La Rhune rack railway
Sare, France
A wooden rack railway from 1924 that climbs to the 905 m summit on the Spanish border. From the top you see the whole Basque coast; queues are long on summer afternoons.
The Petit train de la Rhune is a rack railway that opened on 30 June 1924. It runs from the Col de Saint-Ignace, between Ascain and Sare, to the 905 m summit on the Spanish border. The line is 4.2 km long, metre gauge, and uses the Strub rack system with gradients of up to 250 ‰. The carriages are panelled in varnished sweet chestnut. At about 9 km/h the journey takes around 30 minutes.
From the top you can see the French and Spanish coasts and the Pyrenees; on the way you may spot Pottok ponies, Manech sheep and griffon vultures. The train runs roughly from mid-March or early April until early November, about every 35 minutes (as of October 2026). Check the timetable and booking options on the operator’s website; it can get busy at peak times.
- Nearest town
- Sare, France
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 43.3244, -1.6131
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- GoyetcheaCampsite6 km from La Rhune rack railwayTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Untxin SocoaCampsite9 km from La Rhune rack railwayTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Le Bord de MerCampsite9 km from La Rhune rack railwayTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Itsas MendiCampsite10 km from La Rhune rack railwayTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Inter PlagesCampsite10 km from La Rhune rack railwayTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- SoubeletCampsite10 km from La Rhune rack railwayTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is La Rhune rack railway?
La Rhune rack railway is in Sare, France, at GPS 43.3244, -1.6131. It is about 8 km from Zugarramurdi.
Can you camp near La Rhune rack railway?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Aire de camping-cars de Sare, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 95 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass La Rhune rack railway?
La Rhune rack railway is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: French Basque Country: coast and hill villages.
What is there to see near La Rhune rack railway?
Places worth a stop nearby: Zugarramurdi Caves (8 km), Corniche Basque (10 km), Rocher de la Vierge (18 km) and Zumaia flysch at Itzurun beach (52 km).
When is the best time to visit La Rhune rack railway?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)