Family activities in Coteaux Bearn Madiran

Get off the beaten track and for holidays or family excursions, treat yourself to a breath of fresh air, culture and delicacies, against a backdrop of sumptuous landscapes… The Coteaux Béarn Madiran is a gem to visit at your own pace, quietly, away from the crowds and bustle. There are however many riches to discover there, heritage, craftsmen and producers, castles, lakes, hikes and of course, vineyards... You are in the territory of Madiran and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh! Read our article to learn more about this region which deserves our full attention, for a nice stay in perspective.

The Coteau Béarn Madiran is a jewel to visit...

Photos of the article: © Coteaux Béarn Madiran Tourist Office + additional information under photo if necessary.

A stay in Coteaux Béarn Madiran? A very good idea!

Béarn is part of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, it shares the limelight with the Basque Country. In Coteaux Béarn Madiran, you are therefore ideally located, to come easily, to take advantage of a really attractive region and still little known to give you the impression of being the first to discover its delights! Fancy a daily getaway? Within a radius of one hour, we find the sea, the mountain and the city. But will you just want to go somewhere else? In Coteaux Béarn Madiran, tourism is dynamic, we bet on the naturally generous environment that it fills hikers with happiness, photographers who like the lights exposing the undulations of the wine hills... Take the telephoto lens because at the far, the chain of the Pyrenees offers a scandalously sublime background!

To organize your holidays in Coteaux Béarn Madiran, it's easy. We recommend that you contact the Coteaux Béarn Madiran Tourism union (in fr), which offers a range of holiday accommodation for all budgets and all comfort needs. This natural region and its colorful and abundant countryside is the ideal place to rent a cottage with a beautiful swimming pool which will be your cozy cocoon... There are also guest rooms, which are perfect for those who like to get to know each other with the locals. Hotels for peaceful nights with quality service, campsites and motorhome areas for independent travel and unusual accommodation (yurts, tree houses, caravans) to spend original holidays and that accommodation is also part of it of wonder Treat yourself to relax after a nice busy day, because here, there are plenty of things to do! Do we discover together?

Exercise and enjoy nature

That's what you come for: the landscapes, the nature, the sporting exploration and the walk in magical places! Coteaux Béarn Madiran is the region for hiking lovers (in fr). Bring your shoes and walking sticks, there are circuits for all levels and all tastes, on 580 km of marked trails. They highlight the unusual viewpoints, the small heritage at the bend of a path, the exceptional villages... And as we know that it is not always easy to convince the children to leave for a day of walking, fun and educational circuits are offered in Coteaux Béarn Madiran, through Tèrra Aventura (in Morlanne, Morlaàs, Lembeye, Arzacq and Pontacq) (in fr). Do you know the principle? Equipped with a Smartphone, you walk on a great geocaching treasure hunt, while learning things about history, heritage or landscape. Children love it and they can collect Poïz, little characters that crown the success of their hike! And all of this is free! 

There are also Randoland circuits in the bastides of Arzacq-Arraziguet and Garlin, it is the principle of a treasure hunt, to amuse young and old. The advantage of these activities is that they are available all year round. 

Desk Rando drawing at Buros & Tèrra Aventura -  lucky boys with all their Poïz

© M_Turin-CRTNA-Terra_Aventura-5031 and 19825 and OT Coteaux Béarn Madiran

Visit castles, learn while having fun

Travel back in time to the Château de Morlanne, it dates from the 14th century and is a real medieval fortress, built by Gaston Fébus for his half-brother! Completely restored, it is in the heart of the pretty flowery village of Morlanne: an escape for the day that will appeal to adults and children alike. The visit of the castle includes the discovery of the park, a museum space and the possibility of making 2 new attractive routes: a sound route, to be discovered thanks to an application to learn more about the medieval past of the place and its creator Gaston Fébus.

In the Madiran vineyard, Château de Creuseilles has developed a lovely educational trail, with sculptures that decorate the surroundings of the vineyard. It is a beautiful walk of the "7 Folies", which completes the discovery of wine, the Pyrenees and local heritage, through the landscapes of Madiran. Set off to discover "the treble clef", "the gazebo organ" or even "the builder " and have fun building cairns (stones) to find the perfect balance! Test the escape game "The Secrets of Madiran, the crazy adventure of the sacred elixir", in the barrel cellar of the Château de Crouseilles. Your mission: the first bottle, the one that contains the secrets of the Madiran monks, may be hidden in the cellars. Treasure seekers have been digging for years without finding anything. It's up to you to unlock the secret of the Madiran monks and their mysterious sacred elixir.

The curious are not left out, since the Coteaux Béarn Madiran territory offers several small museums (in fr), accessible to all and rich in beautiful collections! You will learn about it from enthusiasts who will be able to pass on their love of their region to you. Visit, among other places, the Gallo-Roman Museum of Claracq, which reveals the remains of the Gallo-Roman villa of Lalonquette, a sumptuous and prestigious country palace from the 4th century. century. Admire magnificent mosaics discovered on site and restored, monetary treasure, jewellery, ceramics, painted coatings... Everything will be told to you in detail thanks to a reconstruction in computer-generated images. And for younger visitors, a family guidebook, an audio guide designed for children, activity packs and educational kits tailored to each room, and educational workshops round off the experience.

Get active and have fun on the Béarn Madiran hillsides!

Are we no longer in place? What if we took a day to please the children and go for a walk and have fun? Do you want to discover the joys of yachting and navigation? See you at the superb Lac du Gabas (in fr)! Here, we do Paddle, kayak, sail and Wingfoil, in groups or individually. From the banks, you can even see the Pyrenees chain looming in the distance. Take the opportunity to book an internship at the Nautical Club.

• The O'd'Espoey Leisure Center also offers many activities for all ages: Karting, mini-golf (one 18 holes and from 3 years old!) and an area for doing Laser Game outdoors on 3000m² (from 6 years old).
• In Serres-Castet, have a go at a really fun indoor play centre.
• In Montardon, try out Rush Action Game! Across more than 200 m², take on 10 unusual challenges as a team in a varied setting that combines logic, agility and fun, and make the most of the opportunity to try the escape game ‘En route vers le futur’.

Authentic and preserved landscapes

Coteaux Béarn Madiran benefits from unspoiled nature, you have understood it, here are some ideas for getaways to take advantage of it, take beautiful photos, a short walk or a picnic at the end of the day with the sun's rays playing hide-and-seek… Stroll around Lake Aydie in Madiran: a 6-hectare paradise in the middle of the vineyards. You can practice fishing there or just walk around to enjoy the green of the vines which underlines the blue of the sky...

Set off to explore the local fauna and flora by following the Vallon du Manas educational trail (in fr), where you will encounter habitats typical of the region: dry grasslands and wet moorland. The observation platform allows you to stay on the lookout for the fifty or so species of birds that inhabit this mosaic of habitats.

A ‘nature break’ section, featuring several nature trails through wetlands, orchid meadows and gardens, also offers some lovely ideas for a day out.

Finally, nothing beats visiting the towns and villages (in fr) of the region to be amazed! Do not stop there just to do the shopping, but linger on the terraces of cafes and restaurants, dive into the alleys, stroll through the shops, meet the inhabitants, who are also a real wealth of Coteaux Béarn Madiran!

Organize your stay by visiting the Coteaux Béarn Madiran Tourist Office, which has offices in Lembeye, Arzacq and Morlaàs. You will benefit from personalized advice from expert holiday advisers.

The Vallon du Manas - Photos ©Coteaux Béarn Madiran Tourist Office and ©Cécile Munsch Peio Gaillard

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