The river Bidasoa, called Baztan on its upper stage, rises close by on the western side of the Iparla mountain range stretching out north to south.

A sinuous narrow road that bears witness to a couple of Tour de France stages descends east to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, cutting its way through a spectacular grassy and giddy landscape.

Since the mid-2000s, a modest txalaparta festival is held at the spot on the first Sunday of September, which has become a meeting point for the instrument's players, especially locals.

Money raised at the food stall arranged was destined in 2009 to helping the Basque language school of the neighbouring small town of Baigorri.

The French brigade, part of Jean Mauco's division of the Army of the western Pyrenees, suffered an unknown number of casualties.