The
bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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1 april
2009 -
The conference-island
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esfr-trip-track-20090401.kml
(click to open in Google
Earth or copy link to Google Maps;
click right on this
link to download gpx-version)
Three targets today:
- observing Île de Faisans
- reconnaissance of a possible GRPdesBF-route through Hendaye
- accessing bm001
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For explanation of
the gps-coordinates and other cartographic backgrounds:
see my cartography page
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According
to visugpx
- distance : 23.43 km
- cum. elevation gain : 326 m
- cum. elevation loss : 291 m
- total elevation: 617 m
- altitude maxi : 138 m
- altitude mini : 0 m
- altitude average : 28 m
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From our camping in Hendaye Jan-Willem and I we walk to the coast and
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along the beach and boulevard we continue to the
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starting point of the GR10-trail in front of the old casino.
I guess it could as well be a fine start of my own GRPdesBF-trail.
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A
little bit of sight-seeing: the Great Cross of Hendaye near the
church at the town square. It is carved with alchemical symbols.
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Following the north shore of the
Bidassoa to the east, we get a first glimpse of the famous island of
the pheasants: "l'Île de Faisans".
This is the place where the Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed in
1659. That explains its second name: " l'Île de la
Conférence",
Considered as neutral territory because of being in the middle of the
borderriver, it was transformed into a condominium. That's a piece of
territory shared by two countries. In this case the sovereignty shifts
every six months from one country to another.
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With a monument in the middle.
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View from the bridge to the east of the island. You can see a bench but for who?
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This is an old map
(captured from a documentary of Luc Bazin: ''L'homme de la
frontière''), meant als an illustration of the conference of 1659.
We see clearly the island with the two temporary bridges and recognize the topography of the area.
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View from the south shore with the same monument in sight.
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Close-up of the monument
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At the southside of the island on both
ends, the water is shallow and one could probably easily walk to
the island itself when the tide is low.
On this picture: the island seen from southwest.
There is no official possibility of visiting the island. There used to be tourist trips but they have been cancelled.
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We have left Hendaye behind, to the right is the border-river.
In the front we see the hills where the border at some point leaves the
river and enters the land. That's where bm001 is located.
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We're climbing.
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And the tarmac road ends at this
lively farm. Behind the farm there is a trail leading into the forest
and gently descending further on.
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And at this spot, where the trail
bends back to keep on descending to the river, we find this
camping-spot besides a little stream.
In the evening we do a reconnaissance of the access-route to bm001. See the next
trip
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