The Izpegi Pass (french: Col d'Ispeguy, eu, Izpegiko Lepoa, es, Puerto de Izpegui) is a 672 m high Pyreneanmountain pass located right on the border between
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
Bidasoa
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The Bidasoa (, ; french: Bidassoa, ) is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southern France that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the village of Oronoz-Mugairi (municipality of Baztan) in the p ...
, called Baztan on its upper stage, rises close by on the western side of the Iparla mountain range stretching out north to south. The name Izpegi applies also to a stream running on its eastern slopes.
The population nuclei closest to the saddle are the village of Erratzu (west) and
Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry
Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry (; eu, Baigorri)BAIGORRI Basque
Basque may refer to:
* Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France
* Basque language, their language
Places
* Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France
* Basque Country (autonomous co ...
). A sinuous narrow road that bears witness to a couple of Tour de France stages descends east to
Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry
Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry (; eu, Baigorri)BAIGORRI Hautza (1,306 m / 4,285 ft, waymarking all along) and other mounts of the ridgeline (Mount Iparla). Since the mid-2000s, a modest
txalaparta
The txalaparta ( or ) is a specialized Basque music device of wood or stone. In some regions of the Basque Country, (with ) means "racket", while in others (in Navarre) has been attested as meaning the trot of the horse, a sense closely relate ...
festival is held at the spot on the first Sunday of September, which has become a meeting point for the instrument's players, especially locals. Money raised at the food stall arranged was destined in 2009 to helping the Basque language school of the neighbouring small town of Baigorri.
History
A battle was fought at this location during the
War of the Pyrenees
The War of the Pyrenees, also known as War of Roussillon or War of the Convention, was the Pyrenean front of the First Coalition's war against the First French Republic. It pitted Revolutionary France against the kingdoms of Spain and Portug ...
General of Brigade
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
Lavictoire attacked the 1,000 Spanish and French royalist troops and drove them from the pass. The defenders, one battalion of the Spanish ''Zamora'' Infantry Regiment, three companies of the ''Aldudes'' Rifles, and the ''Légion Royal'' French
Émigré
An ''émigré'' () is a person who has emigrated, often with a connotation of political or social self- exile. The word is the past participle of the French verb ''émigrer'' meaning "to emigrate".
French Huguenots
Many French Huguenots fled Fr ...
battalion, lost 94 killed and wounded, plus 307 captured. The French brigade, part of Jean Mauco's division of the Army of the western Pyrenees, suffered an unknown number of casualties.Smith, p 83. Smith calls the action "Casa Fuorte".