VALLEY OF OSSAU IN LARUNS

By traversing the left bank of the cram of Ossau...

Iseste (alt. 410 m)
old Village known for its famous family of Bordeu of which Theophilus, "Voltaire of the medicine" ,the precursory of the benefits of hydrotherapy and Charles, writer. Beautiful houses dating back to XVIth and the XVIIIth centuries.
Some, with the broad openings, recall that Iseste was a village of weavers. Manorial house of Domec (family of Bordeu). House of Abbadie being next to the church (door with carved archstones). Pillory in gray marble (1682) classified. House with carved archstone (Mélusine fairy). Saint-Etienne church dating to XIV th century old. Plate of Zoum. Walk in edge of the cram
BilhEres (alt.650 m)
Bilhères is located on the road of the collar of Marie Blanque, collar separating the valleys of Aspe and Ossau, and regularly crossed by the cyclist Tour of France.
The village consists of old houses with beautiful doors from the XVI and XVIIth (decorative keys). To see in the Saint-Jean-Baptist church, the baldachin of carved and painted wood as well as the confessional "to see: Overhanging the village, the plate of Bénou, and its vault known as Houndas.
Bielle (alt. 450 m)
Bielle is the old chief town of the valley where all the administrative and legal decisions were taken. Until the Revolution, the valley remained an independent political entity. Each village elected a representative (a jurat) who came to sit at Bielle. The written agreements concerning the interests of the community were consigned in a trunk placed in the church. One will notice the very beautiful architectural quality of the houses of XVth and XVIth centuries that are decorated with sculptures.
Saint-Vivien church (classified), vault N.D of Ayguelade (Legend of Margalide). To see... Natural space of the Castet Lake. Guided tours of Bielle in July-August
Gère-Bélesten (alt.460 m)
T he commune consists of two villages joined together at the end of the Middle Ages. Castle of Gere dating to the Renaissance time. Strong house known as "tower of Ore" (classified). Church Ste orens in Gère with (oculus bell-tower in the shape of propeller). Church Saint-Pierre of Roman style in Bélesten (altarpiece and statue of St-Pierre out of polychrome wood - classified monument). Old white marble careers. In the Montplaisir district was located an old hippodrome where one organized races for the curists. To discover... the salting tub with cheese arranged in an old railway tunnel (Montplaisir district).
Laruns (alt.525 m)
It is through its great festival of August 15, by its habits, its songs and its dances that Laruns gives us one of the best and of the most faithful representations of traditional Béarn. Beautiful old houses of XVIth and XVIIth centuries... bearing inscriptions and architectural decorations with the religious motives (shell of Saint-Jacques), professionals (the companions builders). Laundrette and fountain. Saint-Pierre Church: White marble stoup, carved basin of XVIth and broken bells going back to 1465 and 1610. Pon District: houses of XVIth and XVIIth with the framings of windows and eye of beef.
Espalungue: castle (private) having belonged to the Aramis musketeer. To discover... House of the National park of the Pyrenees. Guided tours of Laruns in July and August. .
Eaux-Chaudes (alt.675 m) (Common of Laruns)
Thermal spa that is known from the XVI century. During XIXth, one looked after the diseases of the woman there, rheumatisms of old persons and the respiratory tracts of the children. Seven sources spring on the outskirts of the the hydropathic building (sulphuretted, sodic, calcic and silicated).
Saint -Trinité church: Picture of the Flemish school of XVI (crucifixion)
Gabas (alt.1027m) (commune of Laruns) Located on one of the ways towards Saint-Jacob de Compostelle. The pilgrims came to find refuge at the hospice, a building depending on the old Saint-Christine hospital of Somport in Spain. There remains today only the classified vault of XIIth century, Gabas is also known for its salting tubs. To discover... Bious-Artigues Lake to 4 km.

WHILE STROLLING ON THE RIGHT BANK OF THE CRAM OF OSSAU
Louvie-Juzon (alt.420 m)
the commune owes its name to the old presence of wolves (louvie) installed partly downstream of the Valley (Juzon). Old houses of the XVII and XVIIIth centuries. St-Martin church of XVIth centuries: a set of beautiful sculptures on the capitals and keystones, pulpit out of gilded and carved wooden, organ case of XVIIIth (carved painted and gilded wood/MH). Exploited peat bogs and careers. Districts of Pédestarrès and Pédéhourat to the foot of the mountain of Rey.
To discover: Musical Mountain pastures Organized each year (July, August) in the church.
Castet (alt.435 m)
Very pretty village which owes its name to the strong castle built in the XIII century by the lord of Béarn who wished to better control the proud valley. Ossal inhabitants did not want any and it was half destroyed in 1450. There remains the dungeon.
Church Saint-Polycarpe (MH) of Roman origin: apse in half dome and arched nave and classified Altar and altarpieces. Octagonal bell-tower on square basis. The unit is perched on a glacial piton (view-point).
Port of Castet (868 m)
Very beautiful plate, hanging from Bénou facing it (circuit VTT, walks). To discover: The natural space of the Lake of Castet (access by Bielle). ASTE-BÉON
ASTE-BeON
Astel (alt.500 m)
On the frontage of the town hall, associated to that of the village, is the emblem of the Valley: the bear and the cow, symbol of the pastoralism. To note: Port of Aste: the barns of the port were used as intermediate floor between plain and high mountain. The cattle which did not transplant remained there and each hut had its own utility (salting tub, meadows, masonry)
Beon (alt.450 m)
Old stronghold of viscount of Béarn. Manorhouse (domenjadure) of the XVIIIth century. Church Saint Felix (altarpiece and pictures of XVIIIth) Overhanging Béon, the cliff of limestone shelters a colony of vultures. The species, formerly numerous, had practically disappeared on the French massifs. It is protected today. To discover... museographic space of "Cliff to the vultures"
Louvie –Soubiron (alt.600m)
the village is built on a mountainside. Church of Roman origin: stoup and baptistry of XIIth century. The white marble of Louvie, amongst other things, was used for the church of the Madeleine, the statues of the Concorde in Paris, the castles of fontainebleau, Versailless... Hamlet of Listo (hiking road at the beginning of Louvie). The commune has the effect of having a territory extremely extended, being spread out from one valley to another (Valley of Ossau/Valley of Ouzom) until the borders of the High-Pyrenees (District of Eschartès).
Beost (alt. 520m)
Castle (origin XIIth century). The church is of Roman origin, the remainder was altered in XVth, the door (neo-Roman) is of the XVI th. At the interior: apse, and Roman capitals, baroque altarpiece of XVIIIth. Statue of Saint-Jacques out of wooden. Gothic white marble Piéta. The porch represents the 12 apostles around Saint – Jean the Baptist and 4 archangels musicians. Tombs of the laic abbots. Well preserved houses of XVIth, characterized by the presence of baker's oven. Fountain. Beautiful walks towards the hamlet of Bagès, fatherland of the shepherd Pierrine Gaston Sacaze. Laundrette, Sainte-Catherine vault. Guided tours of Béost as well as the castle and the church.
To discover... Course of interpretation of the inheritance in the village
AAS-ASSOUSTE ((Commune of Eaux-Bonnes). Aas (alt.765 m) picturesque Village known for its whistled language. It made it possible to communicate on both sides of the valley of Valentine until a distance of 2.5 km. To note... panoramic point of view on the massif of the peak of Ger (2613 m). Guided tours of Aas.

See also