Gascony Vacation Rentals

Situated midway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, southern Gascony is one of France's most tranquil and unspoilt regions with breathtaking views and a relaxed pace of life. It extends down to the snow-capped peaks of the central Pyrenees on the Spanish border, where the rugged scenery is dotted with waterfalls and lakes, sheltering a unique flora and fauna. Echoing Albert Camus, this beautiful area is sometimes called 'the Tuscany of France'. It covers the départements of Gers (32), south-west Haute Garonne (31) and Hautes-Pyrénées (65). The older names of Gascony, Bigorre, Armagnac and Comminges may also be familiar. Tourism in the area is still very low key and there's no traffic congestion or pollution from industry.
Important towns in the area are: Auch, Lourdes, Tarbes, and Pau in neighbouring Pyrénées Atlantiques. The region is also host to ancient castles and abbeys, bastide towns (Marciac, Trie-sur-Baïse, Galan etc.) and historic villages such as Mauvezin, L'Escaladieu, St. Sever and St. Bertrand de Comminges or Tillac. Due to the importance of Lourdes, access to the region is easy. The arrival of low-cost carriers serving Biarritz, Pau and Toulouse airports has recently opened up the area further.
Geographically, Bigorre consists of two distinct areas: the plains to the north around Tarbes and the high mountains to the south. In between are the undulating landscapes of the foothills - lush forests, valleys and peaceful countryside studded with farms, hamlets and small market towns. Although Tarbes is in fact the administrative centre and capital of the Hautes-Pyrénées, nearby Lourdes, still a major destination for pilgrims, has eclipsed it in recent years. To the south and in the mountains are the Pyrenees National Park and the Néouvielle Nature Reserve and the lively little towns of Bagnères-de-Bigorre and Argèles-Gazost. The highest peaks in the region are L'Arbizon (2831 m), Pic du Midi (2877 m), Balaïtous (3144 m), Pic Long (3192 m), Vignemale (3298 m) and Mont-Perdu (3355 m).
History The history of Bigorre dates from the 6th century BC when the Bigerri occupied the region. In Celtic times Tarbes was known as Turba or Bigorra. Conquered by the Roman general Crassus in 56 BC, Bigorre entered into the Roman province of Novempopulanie. After the disorder of the Vandal and Frank invasions, Bigorre was controlled by the Dukes of Gascony in the 9th century and in 1080 incorporated into the county of Béarn. In 1097, Bigorre became an independent county and remained so under the English occupation in the 14th century. Recaptured by Jean de Foix in 1407, Bigorre was reincorporated into Béarn in 1429. After the French Revolution, the new département Hautes-Pyrénées followed very much the lines of ancient Bigorre.
Gastronomy Gascony is famed for its gastronomy and specialities like foie gras, goat's and sheep's cheese, fine wines (Jurançon, Buzet, Tursan, Côtes de St Mont and Madiran, made famous by winegrower Alain Brumont's Château Montus) and of course, Armagnac. Mixed with grape juice, Armagnac makes the local apéritif Floc de Gascogne. There are very good local fermes auberges – restaurants serving delicacies made only from their own produce – farmer's markets, supermarkets, hypermarkets and patisseries. Controlled organic produce is also increasingly easy to find.
Climate / weather The climate is generally mild, with summer temperatures not as excessively hot as in the Mediterranean area, long Indian summers extending well into October and plenty of winter sun. The weather tends to be more changeable than in the south-east and on some occasions thunderstorms can result in brief cuts in electricity. Winters are generally mild and you'll usually only find snow closer to the mountains. Sports / activities / events The South-West is particularly famous for golf (Pau is home to the oldest golf course in continental Europe), coarse/fly fishing - on some of France's best salmon and trout rivers (holiday licences are sold locally June - Sept.) - and skiing. Each July the Tour de France is a regular visitor to the area and Bigorre hosts some of the most challenging ascents in the Tour circuit. And there are numerous other sporting and leisure activities:
Riding, stargazing, climbing, walking, canyoning and water sports, casinos, theatres, thermal spas and concerts and museums in Tarbes and Pau. Lakes suitable for swimming/boating: Miélan, Lourdes, Marciac. Water sports centres: Boulogne-sur-Gesse, St. Pé de Bigorre. International summer festivals include: Country Music in Mirande Jazz in Marciac Street theatre & mime in Bagnères-de-Bigorre The Nuits Musicales and the July antiques fair in Trie The Grande Pourcailhade or Pig Festival and the 5-day local fair in Trie in early August The Pyrénées piano festival in Barèges. Each year, in July and August, night markets are held in most market towns and there are fireworks, discos and dancing.
Day excursions from the Tarbes / Lannemezan area Ideas for easy day excursions include the Atlantic coast (St. Jean de Luz, Bayonne, Biarritz); Cirque de Gavarnie; the National Park; historical centres such as Pau, Toulouse, Moissac (a must for lovers of Romanesque art and architecture) and Carcassonne (2 hrs.) and locally, Château de Mauvezin (famed for Gaston Phoebus, author of a celebrated illuminated manuscript on hunting); St. Bertrand de Comminges (impressive site overlooking partly excavated ruins of a vast Gallo-Roman settlement); the Gallo-Roman villa at Montmaurin; the beautiful Cistercian monastery l'Abbaye de l'Escaladieu on the edge of the Baronnies (wonderful walking country with lush vegetation and an extraordinary microclimate); Barbazan; Lourdes with its castle and aquarium; l'Abbaye de St Sever; fortified villages or bastides; the Cistercian abbey at Flaran; Tillac; Gouffre d'Esparros; the newly restored, historical astronomical observatory at the Pic du Midi de Bigorre.