest, Ostapé’s location could scarcely be more Arcadian.
Your return to nature begins right at the entrance of the estate, where you exchange your car for an electric golf buggy. Then you’re away, purring up hill to a group of traditional Navarrese buildings, which fan out around the original farmhouse.
And the sublime surprises don’t stop coming. The first will be your suite, which will be regal in size and furnishings. Next comes the food - you’re in for a gourmet extravaganza - and lastly there’s the sheer beauty of the surrounding countryside, unsullied by the whine of car engines. Ostapé waves goodbye to the mundane, offers blissful respite for body and mind, and would be a great choice for one of life’s most special celebrations, such as a honeymoon or wedding anniversary.
Highs
- Some of the best food in the south west of France, with service to match
- Superbly comfortable suites with everything you could wish for
- In spite of the remote mountain location you’re an easy drive from the Atlantic coast beaches
- Fabulous walking on little-known trails
- The serenity and beauty of this corner of the Basque Country is hard to match
Lows
- A stay at Ostapé will make a sizeable dent in your bank balance
- If you want to eat out, you'll have to drive
- Having to motor about in your electric golf buggy could be less fun in wet weather
- Once you're here, you won't want to leave
Best time to go
Any time from March through to November would be a good time to visit, with the exception, perhaps, of August when the whole of France goes on holiday!
Our top tips
Saddle up a pottok, the diminutive breed of horse indigenous to the Basque Country, and ride up into the hills from Itxassou or Osses.
- Boutique Hotel
- 22 suites
- Restaurant
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
Ostapé’s 22 guest suites fan out between the original farmhouse and 5 newer Navarrese-style houses. Suites range in size from Deluxe to Signature.
Whichever type of suite you choose, it will be vast and will come with a stylish commingling of antique and modern furniture. The overall colour scheme is cream and white, and the decorative brief chic-rustic: muted beige sofas or leather chesterfields, heavy quilted bedcovers and cushions, and terracotta or provençal tomette tiled floors, replaced in some bedrooms with beautiful oak parquet. Some rooms have framed butterfly collections, others antique prints or bright contemporary paintings, perhaps an ornately carved headboard or a low table from India or a draped four poster; there’s not a hint of chain hotel uniformity.
Bathrooms are just as plush, with chunky handmade tiles from floor to ceiling, heated towel rails, and separate baths and showers in the larger suites. Some have twin standing, retro-style sinks and taps, others more contemporary surface-top bowls.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Coffee / tea making
- Cots available
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- Terrace/balcony
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
The restaurant at Ostapé is one of the main reasons for staying. It has built up a reputation for some of the best Basque cuisine in the area, sourcing all produce from local farmers whilst making full use of the hotel's extensive vegetable gardens. The cuisine follows the seasons, reworks classic Basque dishes and the presentation is cook-book perfect.
Dinner is a visual as well as a culinary feast: expect hake with candied kumquats, lamb with smoked cheese, barbecued white asparagus, or pigeon in apple and peanut sauce. A mix of a la carte and 3- or 5-course tasting menus are offered for lunch and dinner Thursday-Sunday (note that there is no lunch service Monday-Wednesday). For the rest of the week, a smaller but equally as gourmet bistro menu is available for evening meals. The wine menu is also impressive; as well as classic tastes from the best vineyards of France, there’s an interesting selection of locally produced wine.
Breakfast (extra charge) is also a banquet. A buffet is laid up in the smaller of the 3 adjacent dining rooms and you're faced with freshly baked cakes or brioches, as well as a number of different home baked breads, local yoghurt, freshly squeezed orange and organic apple juice, Spanish charcuterie and cheeses, croissants and pains au chocolat.
Features include:
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Walk down to Bidarray where you can hire a mountain bike for exploring the valley
- Visit colourful local markets, medieval towns and bastide villages, historic churches and a number of grand chateaux; the hotel can arrange bespoke day tours
- The hotel offers personalised afternoon cooking lessons: decide with the chef which regional dishes you want to learn, then whip them up with his help, and devour them for dinner
- Thrill out with a day of white-water rafting and canyoning or catch a bird's eye view of this region with a microlighting flight
- Drive to Biarritz or Bayonne and bask on the golden beaches, or try your hand at surfing
- Or visit the historic pilgrims' town of St. Jean Pied de Port, with its hilltop citadel, its pretty houses of pink-grey schist and its Monday livestock market - followed by a communal game of pelote
- Back at the estate, there's a heated pool, hammam, sauna and fitness room
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Rafting
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
Kids
Kids are welcome at Ostapé, though we think the atmosphere is more suited to adults. All the suites have room for a baby cot, and all except the Deluxe Suites can sleep up to 2 additional guests on sofabeds or extra beds.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available by arrangement.
Baby equipment:
Baby cots are available on request.
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Ostapé is hidden in the foothills of the Pyrenees looking out across the Nive valley. It's a 30-minute drive from St Jean Pied-du-Port and slightly under an hour’s drive from Bayonne.
By Air:
Biarritz-Bayonne Airport (38km) or Bordeaux Airport (220kms). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these.
From the Airport
We'd recommend hiring a car to get here, partly for ease and mainly so you have the freedom to explore the area while you're here - see our car rental recommendations.
By Train:
If you prefer to travel overland from the UK, take the Eurostar to Paris, then the TGV to Biarritz (35km); there's a minor station at Bidarray (3km).
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com
More on getting to France and getting around
Airports:
- Biarritz-Bayonne 30.0 km BIQ
- Bordeaux 220.0 km BOD
Other:
- Beach 30.0 km
- Shops 15.0 km
- Restaurant 3.0 km