Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The gorges of Kakuetta are a natural canyon located in the Basque Pyrenees, in the commune of Sainte-Engrâce (Department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region). Nearly four kilometres long, they were built over 1.5 km to facilitate their visit, once only possible during low water periods, between July and September. Their depth ranges from 30 to 350 meters, with narrow passages like the Grand Étroit, where the walls are only a few meters apart. A 20-metre waterfall and a cave mark the end of the accessible route.

The site is home to a rich ecosystem where mosses, lichens and ferns grow, creating a near tropical microclimate. The main stream of the gorges is fed by several tributaries, including the Achourako erreka and the Althagnetako erreka. These geological and hydrological features make it a unique place in the Pyrenees, combining vertical landscapes and remarkable biodiversity.

The scientific exploration of the gorges began in 1906 with Édouard-Alfred Martel, pioneer of speleology, who was the first to study them systematically. However, since August 2020, the site has been closed to the public following a fatal accident. This closure ended seasonal tourist traffic, which was previously limited to summer months due to access conditions.

The gorges of Kakuetta are part of a territory marked by the pastoral and mountain history of Haute-Soule, a Basque province where steep landscapes have long shaped local lifestyles. Their development for tourism in the 20th century reflects a desire to value this exceptional natural heritage, while highlighting the challenges of its preservation in the face of geological risks.

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