The Pyrenees from Pau The call of the mountain

Opposite you, our playground, the Pyrenees! From here, three valleys (Ossau, Aspe, Barétous) take you to Spain. Starting from Pau, you’ll be able to take in the breathtaking natural sites, typical Pyrenean villages, cows and sheep along the Ossau-Iraty cheese route… Not forgetting the Artouste train, winding its way along the crests of Lake Fabrèges, the grandiose cirques and peaks, or the lakes and gaves sparkling under the Pyrenean blue sky…

Sporty friends and lovers of the great outdoors: pack your backpacks and recharge your smartphones: unforgettable memories and plenty of selfies in store!

Getting there

The valleys

Ossau Valley

What to see Bielle, a village of Renaissance stone houses with mullioned windows. For photos, you’ll need to pass through Bilhères-en-Ossau: the panorama of Bielle and Port de Castet is exceptional. A Bearn curiosity: the whistlers in the village of Aas! Shepherds communicate by whistling when they take their flocks to graze in the mountains, a language that is still very much alive.

Aspe Valley

Stop off at Sarrance, for its cloister and the baroque facade of its church. Then on to Aydius, a picturesque village clinging to the foot of high peaks, with its stone-built houses generously decorated with flowers. Then on to the Lescun cirque, where the typically Pyrenean village is a delight for hikers. But if you love the Middle Ages, stop off in Borce!

Barétous Valley

It was from Aramits that Alexandre Dumas borrowed the character of Aramis for “The Three Musketeers”: he was inspired by Henri d’Aramits. Last village before climbing the Col de La Pierre-Saint-Martin: Arette!

Lescun circus

The Lescun cirque is one of the most famous places in the Pyrenees. The “Dolomites of the Pyrenees” encircle this virtually enclosed cirque. The Aiguille d’Ansabère, the Orgues de Camplong… the mountains that tower around it have names that make Pyrenees lovers and hikers dream.

We love this typical village, whose inhabitants and hikers appreciate the exceptional panorama every day!

At an altitude of 900 m, Lescun is a stage on the GR10 and one of the most beautiful lookouts in the Vallée d’Aspe.

Hiking

“You’re braver in the mountains when you’re alone. It’s a joy to be two, it’s a lesson to be one.”

Henry Russell, Pyrenean

Let nature take its course... Pyrenees National Park

The high pastures with their stone cayolars (shepherds’ huts) offer walkers a unique landscape. Narrow valleys and steep slopes are dotted with numerous turquoise lakes. Isards, marmots, griffon vultures and bearded vultures reveal themselves to the most observant eyes. Smell the wild thyme, the pure air of the summits… a veritable reservoir of natural perfumes: Pyrenean lilies, daffodils, rhododendrons, colchicums perfume and enliven the deep green of the estives with a thousand touches of color.

“As alover of snow, light, infinity and azure, I am often saddened by the thought of the feverish, misguided crowds bustling and bored beneath the clouds, in the depths of the valleys, where, to be happy, we depend on balloons, theaters, casinos, ventriloquists and fireworks.”

By car

To discover the Pyrenees from Pau, you’ll need your own car. But be sure to check the weather and traffic conditions, so you can plan your equipment accordingly. While it rarely snows in Pau, this is not the case in the Pyrenees.

With my dog

Now’s the time to take Médor with you. Remember to keep him on a leash in villages and summer pastures. Remember that patous, however friendly they may be, are above all shepherd dogs whose job is to guard the herd. So tie up your dog, stay out of the way and don’t pet or familiarize your dog to avoid accidents!

Respect for nature

Our mountains, our nature is beautiful. It’s also fragile. So respect it. Don’t pick wild plants, stay on marked trails and don’t leave any garbage behind. And as far as possible, respect the tranquillity of wild species.

Cheeses and shepherd traditions

Ossau Iraty, a protected designation of origin cheese, is produced in the Ossau, Aspe, Barétous and Iraty valleys. It is made exclusively from the milk of Basque-Béarnaise ewes. This breed is reputed to be hardy and resistant, capable of covering long distances and steep slopes to graze on the herbs and aromatic plants perched on the high plateaus or rocky mountainsides. It is this diet that gives the cheese its distinctive, slightly herbaceous flavor.
During the spring transhumance (between May and June), the herds go up to the estives for the summer, from where they come down in September or October, during the winter transhumance, to graze in the valley. This cheese, known as “d’estives”, is distinguished by its particularly pronounced taste.

Within skiing distance!

The Béarn Pyrenees are a wonderful playground for ski and snowboard enthusiasts. To hurtle down the slopes in a breathtaking landscape:

La Pierre-Saint Martin, the westernmost of the Pyrenees, at the foot of the Pic d’Arlas, not far from the Pic d’Anie.
Gourette, towards the Col d’Aubisque, the closest resort to Pau, nestled at the foot of the Pic de Ger.
Artouste, in the heart of the Ossau valley, on the shores of Lake Fabrèges.

Europe's highest train The Artouste train

Reach your train by gondola. The train takes you on a 10 km journey at 2000 m altitude. Incredible views and grandiose landscapes, you’ll discover the upper Ossau valley as you’ve never seen it before. The Pic du Midi d’Ossau is there, all you have to do is look up! Perhaps you’ll come across a marmot before you reach Lac d’Artouste! We’re sure you’ll love the trip.

ecole notre dame rue des anglais new teaching team

A country to discover Pau, Béarn and beyond

If you’re on vacation in Pau, you’ll soon discover that it’s a fabulous base camp… take the opportunity to discover our famous neighbors, but also to explore a rich terroir. You’ll meet new people, share experiences and, above all, enjoy the beauty of nature. Switch off and let the Béarnais in you do the talking!