About the area

PYRENEES ATLANTIQUE/BEARN

Loved by the French and foreigners alike for its unspoilt rural charm, tranquility and traditional lifestyle of mountain farming, the region epitomises "la France profonde" to quote President Mitterand.

Inhabited since prehistoric times, when man first found shelter in the many limestone caves, a spelunker's dream, by 600BC Pau stood on the ancient trading route between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The Romans in turn have left evidence of their occupation, and the history of the area reached its romantic and cultural climax with the reign of Henri (subsequently Henry 2nd of England) and the beautiful poetess Eleanor of Aquitaine, reigning over the area from their magnificent castle in Pau.

The Bearn region still retains and relishes its unique cultural, reknowned gastronomic culture and historical independence and is famous for its fois gras, sheep's cheeses, locally caught salmon and trout and Jurancon wines. The famous soup known as garbure features on every menu and is celebrated by the annual soup making World Championship in Oloron.

These are mountain people who are proud of their pedigree Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle and rare local breed of sturdy horses. For centuries a feature of life has been the transhumance, the seasonal migration of cattle, sheep and horses, all with their bells, between the high mountain pastures and the lush valleys below. Trekkers may meet the great white Pyreneen mountain dogs caring for their flocks or be lucky enough to buy some hand made cheese from a shepherd in the high pastures.

"Gavarnie: a miracle, a dream….." This is how Victor Hugo described these incredible rock formations in 1843. It is an astonishing sight. There are sheer cliffs, deep waterfalls. Sloping, snow covered ledges all surrounding this formation 800 metres in diameter, widening at the top, the summits of which are more than 3000 metres high and recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage sight