Where are we?
We are based at Salies de Bearn in the department of Pyrenees Atlantiques (dept 64) and our area includes the southern interior area of the Landes (dept 40), east towards the capital city of Pau, south towards the medieval walled city of Navarrenx and Salies itself. We are in the southern half of the Aquitaine region.
The region offers more than 1000 miles of walking trails, as well as camping, fishing and climbing. In winter there is both cross country and alpine skiing and in summer the region offers sun lovers and surfers plenty of opportunity to indulge their passion
The Landes department is flat and the soil is uniformly sandy. One hundred years ago, the land was planted with conifers to draw up the excess water which made the roads impassable in winter. Today, the department is made up of large conifer plantations and a coastline of flat sandy beaches, backed by large shifting sand dunes which are nature conservation areas.
The landscape changes as one enters the departement of Pyrenees Atlantiques. The eastern part is called the Bearn, which is characterised by rich, rolling agricultural landscape. The western part is called the Basque country which is famous for its distinctive architecture, character, customs and language. To the south of the department, the landscape begins to undulate and the Pyrenees appear on the horizon. Cows graze in lush, green meadows and sheep dot the hillsides. The best-known towns are Biarritz in the Basque country and Pau in the Bearn.
Biarritz started life as a whaling community but has been better known as a playground for the rich and famous, ever since the Empress Eugenie discovered it’s mild winter climate during the reign of her husband, Napoleon III. The town has three good beaches, the best surfing in Europe, two casinos and one of the last great luxury hotels in Europe, the Palais, once the home of Eugenie.
Pau is a lively university town and the capital of the Bearn region. The weather in autumn and winter is mild and it has been a favourite resort of the English since the 19th century. For the visitor, the Boulevard des Pyrenees affords both glorious views of the gardens below and a glimpse of the highest Pyrenean peaks, which are often snow-capped all year round.
To the south of the Pyrenees Atlantiques lies the Pyrenees National Park, a vast rugged mountain landscape, home to a rich variety of wild creatures, many of them unique to the Range. On the other side of the Range, and a must for a day trip, lie the Spanish coastal resort of San Sebastian and the city of Pamplona, famed for it’s July bull run.
Between Biarritz and Pau lies the market town of Orthez. We centre on the areas around Orthez and Salies de Bearn and down to the Pyrenees. This is an area which has the best of both worlds, in that one can enjoy the proximity of the mountain ranges whilst living within easy reach of the coast. This is an area which retains a strong cultural and working identity and consequently is alive throughout the year.
ShareTweet