THE STORY OF LES HAUTS D’AINHOA

Our Story

The owner against a green background

Lucy

Les Hauts d’Ainhoa is more than a place to stay. For several years, part of this old house above the village has welcomed guests as a gîte in Ainhoa, surrounded by mountains, paths and traces of its working past. Over the years, the house has gradually evolved, while keeping the stone, timber and character that make it belong here.

Maison Labatchenia

The name Labatchenia comes from Basque and means “the oven house” — a name that hints at the working history of the property and the old lime kiln that still stands nearby.

Set above the village of Aïnhoa, the house has evolved over generations, with different parts used for living, storage and work. Its thick stone walls, old timbers and relationship with the surrounding landscape are all part of what gives it its character today.

The old lime kiln

The kiln was used to burn local limestone at high temperatures to produce lime, an essential material traditionally used for building, plastering and agriculture. Labatchenia was closely connected with this activity: part of the house was used to store lime, while a family who looked after the site lived here — a history reflected in its Basque name, “the oven house.”

Read the story of the lime kiln →

Bringing the house back to life

Over the years, different parts of Labatchenia have gradually been restored and adapted for a new life, while preserving as much of the character of the old building as possible. Part of the house became a holiday gîte in the French Basque Country, allowing visitors to stay here and discover Ainhoa and the surrounding mountains. Stone, timber and the relationship between the house and its landscape remain at the heart of Les Hauts d’Ainhoa.

The next chapter

Les Hauts d’Aïnhoa is currently taking a break from welcoming guests while the house evolves. We hope to open our doors again in spring 2027, and we’ll share more as the story unfolds.

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