louise9f

I'm spending a week in a farmhouse near Sauveterre de Bearn in South West France in May with 7 family members ranging from 39 to 79 yrs! I know virtually nothing about the area. On searching for info in travel guides, this area seems to be a little overlooked. Does anyone have any must-see historical sights/towns to recommend? As we are a large number of people with different ideas on what makes a good trip, some ideas on activities within an hour or so drive would also be useful. I believe paragliding is a possibility an hour from Lourdes, although I think a more relaxed approach is favoured by most. There must be many hill or mountain walks/hikes/drives too? Also, any hints on weather mid-May?

ANY information on the area from markets to restaurants to pretty churches and villages to fishing to hiking and anything in between would be truly appreciated.

THANK YOU!!

zeppole

It's a beautiful area. You might find these websites useful

http://www.francethisway.com/regions...tlantiques.php

http://www.pyreneesguide.com/454/pyr...lantiques.html

and you should take a look at the blue guide for the midi-pyrenees, available through amazon.

Two places I did not care for in the region were Lourdes -- it'll make you lose your faith in humanity! -- and St Jean Pied de Port, simply because it gets so many tour buses.

At that time of year, you need to be careful about highly unpredictable icy and snowy weather in the high peaks if you go driving up there. However, spring in the mountains is simply spectacular. Ask the locals for advice.

StuDudley

We spent 2 weeks in a Gite near St Jean Pied du Port a few years back. Friends were staying in that region a couple of years later, and I did thin write-up for them.


Maps & Books needed
Michelin Map #342 – Haute Pyrenees, Pyrenees Atlantiques
Michelin Green Guide to the Atlantic Coast

The page numbers & stars in the following text refers to the pages and star ratings given by the Michelin Guide.

Trip 1 – Pays Basque - do this on a clear sunny day, and get to La Rhune rack railway as early in the morning as possible so the sun will not be in your face for the view of Bayonne, Biarritz, & St Jean de Luz. Don’t do this on a Sun or Mon morning when shops close.
le Labourd* pg 235 Route #1
start at Arcangues (save Bayonne for later)
St Pee
Ascain*
La Rhune – rack railway – plan on 2 ½ hrs – 45 mins up, & 1 hr on top.
Sare*
Ainhoa* – one of The Most Beautiful Villages of France (TMBVoF) a classification given by a French association

Trip 2 – Pyrenees
La Haute Soule** pg 393
Southern route. From St Jean Pd d Port, take the very pretty D18 southeast over the col Bagargui. Continue on the D19 then the D26. When the D26 hits the D113, take the D113 southeast of you want to visit the Gorges de Kakouette** (walk). If you do not want to visit the Gorges, continue on the D26 towards Tardets-Sorholus. When the D26 hits the D918 before Tardets, take the D918 east until it ends at the N134. Take the N134 south.
Gave de Aspe* pg 110.
Aspun* panorama**
Col du Somport**
at the Col du Somport, retrace your route and head on the N134 north towards Sarrance. Just before Surrance, take the D241 west and then north until it hits the D918. Take the D918 west and then the pretty D117 west back to St Jean.
Haute Soule** pg 394

Trip 3 – deep into the Pyrenees, following the route of the Tour de France
Start early in the morning. Take the D8 east of Osses, and then the D22 north through Hasparren, and then the D21 north to the A64. Take the A64 east towards Pau. Past Pau, take exsit #11 to Lourdes. From here, the route is described starting on pg 122. Navigate around Lourdes and get on the D937 east & D935 south to Bagneres de Biggore. Continue on the D935 past Campan (notice the “figures” in various places in Campan). Continue on the D935 until you get to the small village of Ste Marie de Campan – it should take you 2 ½ hrs to get this far. Take the D918 southeast to the Col d’Aspin***. Retrace you route on the D918 back to Ste Marie and then southwest on the D918 to the Col du Tourmalet**. This route is the most famous route the Tour de France takes through the Pyrenees – you will see lots of bike riders along the way, and a statue on top of the Col de Tourmalet. Continue west on the D918 to Luz St Sauver. Take the D921 through the Gorge de Luz towards Argeles-Gazost.. From Argeles, you can either head back to Lourdes and then back to the Gite, or continue through the Pyrenees on the next trip (Trip #4). However, do not do the latter if you plan on taking the 4 hour gondola and mountain railway ride to La Sagette – highly recommended, see page 304



Trip 4 – deep into the Pyrenees, and a fantastic train trip.
Take the A64 to Lourdes like you did on trip 3. This time, from Lourdes, take the N21 south to Argeles Gazost, and then the D918 west. This is another of the famous Tour de France routes, and is described on pg 116 (in reverse). Go over the Col de l’Aubisque***. When you get to Laruns, turn left (south), and take the D934. This is described on pg 303. When you get to the D431, take it north to the Gondola starting place. Take the Gondola, and then the very scenic train to La Sagette – the most scenic views are from the left side of the train going up. At the termination of the train trip, you have the option of walking to Lac d’Ayous, but we did not take this trek – most people on the train did not either. This entire gondola/train trip will probably consume 3-4 hours, but it is well worth it.

After the La Sagette trip, return north on the D934 to Laruns, and continue north through Laruns. When the D934 hits the D294, take the very scenic D294 west to Escot, and then the D238 north to Oloron Ste Marie*. We visited Oloron, but did not find it very interesting. Trace the following route on Pg 393 (in reverse). Take the D936 northwest and then the D25 west to Mauleon. Since you have already driven on the D117 route on Trip 2, from Mauleon, take the D918 west, and then the D933 southwest back to St Jean Pied de Port.

Trip 5 – Coastal towns
Bayonne** – this was perhaps our favorite coastal town
Biarritz – lots of “Grande Dame” hotels & mansions. Take lots of walks around the coastal points, Rocher de la Vierge* & along La Perspective (view**)
St Jean de Luz** – nice resort town with plenty of shops
Corniche Basque** pg 379

Small villages close by that are worth a visit
St Etienne de Baigorry, and then west on the D949 to the col d’Ispeguy
Itxassou
Espelette
Ainhoa*
St Jean Pied de Port**
Sauveterre de Bearn*
Salies de Bearn

Sites close to the Gite worth visiting
Grottes Isturitz et d’Oxocelhaya**
Chateau de Laas pg 393. Near Sauveterre

We visited Pau, but did not think that much of it.
We visited Cambo, but I don’t remember much about it – must not have been that exciting..

Stu Dudley

DeborahAnn

Louise, we were in that region during the last two weeks of May 2008. During our stay the weather was cool with rain, much wetter than "usual" we were told. All but one of the passes were open to traffic in that area of the Pyrenees. We did the drive of Tourmalet and Aspin from our gite outside of Pau. Because we were there at the start of the Pau Grand Prix, my husband considered Pau a highlight of the trip for him.

I am OOT right now but when I return I'll check my notes. I know there are some Bearn websites that I used to plan our day trips. The Green Michelin book was very helpful as well. We had no trouble at all finding activities to fill our days Deborah

louise9f

Thanks so much! That's really useful info.

I'm hoping for not too much rain.

The trips guide is very helpful also, thank you.

I've checked out the websites recommended, which have loads of interesting info, and I've ordered a copy of the green guide & map no 342. Now all I have to do is get reading!

I had a feeling Lourdes may be one to miss (for me anyway)!!

Louise

StuDudley

We drove through Lourdes twice. My wife has sore feet. Each time we drove through, she opended the door of the car when we stopped and dangled her foot ouiside - hoping for a cure. Didn't work!!!!

Stu Dudley