The TOWN OF BEARN

THE PASTORALISM
the pastoralism always give a rytm to the life of the mountain inhabitant sof Béarn. Resulting from a great multi-secular tradition, it is work, habits and passion at the same time. It makes the pride of a country and its fruit is exported on all the gluttonous tables: it is the famous cheese of ewe. To discover this activity and this tradition, it is better to understand the character of the local people.

TRANSHUMANCE
the long walk of the herds guided by the shepherds starts at the beautiful days. The day of the departure, around 4 a clock in the morning, the herds start to climb the roads and the ways which will carry them out on the high pastures. At the head of the herds there are the most robust ewes, the shepherd and its dog close the walk. During all the summer, the herds will feed up there and the shepherd the shepherd's cabin, the "cuyala" (or "cujala"), will be used as a house, dairy and cheese dairy sometimes. As soon as the cold come, the herds will take the opposite way to go down again in the plain and spend the winter there. And it is the same since centuries.

THE BELL RINGER
Before the departure for the mountain pasture, the shepherds fix the bells around the neck of the ewes, having for each one of them a particular stamp. Its role is essential! The exerted ear of the shepherd will enable him to supervise the good walk of the herd or to detect a lost sheep.

THE CHEESE
Each day, the shepherds devote several hours to the manufacture of cheese; milk the ewes the morning and the evening, curdling of milk, cutting, mixing and heating of curd. The moulding and pressing intervene then. The cheese is salted, and begins its long refining. Marked to initial of the shepherd, the cheese regularly will be turned over and washed, before finding it on all the good tables.

THE BÉARN HOUSE
The practices of construction which rise from the history, the climate and the agricultural vocation characterize the Béarn house. Rectangular plan, roof with four slopes, the "box" (designation of Béarn house) is made of materials offered by nature in the area. The habits diversify and remain rural in local types; those of the plain, of Salies, Vic-Bilh, the valleys of mountain.

HOUSE OF THE PLAIN
It is a vast residence which attracts the eye by the nobility of its frontage rhythmized by several windows laid out on both sides of the door of entry. A double Genoeseunder the roof, a tympanum of marble above the door decorate this sober frontage. The roof is made of russet-red tiles, punts, and walls of rollers.

HOUSE OF SALIES
The traditional rural house has a more pointed and more covering roof, preserving the color of the tiles which one manufactured with the clay of the slopes. More hidden by the roof, the frontage is rhythmized by symmetrical windows, is rough-cast, dissimulating the rollers.

HOUSE OF VIC-BILH
The area close to Armagnac influences this house, by addition of a triangular pinion which prolongs the frontage above the door of entry. With the difference of the house of plain or that of Salies, only the part devoted to the dwelling uses rollers; the common are raised from structures of woods that are roughcast in cob (mixture of clay and straw).

HOUSE OF THE VALLEYS
Here the common gather around the house creating a protective belt. A single gate (covered of a small roof) is the only opening to reach the court. The openings of the house are done rare and are located especially on the higher floor. The tympanum of the door, the framings of the windows are out of marble. Wood galleries which are used as a balcony and a drier run in frontage. The roof is out of slate. .

THE WATER OF BEARN
Running Water, pure water, in sources or cascades, mountain stream or lakes, water is sovereign everywhere. It is one of the natural richnesses of Béarn. For health, for the adventure, fishing, or the simple pleasure of the eyes, it is so generous that its untameable character quickly would be forgotten. It is a gift of the nature which the inhabitants of Béarn knew to preserve.

THE WATER OF HEALTH
At Eaux Bonnes, at Eaux Chaudes or at Salies-de-Béarn, the thermal spas and of fitness of Béarn, water springs for health. Salted, hot or cold, the water of the sources of Béarn meets varied therapeutic needs. Charged of invaluable natural elements, its benefits are recognized. It constitutes a privileged pole for the fitness, health and balance...

THE HORSE IN BEARN
the horse holds a dominating place in the inheritance of Béarn. It is tradition, know-how, sport, pleasureand especially passion. Here, one will discover a prestigious history, there, how Béarn became the cradle of famous Anglo-Arab... This equestrian tradition is quite present today in the heart of the inhabitants of Béarn. To realize it, it is enough to visit the national stud farm, to attend the training of the champions, to get carried away around a race in a hippodrome way, or to follow the footpaths dedicated to the horse.