# ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati, France: what it is and when to go

> ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati is a protected area (Orreaga-Iratiko oihana BBE-KBE) in France (Orbaitzeta). Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is April to October. In June there are 15 h 09 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 50. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/zepa-zec-roncesvalles-sierra-de-irati/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Protected area · Nature, Wildlife
- **Local name:** Orreaga-Iratiko oihana BBE-KBE
- **Where:** France
- **Best time:** April to October.
- **Nearest airport:** BOD Bordeaux, 207 km as the crow flies
- **Coordinates:** 42.99461, -1.11244

## What it is and where

ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati is a protected area (Orreaga-Iratiko oihana BBE-KBE) in France (Orbaitzeta).

It is in [Orbaitzeta](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/orbaitzeta/), where this site lists 34 more places to see, 7.0 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 42.99461, -1.11244; the nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD, Bordeaux), 207 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=42.994615%2C-1.112443)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=42.994615%2C-1.112443)

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/fauna/) places in France. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati is **April to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 10 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 18 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 39 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 11 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 28 |
| June | Best time | 15 h 09 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 52 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 46 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 17 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 47 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 29 |
| December | Possible | 8 h 50 |

In June there are 15 h 09 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 50. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | April to October | November to March |
| Wildlife | April to October | November to March |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to France

To enter France there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the France checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and E · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · 17 police · 18 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Urbeltza (GR12) - Paso de las Alforjas (GR11)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/urbeltza-gr12-paso-de-las-alforjas-gr11/): Hiking · 2.0 km
- [Egurgiko aterpea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/egurgiko-aterpea/): Hiking · 3.1 km
- [Chalet forestier de la Soule](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chalet-forestier-de-la-soule/): Hiking · 4.8 km
- [Sendero de Euskal Herria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/sendero-de-euskal-herria/): Hiking · 5.3 km
- [Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/etape-05/): Unofficial long-distance hiking trail crossing the Pyrenees · 5.5 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

## More in France: Nature

- [Mont Blanc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-blanc/): highest mountain in the Alps
- [Chartres Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/cathedrale-notre-dame/): medieval Catholic cathedral in Chartres, France
- [Lascaux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/lascaux-cave/): cave in southwestern France famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings
- [Chauvet Cave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/grotte-chauvet/): cave in France
- [Champ de Mars](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/campo-de-marte/): large public green space in Paris, France
- [Jardin du Luxembourg](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/luxembourg-garden/): urban park in Paris, France

Every France place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati?

It is a protected area (Orreaga-Iratiko oihana BBE-KBE in the local language) in France.

### When is the best time to visit ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati?

April to October. In June there are 15 h 09 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 50.

### How do you get to ZEPA-ZEC Roncesvalles-Sierra de Irati?

The nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD), 207 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=42.994615%2C-1.112443) opens the route on the map, and how to get around France is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the France map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Urbeltza (GR12) - Paso de las Alforjas (GR11)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/urbeltza-gr12-paso-de-las-alforjas-gr11/), [Egurgiko aterpea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/egurgiko-aterpea/), [Chalet forestier de la Soule](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chalet-forestier-de-la-soule/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/11663910), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).