Pyrenees-Atlantiques: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Pyrenees-Atlantiques combines Basque and Béarnaise identities with the agro-pastoral traditions of the Pyrenees, as well as Spanish and Atlantic influences.

Those choosing Pyrenees-Atlantiques as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.

Nature

The departmental Espaces naturels sensibles of Pyrénées-Atlantiques are intended to be opened to the public for cultural, scientific or landscape-related interpretation. At the same time, they must be places where visitors can discover natural riches.

The Pyrenees National Park extends across six valleys distributed between the departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées. The national park is characterised by diverse natural, cultural and scenic sites, as well as flora, fauna and endemic species.

Trails and activities

The Sentier de Camille is a marked, 104-kilometre circular route. One of its six stages is located at the Refuge d’Arlet in the Vallée d’Aspe. A challenging circular tour from Gourette leads at high altitude to the four lakes of Louesque, Uzious, Lavedan and Anglas in a single day.

For cyclists, the Vélosud route covers 188 kilometres through Pyrénées-Atlantiques: it follows the Gave de Pau and the Gaves réunis to the Adour. The Pau section is accessible via the A64 and by TER; bicycles are permitted on the rail network. The route begins with around ten kilometres of scenery along the Gave de Pau on paths dedicated to walking and cycling.

On the Pau–Lourdes Vélosud route, the bastide of Nay offers a heritage stop. A branch also leads to the Base de loisirs de Baudreix: from the opposite bank, the round trip is approximately 500 metres. Facilities there include a picnic area, camping, swimming and a restaurant.

Paddleboarding and pedal boating are possible at Lac de Fabrèges.

Culture and history

Almost 280 archaeological sites have been recorded in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, particularly in the Vallée d’Aspe and the Vallée d’Ossau. The archaeological heritage of the national park includes Bious-Artigues, Anéou, Troumouse, Liantran and the Maspêtre site near Borce in the Vallée d’Aspe.

Local and village festivals showcase Basque and Béarnaise languages, music, dances, traditional costumes, bandas and folk groups. Five villages in Pyrénées-Atlantiques bear the Plus beaux villages de France label: Navarrenx, Ainhoa, La Bastide-Clairence, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Sare.

The department’s pilgrimage heritage includes the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Bayonne, the Porte Saint Jacques in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the Romanesque church of L’Hôpital-Saint-Blaise and the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie d’Oloron. They are associated with the UNESCO site inscribed in 1998 under the title Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.

The visitor heritage also includes Château d’Abbadia, Hôtel du Palais, Château de Pau, Villa Arnaga and Château Urtubie. In Béarn and the Basque Country, 15 bastides are highlighted by Bastides 64.

The destination offers museums, Terra Aventura treasure hunts and guided street-art tours in Bayonne. The department’s architectural character includes English villas with exotic influences, Art Deco buildings, Basque Etxe and Béarnaise architecture, as well as mountain villages situated on hillsides.

Culinary tradition

Ossau-Iraty AOP is made from whole milk produced by three local sheep breeds: Manech Tête Noire, Manech Tête Rousse and Basco-Béarnaise.

The Route du Fromage Ossau-Iraty comprises 129 stops in the Basque Country and Béarn and can be explored by car, bicycle or on foot. The Ossau-Iraty production area stretches from the Côte Basque to Haut Béarn and includes Labourd, Basse Navarre, Soule, Béarn des gaves, Ossau, Aspe and Barétous.

Other places:Anglet, Angous, Aramits, Arcangues, Arudy, Ascain, Bassussarry, Bayonne, Biarritz, Bidart, Castetpugon, Ciboure, Espelette, Gourette, Guethary, Hendaye, La Bastide-Clairence, Lestelle-Bétharram, Ogenne-Camptort, Saint-Girons-En-Béarn, Saint-Jean-De-Luz, Saint-Pée-Sur-Nivelle, Saint-Pierre-D'irube, Sare, Urrugne, Ustaritz, Villefranque, Salies De Bearn, Buziet, Came, Serres-Castet, Pau, Orthez, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Navarrenx, Montory, Méracq, Mauléon-Licharre, Lescar, Cambo-Les-Bains, Biriatou, Bidarray, Aïnhoa, Arnéguy, Ahetze, Malaussanne, Saint-Jean-Pied-De-Port, Monein, Orion, Barcus, Itxassou, Lurbe-Saint-Christau, Montaut, Bizanos, Lecumberry, Arette, Ossès, Sauveterre-De-Béarn, Arbonne, Lons, Pontacq, Idron, Souraïde, Hasparren, Cette-Eygun, Urt, Uhart-Cize, Estérençuby, Soumoulou, Louhossoa, Baudreix, Borce, Ousse, Mouguerre, Gurmençon, Lys, Moumour, Saint-Étienne-De-Baïgorry, Barraute-Camu, Bérenx, Bielle, Argagnon, Eaux-Bonnes, Saint-Martin-D'arrossa, Banca, Sault-De-Navailles, Saint-Palais, Gotein-Libarrenx, Assat, Morlaàs, Lohitzun-Oyhercq, Geüs-D'oloron, Accous, Lées-Athas, Bidache, Viven, Miossens-Lanusse, Lucq-De-Béarn, Maslacq, Bugnein, Gelos, Sévignacq-Meyracq, Issor, Denguin, Laruns, Gan, Briscous, Jurançon, Bardos, Ostabat-Asme, Aldudes, Laàs, Orsanco, Oraàs, Castetnau-Camblong, Abitain, Larceveau-Arros-Cibits, Sévignacq, Iholdy, Mourenx, Eysus, Burgaronne, Lamayou, Bedous, Ayherre, Urdos, Estialescq, Orriule, Loubieng, Urcuit, Musculdy, Larressore, Lasseube, Coarraze, Lahonce, Sauvagnon, Ledeuix, Irissarry, Macaye, Crouseilles, Lanne-En-Barétous, Autevielle-Saint-Martin-Bideren, Urdès, Lacarry-Arhan-Charritte-De-Haut, Camou-Cihigue, Saint-Boès, Auterrive, Uzos, Louvie-Juzon, Etchebar, Pagolle, Sainte-Engrâce, Sainte-Colome, Lasse, Aurions-Idernes, Mendionde, Billère, Ahaxe-Alciette-Bascassan, Sallespisse, Bénéjacq, Boucau, Mazerolles, Arzacq-Arraziguet, Osse-En-Aspe, Suhescun, Pontiacq-Viellepinte, Aren, Morlanne, Menditte, Méharin, Louvie-Soubiron, Arrosès, Lagor, Ascarat, Hélette, Sauguis-Saint-Étienne, Saint-Esteben, Herrère, Luc-Armau, Asson, Bassillon-Vauzé, Puyoô, Aste-Béon, Masparraute, Aydie, Dognen, Carresse-Cassaber, Susmiou, Arrast-Larrebieu, Bunus, Saint-Abit, Mont-Disse, Licq-Athérey, Mendive, Lourdios-Ichère, Rontignon, Buros, Anhaux, Bilhères, Escos, Charritte-de-Bas, Sauvelade, Aubertin, Castetbon, Béguios, Arthez-d'Asson, Gère-Bélesten, Artigueloutan.

More about the region: Aquitaine.