Okabe (mountain)


Okabe or Occabe, is a high Pyrenean summit in the Basse-Navarre province of the Basque country in France.

Name

Okʰabe is a hydronym from a spring located on the southern slope.

Topography

Mount Okabe lies on the pyrenean watershed. Cromlechs called harrespils lie on the western slope of the massif.
26 cromlechs or harrespils have been found on the Okabe plateau. Perhaps the area of an ancient pastoral passage, no written record provides any explanation for the presence of these prehistorical or protohistoric relics. Researchers have found pavings and remains of charcoal and ash in the middle of the rings. Corps cremation and funerary rituels suggest it was a necropole.

Access

Possible from Estérençuby or the Irati Forest. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, take the col d'Iraty road, go past la chapelle Saint-Sauveur, go up to the summit of the col de Burdincurutcheta, go down to the plateau d'Iraty and take the D301 road to the col de Sourzay summit. Stop at the house. Mount Okabe lies south-east; then about an hour's walk.

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