Larrun

The fortifications of Larrun from the late modern period are a series of military works situated on the mountain of Larrun, immediately to the west of the border between Spain and France. Some of the structures were erected during the 1793-1794 campaign and repurposed to impede the advance of the Anglo-Hispano-Portuguese coalition troops, which the future Duke of Wellington led. More than twenty redoubts are distributed across the territories of Ascain, Sare, and Urrugne, with partial coverage also extending to those of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle and Biriatou. The battles of the late 18th century were primarily concentrated in the commune of Urrugne. The revolutionary forces were deployed in the Louis XIV, Bertuste, Bayonet, and Emigrés redoubts, situated along the border and overlooking the Bidassoa River as well as the route from Vera de Bidassoa. This configuration proved effective in containing the advance of the Spanish attackers. Théophile de La Tour d'Auvergne, renowned as the "first grenadier of the Republic," distinguished himself notably during these confrontations. The circumstances at the outset of the nineteenth century were markedly distinct. Wellington advanced as a conqueror and successfully breached the Sare lock, subsequently attacking the slopes of Larrun before heading toward Bayonne. The French army, under the command of Marshal Soult, demonstrated valor in their defense of the Zuhalmendi, Grenada, and Madeleine Chapel redoubts. The inadequacy of the defensive position, ill-suited to counterattacks, and the inexperience of the defenders at the Ermitebaïta and Mendibidea redoubts permitted the Anglo-Hispano-Portuguese coalition troops to breach the defensive line and ultimately force the French forces to retreat towards Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle. The redoubts, situated on elevated terrain, were constructed by two principal architectural designs, tailored to the local topography. Examples of star-shaped redoubts include the Santa Barbara, the so-called "BF 29" (Border Marker 29), and the Bayonet redoubts. Others adopt a fairly regular quadrilateral configuration, exemplified by the Madeleine Chapel redoubt, or a pentagonal shape, as observed in the Emigrés and Olhain Chapel redoubts. A third category encompasses less common shapes, such as the ovoid Louis XIV redoubt in Sare, which is presumed to be a reuse of a protohistoric structure. Thirteen of these fortifications have been designated as historical monuments.

The 1974 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships were held in Vera de Bidasoa, Spain on Sunday February 23, 1969. It was the 25th edition of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.

Bera is a town and municipality situated in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, in northern Spain. The town is traversed by the river Bidasoa before it enters Gipuzkoa at Endarlatsa, eventually flowing into the Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay) between the towns of Hendaye and Hondarribia.

Etxalar is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz-Ciboure is a railway station in Saint-Jean-de-Luz and across the river from Ciboure, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The station is located on the Bordeaux–Irun railway line. The station is served by TGV (high speed trains), Intercités de Nuit (night trains), Intercités (long distance) and TER (local) services operated by the SNCF.

The Battle of Sans Culottes Camp (5 February 1794) saw a Spanish army commanded by José de Urrutia y de las Casas attack part of the French Army of the Western Pyrenees under Jean-Henri-Guy-Nicolas de Frégeville. The Spanish assault seized two key positions behind the Bidasoa River but was unable to overrun the main position, called Sans Culottes Camp after an eight-hour contest. The War of the Pyrenees action was fought at a location described as being "in front" of (that is, west of) Saint-Jean-de-Luz near the modern France–Spain border. Ventura Caro had 20,000 troops in the Spanish Army of the West Pyrenees. He ordered his left wing near Irun and center in the Baztan Valley to attack the French camps behind the Bidasoa. French army artillery chief Augustin de Lespinasse gave up the outlying fortifications in order to concentrate his strength in the main camp. By the time Frégeville arrived on the scene, the Spanish attack had lost its momentum. Bon-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey, later a Marshal of France under Napoleon, was promoted to general of brigade for his distinguished actions during the battle.

Urrugne (French pronunciation: [yʁyɲ]; Basque: Urruña) is a village and a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is part of the traditional Basque province of Labourd.

Ciboure (French pronunciation: [sibuʁ]; Basque: Ziburu, meaning 'end of bridge') is a commune in the south-western French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It lies across the river Nivelle from the harbour of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

The Church of St John the Baptist, Saint-Jean-de-Luz (French: Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Jean-de-Luz; Basque: San Joan Bataiatzailearen eliza (Donibane Lohizune)) is a Roman Catholic church in the commune of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, in the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz (French: [sɛ̃ ʒɑ̃ d(ə) lyz]; Occitan: Sent Joan de Lutz; Basque: Donibane Lohitzune, locally Donibane Lohizune [doniˈβane lohiˈs̻une]) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, southwestern France. Saint-Jean-de-Luz is part of the former Basque province of Labourd (Lapurdi).

The Nivelle (French pronunciation: [nivɛl] ; Occitan: Nivèl; widest accepted Basque forms: Ugarana or Urdazuri) is a 39-kilometre (24 mi) long river French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques (France) flowing largely south-east to north-west, with only 7 km of its length being considered navigable. The river results from the union of various streams in Urdazubi (Navarre), going on to cross the Spanish-French border at Dantxarinea after 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) meandering across Navarrese soil. The river pours into the Bay of Biscay on the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz (French for Donibane Lohizune) after cutting its way between this town and Ciboure (French for Ziburu) on its final stage. At this point, celebrated Basque French composer and arranger Maurice Ravel was born in one of the front houses overlooking the channel.

Lesaka is a town and municipality in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, in Spain. It is situated in the merindad of Iruña, in the region of Bortziriak (Five Villas) and to 75 km of the capital of the community, Iruña/Pamplona. The population in 2014 was of 2742 inhabitants. The population centres in Lesaka are the following: Alkaiaga, Auzoberri, Biurrana, Kaztazpegi, Endara, Endarlaza, Frain, Izotzaldea, Lesaka centre, Navaz, Otsango Auzoa, Zala, and Zalain.