Discovering Ortillopitz
A historical site, unique and authentic to discover and understand the Basque Country.
In the Basque Country, the house is more than property or architecture: it is memory and history.
Discover a genuine Basque house dating back to the 17th century!
Ortillopitz offers you to travel back in time in order to gain a better understanding of Basque traditions.
Much more than a mere property or an architecture, this Basque house is a memory, a history... As the door opens, you enter and are overwhelmed: the coolness, the smells, the atmosphere, the furniture... Everything is in here, even the impression that you will meet the builder around the next corner.
The restoration of Ortillopitz, due to a private initiative, shows a successful example of conservation, avoiding the pitfall of a sanctified heritage.
Traditional Basque house from the 17th century
Authentic Basque house, Ortillopitz built in 1660 on the remains of the house erected in 1540 in the middle of its domain of several hectares.
In this preserved setting, discover the Labourdine architecture of ETXE, its original furniture and the life that was organized around the Basque family unit.
The outdoor area recounts the life in autarky, of the noble house with its plots of vines, apple trees and cultures of yesteryear as well as its traditional breeding of the time.
Prepare your visit
Visits for the whole family
Self-guided visit (simple admission)
Discover Ortillopitz Basque house at your own pace!
This visit lets you explore the different rooms of the house, the gardens and the outdoor estate. Informative panels guide you throughout the visit.
- When? From Sunday to Friday, continuously, from 11:00am to 4:30pm.
- How much does it cost? Flat rate of 7€ per person (children under 4 free).
Guided tour
Discover the Ortillopitz Basque house with the help of an enthusiastic guide!
Dive into Basque history and culture through a guided tour full of stories about Ortillopitz, an emblematic Labourdine house.
- When? From Monday to Wednesday, only one guided visit per day, departing at 10:00am.
- How much does it cost? Flat rate of 10€ per person (children under 4 free).
- Language: French
- On reservation
Treasure hunt (simple admission)
A fun way of getting the youngest ones interested in the Basque culture and tradition!
Discover Ortillopitz as a family through a signposted route for an original and playful visit. Visual clues in each room of the house will allow them to uncover the secret word that will open the treasure chest.
- When? From Sunday to Friday, continuously, from 11:00am to 4:30pm.
- How much does it cost? Flat rate of 7€ per person (children under 4 free).
Useful information
Purchase of entrance tickets
- Credit cards, Visa, Mastercard
- Cash
- Holiday vouchers
Opening hours, prices and access
OPENING HOURS 2026
Ortillopitz Basque house is open from April 5 to September 25, 2026.
- Guided tour at 10:00am: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. (Booking required)
- Self-guided visits from 11:00am to 4:30pm: from Sunday to Friday.
- Closed on saturdays.
PRICES 2026
Flat rates (adults and children over 4):
- Self-guided visit (simple admission): 7€
- Guided visit: 10€
Where to find us
Ortillopitz is located in Sare, in the heart of the Labourd province, in the Northern Basque Country.
- BY PLANE: The nearest airport is in Biarritz.
- BY TRAIN: The nearest train station is in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
- BY BUS: From St Jean de Luz, departure from the bus stop "Txik Txak" (line 45).
- BY CAR: From the A 63 motorway, take the St Jean de Luz north exit, then the D918 towards Ascain. In Ascain, follow the D4 towards the TRAIN DE LA RHUNE, SARE. At the station of the "Petit train de la Rhune", take the road opposite. ORTILLOPITZ is located 1 Km away from that station.
Private guided tour for groups
Prices 2026:
Group with less than 20 people: fixed price of 160€
Flat rate for both adults and children.
Groups of more than 20 people: from 8€/person
Flat rate for both adults and children.
For adult groups of more than 20 people, the site can be opened year-round by prior reservation.
Conditions and timetables for groups
Privatization of the site and business tourism
The Basque House in Sare offers an exceptional setting for authentic and refined receptions.
ORTILLOPITZ enables companies, institutions, and associations to throw their own prestigious parties by making available rooms in the museum and areas on the estate in order to organise special events:
- Gala dinners*, cocktails parties;
- Concerts, balls;
- Exclusive tours...
Partners and private parties organisers
Contact and information at the event-organisers of the basque coast :
5 rue Guy Petit - 64200 Biarritz
Telephone: 05 59 26 57 94
7, rue Jeanne d'Arc
64200 Biarritz - France
Tel: 33 (0) 559 41 09 03
15 rue chapelet
64200 Biarritz
TEL : 05.59.42.52.40
4 avenue de Paillet
64200 BIARRITZ
Tel : 05 59 41 14 21
24, Avenue Foch - 64200 BIARRITZ
203, Rue des Artisans - 64500 ST JEAN DE LUZ
Tel : 00 33 (0)5 59 24 01 10
Package deals
Would you like to organize an excursion with your group, but do not yet have specific ideas?
Here are some group visit ideas in Sare:
Ortillopitz + Caves of Sare
Basque housing through the ages!
Discover the habitat of the Basque Country by visiting the caves of Sare, which have been used as natural shelters, and Ortillopitz, a typical 17th-century Labourdine house.
Ortillopitz + Etxola
Enjoy a day in Sare to visit the Basque house of Ortillopitz and the Etxola animal park, where you will discover over 250 domestic animals from all over the world !
Ortillopitz + the Basque cake museum
Combine the visit of the Basque house of Ortillopitz with a visit to the Basque cake museum.
Ortillopitz + Train de La Rhune
2 exceptional sites in a close perimeter!
Combine a visit to the Basque house of Sare "Ortillopitz" with the ascent of the mythical mountain of La Rhune in a authentic rack railway.
Ortillopitz in pictures...
