The Basque country is a wonderful region to visit; Located between the Atlantic coast and the high Pyrenees it boasts outstanding countryside.

Culturally it is very rich being the western passage between France and Spain. The Basques are probably the oldest people in Europe and have a unique culture (and language).

At the end of the last Ice age 16000 years ago the Cave dwellers of the region who survived the ice age by hunting sea mammals followed the retreating Ice to recolonize the British Isles and probably reached America. The caves of Oxocelaya at Isturitz (inhabited for 80,000 years) is 10 minutes away.

Santa Maria has a history stretching back at least 7 centuries,(the 1st known reference is in 1248) It is listed in the 15th century"Libro Armeria de Navarra" with its coat of arms of two black lions (adopted by the village of Helette).There are records of SantaMaria assisting at Navarran coronations, fighting in wars, andconstructing roads etc until the revolution.

From the Xth Century the Basque country became important with the increasing numbers of pilgrims on the road to Compostela, (3 million per year at its peak) who needed protecting from brigands. Santa Maria located on the border between the kingdoms of Navarre and Aquitaine (English ruled for long periods) and on the road from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port was strategically placed.

The Grand Cuisine

The Stone walls from the Original "Maison Fort"and the open fire give a special atmosphere for Fêtes and Table d'hôtes.

Its thick stone walls ensure it is always cool in summer and it stays warm in winter due to its underfoor heating

The ground floor walls are constructed of massive granite blocks and probably dates from the XIIth Century. The Ist floor was built during the XVth/XVIth Century judging by the Renaissance style cross windows on the North side and the carved main staircase still in remarkably good condition. The 2nd floor used for Hay and Grain storage was added later still.

The South side was renovated again during the XVIIIth/XIXth Century . After the Revolution the fortunes of the Santa Maria family declined and records from the beginning of the XXth century describe Santa Maria as ready to fall into ruin. However it was very solidly built and survived with tenants in the front part but animals in the back until 1961 when my parents and another English family bought it and started to care for it again. Through the 60's and 70's it came to life in August with 20 – 30 of us staying most years .