Béarn: These unusual places that you must discover!

Between the peaks of the Pyrenees and its pasture valleys, crossed by the "Gaves", its pretty rivers, the nature of Béarn is preserved and offers an exceptional setting for many tourist activities. This rural and natural department has many treasures and has many surprises in store for us for original holidays. If you want to get off the beaten track, to discover another facet of the Béarn region, here are some ideas for accommodation and unusual activities, to live new experiences.

Atypical accommodation in Béarn

Looking to get out of the daily grind? Do you want a change, a change of scenery? First step, find your corner of paradise!

Paradise Lost

You are with your family and you feel the need to recharge your batteries in the heart of nature, in contact with animals, Paradis Perdu welcomes you in its wooden chalets, in a natural and preserved environment, with its wild and domestic animals. Whether farm animals, deer, or squirrels to admire from afar in the woods, your children will love this original, peaceful and secure place.

The Shepherd's hut

Do you want to feel alone in the world? La Cabane du Berger is for you. Very comfortable but isolated, this cabin offers you an exceptional panorama on the Pyrenees. Ideal for a romantic getaway or a serene solitary retreat.

The Nests of Béarn

And if you took a little height to sleep in a nest… Suspended on nets, the Nids du Béarn offer you its cozy cocoons for a unique experience, as close as possible to the birds of the forest. If you are with family or want more space, you will have the opportunity to make a childhood dream come true and stay in a treehouse perched in the trees!

Nordic adventure

Do you want even more sensations? The Nordic adventure takes you on an exotic journey. Much more than accommodation, it is quite an adventure that you are going to live. After a snowshoe excursion, a mulled wine at the foot of the brazier, a Nordic bath and some beautiful stories, you will spend the night in an igloo or a snow tipi.

The Ladybug Yurt

This time, it's a way of life that is revealed to you. Originally, yurts were used by Mongolian people, traditionally nomadic. Located in the heart of Vic-Bilh, the Yurt Coccinelle allows you to discover these original and yet very comfortable habitats.

The Domengé Hut

How about a magnificent and spacious wooden hut 6 metres high, perched in a tree with generous branches? Welcome to the Cabane de Domengé! And the highlight of your stay is to relax in a spa, with the sky and the trees as your only companions... Think of the gift vouchers! It's a great idea to offer or to be offered... Meals on site are possible, what would you say to not even having to think about bringing food? Only 30 minutes north of Pau.

A comfortable cabin with great facilities; Photos @ La Cabane de Domengé

ici, là-bas et partout

What if the unusual came to you and it was also on the road? Take to the road in a fully equipped, comfortable and very cute van with Ici, là-bas et partout! On the road ! Go on an adventure in the Bearn and the Pyrenees, choose a new place to wake up every day, in front of sumptuous landscapes or in the middle of the forest... Rent a vintage VW-combi but equipped with everything you need for modern life. Go to the Bearn region but also to the nearby Basque country and why not to Spain? Rent for a few days or for a long time to make a real break from your daily life and experience a complete change of scenery.

Easy to live with, beautiful and comfortable vans. Photos @ Ici, là-bas et partout & Guillaume Langla

Unusual activities to discover in Béarn

The Payssas arboretum, a tour of the plant world

In the town of Lasseube, near Oloron-Sainte-Marie, the Payssas arboretum offers a 1.2 km path through an "international" forest. Do not expect a space well organized by geographical area... You enter a wild ecosystem, where plant species from all over the world coexist in harmony. Simple explanatory panels, with photos to find your way around, allow you to discover or deepen your knowledge of these remarkable trees, from all over the world.

Fort du Portalet, an immersion in the military world

In Urdos, near the border, the Fort du Portalet was intended to prevent the Spanish invasion by road to the Col de Somport. They are his "guests" famous during the 2^nd World War: Blum, Daladier, Petain... that brought him notoriety. When you enter this impressive building, it is a real immersion in the military universe. The very complete guided tour takes you to the barracks, the officers' pavilion, the bastions armed with cannon batteries, the troglodyte galleries... Access is a bit sporty (many steps) and is not suitable for all public. This site is currently closed for development work.

A journey to the center of the Earth

For a gentle discovery of the underground world, we suggest you go between Lourdes and the bastide of Lestelle-Betharram, in the Caves of Betharram. You follow the river in a well-equipped course, on foot, by boat and by little train.

If you fancy a more immersive experience, put on your outfit caver down into the cave of the Verna , the largest cave chamber in the world. A preview of the visit, would you like it? Here is our unusual adventure in the bowels of the earth at the cave of Verna.

A last one before we go? On the other side of the border, the caves of Las Güixas are renowned for their magnificent stalactites, stalagmites...

The Route des Cols, a historic walk

The Béarn is crossed by the “Route des Cols”. It is a very old tourist route, since it was opened in 1859, under Napoleon III. At that time, the spas were established in the Pyrenees and attracted their first tourists. This road then bore the name of “Thermal Route of the Pyrenees”. It served resorts from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, from Hendaye to Perpignan. It crosses the Pyrenean Valleys of Béarn d'Arette, in the Barétous valley, in Laruns, in the Ossau valley.

To get an idea of what you will see there, we take you for  a hike in the Ossau valley to the Ascension du Pic d'Escurets.

Nordic adventures in Béarn

The Nordic adventure in Béarn begins at nightfall, at the Eaux-Bonnes resort, for a night-time snowshoe ride. Then, you make a restful stop to warm up with a good mulled wine, near a brazier or in a Nordic bath... It's time for tales and legends, told by the fireside and which end during of the descent that brings you back to the hut.

An encounter with unusual animals

In the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, meet at the Parc 'Ours, between Urdos and Lescun. In their natural environment, you can admire many mountain species and especially brown bears. For children, a treasure hunt is planned to show them the wild flora and fauna in a fun way. Follow our blogger in the footsteps of the bear...

For a more distant trip, it is at the Zoo d'Asson that you can meet white tigers, snow leopards, ocelots, etc. but also lemurs, kangaroos and tropical birds. The animals are free and the park offers activities in direct contact with the animals.

An awakening of the senses at Ludopia

In the beautiful valley of Aspe, Ludopia is an amazing park to awaken your senses and share unusual sensations with the family. Whether it is a discovery of one's body and mobility for the youngest or a balancing act for the older ones, it is an experience that is both physical and sensory, and above all very fun.

Exercise while practicing an aquatic sport

On Lake Baudreix, the Ô Kiri leisure center offers you giant structures and adrenaline: giant slides, water ski lift, water jump, drop in, stand up paddle, canoe, kayak... to have fun with your family or between friends.
We tested it for you: Check out our family day of sport and relaxation at the Ô Kiri leisure center on Lake Baudreix.

Discover traditional know-how

Between Pau and Lourdes, the “Sonnailles de Daban” factory is more than a workshop for making bells and bells for animals. This company has been an institution since 1795. It is above all a question of traditional know-how, a profession of yesteryear that has endured and passed on for six generations...

On the border between Béarn and the Basque Country, in Bidos, another factory opens its doors to you. The Lartigue workshop shows you the weaving techniques and the modern evolutions of this craft of yesterday and today!

Admire a heritage curiosity

Saint-Girons has a beautiful treasure, yet little known. Its Gothic church, in addition to an impressive bell tower, presents a very original architecture. Its asymmetric plan is already atypical with a main nave and a single side aisle… Its very rare “overturned double hull” frame is also worth a look and the ascent of the 72 steps leading to the bell tower.

This is the end of our unusual journey in Béarn. We hope to have given you another look at this beautiful region which offers you many original activities to have fun.

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Article written by Stéphanie Tempier for the Guide du Béarn Pyrénées.