Aren: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The Château d'Aren preserves a maison forte that still exists today and was built around 1430, as well as a 15th-century wall painting depicting two young people.

Anyone considering Aren as a travel destination may want to rent a holiday apartment.

Culture and History

The façades and roofs of the Château d'Aren were listed as a historic monument by decree of 21 December 1984; the first-floor hall with its wall painting in the south wing was classified as a historic monument by the same decree. The south wing was built or extensively remodelled between 1434 and 1441 and decorated with frescoes.

The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Aren dates from the 10th or 11th century and was built in the classical Romanesque style. Its roof was re-covered with slate around 1835. During the Wars of Religion, the church was converted into a Protestant temple on the orders of Jeanne d'Albret; under Henri IV, it was converted back into a church.

The Bac d'Aren was established in 1350 to enable exchanges between the two banks of the Gave d'Oloron. The former Bac d'Aren was considered part of the valley's historical heritage because of its practical function and its distinctive character. The Chemin des Braconniers was formerly a small path, often overgrown with blackberry brambles, connecting La Naou, the ferry, with La Houn, the fountain. At Le Trisquet, every house had a bench facing the street where women made sandals and Basque berets.

Nature and Trails

The VTTAE Route No. 77 – Entre Gaves et Joos is a 40.5-kilometre, half-day, moderately difficult e-mountain-bike tour for athletes. It passes through the wooded hills of Aren, Josbaig and Orin.

Ahargo, Sommet du Cambillou and Soum d'Ombret are peaks in the area around Aren. Soum de Ségu is a peak in the wider regional area surrounding Aren.

In the Wider Surrounding Area

The Abbaye de Sauvelade is a historic site in the area around Aren. In the wider regional area surrounding Aren are the Château de Pau, a castle, and the Archives départementales des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, an archive.

Further destinations: Navarrenx, Orriule, Soumoulou, Saint-Esteben, Bassillon-Vauzé, Lons, Etchebar, Anglet

To the main travel overview: Pyrénées-Atlantiques.