Here, history comes to life at the bend of a medieval alley, ancient remains, small Romanesque churches or even an exceptional basilica crossed on the road to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.
The Pyrenean foothills are steeped in history, they can be told and discovered in all circumstances, in all seasons!
“Ready for a road trip at the foot of the Pyrenees?”
Coming out of the A64 motorway, the eyes are always drawn to the high Pyrenean peaks, yet in the foreground, appear the foothills of our high mountains ⛰️ If you are lucky enough to arrive there one morning at dawn or at dawn. sunset time, observe the lights, the nuances of colors: pink and orange in the morning, bluish in the evening. It is a real work of watercolor 🎨
To fully understand the foothills of the Pyrenees 31, we need to explain it to you without fuss 🗣 During the last ice age, the glacier covered the entire Garonne valley as far as Labroquère. The ice sheet covering the villages of Frontignes is estimated at around 100m, and up to 1000m thick in Luchon 🧊
Today, the pretty glacial lakes of Barbazan and Saint-Pé d’Ardet remain from this period, which are part of a wild and unspoiled site 🌿 that we naturally advise you to discover without further delay …
The frontignes: a natural detour that is worth a look!
These are nine very small towns 🏘️ which are nestled in lush greenery, a little paradise on the right bank of the Garonne 💧
More secret and unknown than the classics of Saint-Bertrand ⛪ Saint-Gaudens 🏭 or Saint-Béat, the Frontignes are a balcony on the Pyrenees ⛰️ which reserve of astonishing discoveries. These small villages 🏘️ and their many houses with typical architecture of the XIXth century give a very particular character to the Pyrenean foothills. Did you know that the owners of these buildings were hawkers who were lucky enough to make a fortune in America … 🇺🇸 ?
Extend your discovery of Piedmont by taking the GR78 🚶♀️ in the footsteps of pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela. The 13th stage of the Pyrenean Piedmont going from Moncaup to Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges does indeed pass by us 😉
On the way 🚶♂️ you will discover Antichan de Frontignes , its Bastion and its orientation table 👁️ at the foot of the Col des Ares, just in front of the Pic du Gar ⛰️
We also invite you to stop at Saint-Pé d’Ardet which has a remarkable natural and historical heritage: his lake 💧 with perfectly preserved flora and fauna 🌻, his 11th century Saint-Pierre church decorated with 15th century frescoes and his 18th century washhouse.
And finally, do not leave without seeing Génos with its small Romanesque Saint-Roch church ⛪ proudly built on a mound in the center of the village , one of the oldest and most charming in the region.
“Do you know the Mont Saint-Michel in the Pyrenees?”
If there is one site that you cannot miss during your stay with us, it is the village of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges ⛪ And for good reason, located on a hill, in front of the Barousse valley, we only see him 🔎
When you arrive, you will come face to face with the ancient city which is located at the foot of the hill. There are several Gallo-Roman remains: the center of the old square, the thermal baths, the forum, the military camp and a little higher up, the theater. Going up towards the village, you will cross one of the 3 gates of the medieval city 🏰
Strolling through the streets, you can only come across the jewel of this city: the Sainte-Marie cathedral whose architecture is at the crossroads of three influences: Romanesque, Gothic and finally Renaissance ✝️ The cloister, as if suspended from the hill , is undoubtedly the best place to meditate in peace and serenity 🔇
Do not deprive yourself of it 😉
Also remember to take a little tour of the Olivétains which welcome visitors. It is a former convent 🙏🏻 which offers very beautiful temporary exhibitions in the “Fosse aux ours”. For the more readers among you, a bookstore focused on History, Pyreneanism, hiking and Art history is particularly well supplied 📚
We also advise you not to forget the charming Romanesque basilica of Saint-Just in Valcabrère ⛪ which is located a few hundred meters from Saint-Bertrand. Just the sight of this building, lost all by itself in the middle of the meadows 🐄 and its magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, is well worth the detour! 🤎
