Béarn

Automatic translation

Presentation and Geography

Béarn forms, with the Basque Country, the department of Pyrénées Atlantiques. Nestled between the majestic Pyrenees mountain range to the south and the Landes and Gers departments to the north, Béarn has a strong identity like its Basque neighbor. Here, roots and traditions are strong, as much as the climate is mild.


Béarn in France


Béarn is plural. It is composed of:

  • Pyrenean summits with, among others, the majestic Pic du Midi d'Ossau;
  • Valleys where tumultuous gaves flow, name of the local wild rivers;
  • Green hills set in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountain range;
  • Vineyards, such as Madiran and Jurançon.


It is a festival of colours, from the blue-grey slates which protect the roofs as far as Pau to the ochre of the tiles in the north of the region.


Pau is the capital of Béarn. It is also the prefecture and the second city of Aquitaine with an agglomeration of approximately 180,000 inhabitants. It is a pleasant city for walking, heritage visits and shopping! If the Basque Country which shares the number 64 of the department and is turned towards the coast, Béarn offers a diversity of incredible landscapes, an ocean of greenery and mountains of medium to high altitude that nature lovers know how to appreciate.

Béarn is a relaxing and cultural destination. There are Pau, Orthez, Lescar and Jurançon which are large cities that are pleasant to visit. But, there are above all many charming little villages, nestled in the heart of green valleys, such as Laruns, Navarrenx, Sauveterre-de-Béarn... It is through these places that we learn about the history of France and Europe.


Discover our article on the most beautiful villages in Béarn to organize your road trip without missing the treasures and jewels of this beautiful region.


Saveland of Bearn

Saveterre-de-Béarn

Thermalism and the mild climate first attracted tourists in the 19th century.

People flock to Salies-de-Béarn for its very salty waters, recommended for rheumatic conditions. The discovery of its waters and their multiple uses is not new. Indeed, in the Bronze Age, the waters of Salies-de-Béarn were already used to preserve food. It was only much later that it was discovered that the inhabitants of the town, who regularly bathed in the waters, were more robust and less ill! Having medically observed the thermal effects of the waters, Charles Nogaret gave the impetus for the construction of the first thermal building.

Other cities have thermal baths, such as Eaux-Bonnes or Eaux-Chaudes. The cures are for medical purposes, and sometimes for relaxation and tourism, to enjoy the benefits of these mineral- laden waters that sootheheal and relax everyday ailments.



Salies-de-Béarn Salies-de-Bearn

Salies-de-Béarn


Béarn does not hide its affection for gastronomy. Let it be said, we are going to eat well during a visit to Béarn !

Here, you can discover duck and poultry specialties, such as poule-au-pot, garbure, foie gras and duck breast. The farms and small producers will be essential stops for gourmets.

Béarn is also the homeland of delicious little cakes, chocolate specialties, jams and naughty sweets (like at Francis Miot in Pau).

Would we dare to forget its cheeses ? There is enough to prepare gargantuan platters with Ossau Iraty, fresh cheese specialties made with sheep's milk or with a cow-sheep mix like in Barousse cheese.


Do you like cheese? We do too! Discover the must-try cheeses of Béarn with our tasting tips.


Gastronomy

A melting delight of local lamb accompanied by a creamy sauce

Béarn is in the heart of the Pyrenees. In the Aspe and Ossau Valley, you are in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park which also extends towards the neighboring Hautes-Pyrénées.

Created in 1967, its vocation is the protection of local fauna and flora species, this very rich biodiversity of inestimable value. The National Parks combine human and tourist activities with the protection of nature, through strict regulations that apply to residents, tourists and entrepreneurs. In Etsaut, next to Borce in the Aspe Valley, is the Maison du Parc which is an interesting starting point for excursions. In the region, you can go on magnificent hikes, horse ridesmountain bike trails, observe wild animals : falcons, vultures, eagles, ibex, squirrels, marmots, ermines...



Pic de l’Escurets Ossau Valley

The Pic de l’Escurets in the Ossau Valley


The climate of Béarn

Thanks to its privileged location at the foot of the Pyrenees mountain range, Béarn has a mild climate. This is particularly the case in winter, when the south wind (foehn) crosses the Pyrenees and suddenly warms the foothills of Oloron as far as Pau. It can then frequently exceed 20° in the middle of winter!

However, with a height difference of more than 3,000m between the highest and lowest points in the region, the climate naturally cools very quickly from the Aquitaine plains towards the peaks, which are snow-covered for a good part of the year.

In autumn, especially when the south wind is blowing, you will enjoy a wonderful palette of colours : from the green of the hills, to the yellow of the leaves, to the white of the first snow on the peaks.

In the plains, the annual temperature variation is moderate and the rains are often abundant. On the other hand, winter is characterized by a very high duration of sunshine. In addition, you will notice the very many palm trees planted throughout the territory which flourish very well in this climate!


The Boulevard des Pyrenees in Pau

The Boulevard des Pyrénées in Pau - Photo @ Lesley Williamson


The History of Béarn

Béarn has existed for over 1,000 years. It was a medieval lord, Centulle, who made it a very independent and autonomous region from the beginning, conquering the Oloron region and then the Pyrenean valleys from the then capital, Morlaàs.

Then came the reign of the Gaston line, the most famous of whom was Gaston Fébus, who through his conquests would make Béarn rich. They would build abbeys and paths leading to Compostela. As part of a game of alliances, Gaston Fébus would even become King of Navarre, crowned in Pamplona.

Catherine d'Albret, his aunt, succeeded him after his death. Despite the ambitions of Charles Quint, the Albrets, very powerful, kept a large kingdom and the title of " Kings of Navarre " for a long time. They established the Cour Majour in Pau, which later became the Parliament of Navarre.

Constitution of the Kingdom of Navarre When Jeanne d'Albret gave birth to her son, Henry III of Navarre, she did not yet know that when he acceded to the throne of France to become Henry IV of France, he would first request permission to ascend the throne from the Parliament of Navarre. Béarn would remain sovereign for a long time to come.

It was only under the impetus of Louis XIII that the legal regime of Béarn was finally modified.

In 1620, Béarn was then attached to the crown of France and became a French province like the others.

Another important date in the history of Béarn, January 12, 1790. On that day, the National Assembly created the Department of Basses Pyrénées, bringing together the three Basque provinces (Labourd, Basse Navarre and Soule), the Gascon lands of Bayonne and Bidache and Béarn.

Finally, in 1969, the department of Basses Pyrénées was renamed Pyrénées Atlantiques. It took several centuries of history for the destiny of Béarn to become intertwined with national history.






Discover Béarn, 5 territories to explore

We invite you to discover the department of Béarn in detail, through these 5 regions. They all have their charm and are ideal for nature holidays:

  • Navarrenx and the Béarn des Gaves: mountain torrents with blue waters and medieval towns of character, come to this region to walk, do sports activities on wild waters, appreciate the local culture and why not go spa therapy?

  • The Heart of Béarn and Vic-Bilh :  in the north-east of the department, you are almost in the plain to enjoy beautiful views of the Pyrenees mountain range. Here, it is a land of vineyards. You can take a beautiful walk along the wine châteaux to discover Jurançon, Madiran (very close) and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh. Orthez is the largest city in this territory.

  • The Pyrenean Valleys: conquering the 3 valleys of the Béarn Pyrenees! The Ossau, Aspe and Barrétous Valleys are territories with fantastic and magical landscapes in all seasons. Visit Oloron-Sainte-Marie, one of the oldest towns in Béarn. Admire the Pic du Midi d'Ossau and its jagged peaks. Stop off at small farms to taste local products, fish, cheese, honey, meat, etc. Between the Basque Country, the Hautes-Pyrénées and Spain, this is a region with many facets for lovers of nature and picturesque little villages.

  • Pau and its surroundings, the Jurançon and Madiran vineyards: Pau is an attractive city that has many assets and has been popular for centuries thanks to its pleasant climate , its strategic geographical position and its rich cultural past. Visit, of course, the Château de Pau, birthplace of the famous King Henry IV. Stroll along the Boulevard des Pyrénées with its ocean of mountains in front of you and its palm trees that will remind you of a certain city on the Côte d'Azur! Take the funicular and go shopping in the pedestrian streets of the city. Then, head to the Jurançon and Madiran vineyards, not far from Pau. Yellow color and sweet fruity aromas for the Jurançon and beautiful deep red color, smooth and full-bodied flavor for the Madirans... To be enjoyed in moderation but also with Béarnaise gastronomy of course.

  • The Pays de Nay: to the south-east, the Pays de Nay is a little apart. It tips over towards the Hautes-Pyrénées, towards Bigorre. It is a land of pilgrimage, tradition, crafts and gastronomy, nestled in the heart of the mountains.



Vic Bilh

The landscapes of Vic Bilh, with the Pyrenees mountain range as a backdrop

Navarrenx Navarrenx

Navarrenx, on the banks of the Gave d'Oloron, ideal for water activities, fishing, etc.


Tourist Sites of Béarn

Béarn has many natural riches to discover. Tourist sites allow you to appreciate its landscape, fauna or cultural qualities. First of all, you can count on the museums.

There are about 25 of them, scattered across the territory. Between the state museums, the eco-museums to learn more about the Béarnese lifestyle, the heritage and art museums and the visits to emblematic places, you will not be disappointed.



Salt Museum of Salies de Béarn

Salt Museum of Salies de Béarn



You can also visit the beautiful villages and characterful bastides of Béarn. Many points of interest will allow you to compose an interesting and eclectic road trip. The small villages, which are scattered in the valleys, are sometimes more difficult to reach. Remember, when you prepare your stay in Béarn, do not only look at the kilometers, but also the travel times which take into account the altitude. It changes everything!




Oloron Sainte Marie

Oloron-Sainte-Marie

Bearnaise countryside

The Béarnaise countryside in the plains, a climate perfectly suited to agriculture


Béarnese local products

Béarn is a rich land, a region prolific in gastronomic products. The plains of Vic-Bilh are fertile. In addition to the vines, there are fruit trees. The large forests and the mountain foothills are suitable for hunting and breeding. In the rivers, we discover, of course, wild fish. The Saint-Jean-de-Luz fish market is not very far, so we often eat good fish in the restaurants of Béarn, but that's not all. There are many specialties:

  • The wood pigeon;
  • Trout and salmon from the gaves and torrents;
  • Pyrenean lamb;
  • The ham;
  • Cheese including the famous Ossau-Iraty and its AOC;
  • wine, from Madiran or Jurançon...


Gastronomy is an institution. The proof is that there is no shortage of articles on this subject in the Béarn Pyrénées Guide:




Holiday accommodation in Béarn

You can stay in Béarn in any season and at any price.

During the summer season, campsites are welcoming. This is a popular option for families who also like to rent a cottage in nature to be autonomous and independent.

The guest houses are of high quality, often run by Béarnais who will be keen to help you organise your stay with little tips and good addresses.

There are also hotels, especially around Pau, where there are hotels for business stays. It is a city with a central location that attracts companies for the organization of seminars. Thermal tourism also concerns a certain number of establishments open all year round.

For several years, unusual accommodation has been popular. You will find many of them in Béarn for short or long stays depending on your budget and level of comfort.



Unusual accommodation in Bearn

Family holidays in Bearn


Sports and leisure activities in Béarn

If you love sport and nature, Béarn is a perfect destination.

You can go rafting, canoeing, kayaking, canyoning or swimming in the Gaves du Béarn. These wild rivers originate in the Pyrenees. The forests are also perfect for walking, hiking, mountain biking, but also for leisure activities such as archery or tree climbing. In summer, there are many centers that offer this type of activity!

If you like road cycling, get on it to climb the great passes of Béarn, like the riders of the Tour de France. Some summits will keep you on the edge of your seat...



Just a stone's throw from the ski resorts , the snow invites you to go downhill skiing, cross-country skiing or ski touring. Don't like skiing? There's plenty to do: snowshoeing, dog sledding, igloo building... The resorts are full of inventiveness to offer you original activities at all prices.


Leisure center in Bearn

The blue waters of the ô Kiri leisure center just a few minutes from Pau


Famous Béarnais

In addition to the region's famous historical figures, such as Gaston Fébus, Jeanne d'Albret and Henri IV, Béarn is or has been talked about through personalities from political, cultural, media and sporting life.

Policy

  • François Bayrou;
  • Jean Lassalle;
  • Henri Emmanuelli...

Showbiz

  • Marcel Amont;
  • Daniel Balavoine;
  • Bertrand Cantat...

Poets, Writers

  • Francis Jammes;
  • Jules Supervielle;
  • Frederic Beigbeder...

Athletes

  • Tony Estanguet (kayak);
  • Gilbert Duclos Lassalle (cycling);
  • Jean Michel Larqué (football);
  • Nicolas Brusque (rugby);
  • Damien Traille (rugby);
  • Annie Famose (skiing);
  • Nicolas Escudé (tennis)...


Hiking around Lake Aydie

Hiking around Lake Aydie, welcome to Béarn!

Jump Academy Pau Lescar

Jump Academy Pau Lescar
Jump Academy Pau Lescar

Come and discover your Jump Academy park for unforgettable moments of madness with family or friends! A 2500m² ...

Lescar

Jump Academy Pau Lescar

Jump Academy Pau Lescar
Jump Academy Pau Lescar

Come and discover your Jump Academy park for unforgettable moments of madness with family or friends! A 2500m² ...

Lescar

Jump Academy Pau Lescar

Jump Academy Pau Lescar
Jump Academy Pau Lescar

Come and discover your Jump Academy park for unforgettable moments of madness with family or friends! A 2500m² ...

Lescar