The Tour des Anaques begins in Lées-Athas at the Fronton between the town hall and the church of Lées. The very easy walk is 3.5 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 60 metres and is suitable for families. It leads along village streets lined with historic houses and decorated lintels, across a meadow, and along a white limestone path beside walls and boxwood shrubs.
Those considering Lées-Athas as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment there.
Nature
The Chemin de Pirait is a moderately difficult 12.3-kilometre hike with an elevation gain of 720 metres for fit hikers. There are several panoramic viewpoints along the route; its mostly open course offers views in both directions.
The mountain biking route VTT No. 42 – Chemin de Pirait is also moderately difficult. It is 14.5 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 650 metres and is intended for fit riders.
La mousquère is a natural site on a windy promontory where livestock lie down during the hottest hours of the day.
Culture and History
In Athas stands the parish church of Saint-Félix, built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. It was damaged by fire in 1569, remodelled in the 17th century and restored in the 19th century. Its portal bears the inscription “HOC EST PORTA COLI”.
The church has mixed masonry made of limestone, rubble stone, slate, pebbles and marble, as well as a slate roof.
The Cromlech du Pirait lies directly beside the Chemin de Pirait and may be hidden by ferns in summer.
A local tradition is Les Faucheurs: every year, men carefully mow ferns on the slopes to create a human figure or an animal.
Geographical Setting
The natural campsite Aire Naturelle de Lées-Athas is located in the Aspe Valley in the mountains, in a green setting opposite the Cirque d'Iseye d'Accous. It offers large, spacious and heavily shaded pitches. The site is close to hiking trails, streams and the Gave d'Aspe.
Local Produce
In the village of Lées-Athas, the family business GAEC Bouchoo offers Tome des Pyrénées made from sheep's milk, mixed milk or cow's milk, as well as farm ice cream made from sheep's milk.
Other destinations: Uzos, Orriule, Gourette, Estialescq, Saint-Palais, Ascain, Lurbe-Saint-Christau, Biarritz
