www.lourdes-infotourisme.com INDEPENDENT EXPLORING CONTENTS The unique experience that you have enjoyed at Lourdes would not be complete without exploring further afield in the beautiful Pyrenean region. Whether you’re travelling in a group, as a couple or en famille, in this brochure we suggest various trips you can combine by car to put together your own unforgettable holiday. BROCHURE THEME 1: CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE 01 - Gouffre d’Esparros cave and the altarpieces in the churches of Haut Adour (half day or full day) 02 - It’s a miracle! The Sanctuary of Notre Dame de Bétharram (half day) 03 - The Life of Bernadette: Lourdes and Bartrès (half day) 04 - From Garaison to Escaladieu: spiritual wonders in sacred places (full day) 05 - The treasures of Val d’Azun and Saint Savin (full day) 06 - A day’s jaunt to Tarbes (full day) THEME 2: GREAT TOURIST SITES 01 - Bétharram Caverns: Journey to the centre of the Earth (half day) 02 - Meet the stars of the show: Pic du Midi - Gavarnie - Cauterets (3 days) THEME 3: LOCAL FLAVOUR 01 - Good King Henry’s country: Jurançon wines and the Château de Pau (full day) THÈME 4 : LOURDES 01 - The other side of Lourdes: a lovely day exploring the town on foot (full day) www.lourdes-infotourisme.com INDEPENDENT EXPLORING GOUFFRE D’ESPARROS CAVE CULTURAL & SPIRITUAL & THE ALTARPIECES IN THE HERITAGE CHURCHES OF HAUT ADOUR TOUR SHEET 01 THEME 1 Beaudéan - Church of St Martin © OT Lourdes DURATION 1/2 DAY Settled in turn by the Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Cathars, the Pyrenees have OR FULL DAY witnessed a fascinating religious history. And even after Christianity took hold, MORNING - 60 KM mythology and folklore remained part of the mix. Churches, chapels and religious art ESPARROS - are part of any visit to Hautes-Pyrénées, and this tour is packed with religious interest. SARRANCOLIN This tour takes you through the generations of sculptors – the fa- altarpiece with columns deco- + AFTERNOON little-known countryside of the mous Ferrère family – knew only rated with winding vegetation. 74 KM OR 67 KM Baronnies, starting with the won- too well. The triptych is formed by two sta- CAMPAN - VIA der of nature that is the Gouffre tues flanking the central painting. BAGNÈRES-DE-BIGORRE d’Esparros cavern, a treasure At a time when fashionable Paris OR VIA THE COL D’ASPIN trove of stalactites, stalagmites, was a world away from this litt- The next stop comes in the - BEAUDÉAN - ASTE crystals and concretions in a le Pyrenean idyll, Jean Ferrère, neighbouring village of Beaudéan. - POUZAC - LOURDES mineral wonderland. known as Jean I, began to carve Here, Marc Ferrère’s stunning sought-after Baroque works of work is in evidence in the 16th cen- The next stop en route is the art. In 1647 he built a new studio, tury Church of St Martin. Further ITINERARY village of Sarrancolin. Nestling from where he produced stunning down the valley, in the village of 9.00 AM in the heart of this little fortified works to decorate the churches Asté, you’ll find La Maison des Leave Lourdes for Esparros medieval town is the Church of St of his valley. Later, his son Marc Ferrère et du Baroque Pyrénéen, Ebons, built in the 11th and 12th was to take over. The churches on the site of the family’s art stu- 10.00 AM centuries, boasting a distinctive and chapels here, sometimes dio. Here, you can also see the Arrive at Esparros Greek-cross plan, imposing square austere-looking on the outside, Church of St Saturnin, which Visit the Gouffre d’Esparros bell tower and 15th century choir. are home to countless Ferrère contains works by Jean II. In the 11.00 AM treasures including altarpieces, 18th century this little Pyrenean Leave for Sarrancolin You then continue over the tabernacles, pulpits and lecterns. village was a centre for the arts, 11.30 AM Col d’Aspin mountain pass and Later, Marc’s two sons Jean II and home to carpenters, sculptors, Arrive at Sarrancolin on via Arreau, descending the Dominique continued the skilled gilders and more, artists whose See the Church of St Ebons, Campan Valley. (Alternatively, family tradition, innovating by work won fame far beyond the followed by lunch in one of the you can return to Lourdes via inlaying marble in their exquisi- borders of Bigorre. From here village restaurants Bagnères-de-Bigorre.) tely carved wooden objects and you head back to Lourdes, pas- 1.30 PM magnificent canopies. This route sing through Bagnères-de-Bigorre Leave for Campan From here, return to Lourdes or through the upper Adour Valley and stopping off in the village of complete the full-day tour to see takes you on a tour of discovery Pouzac to admire the work of the 2.30 PM Arrive at Campan the altarpieces in the churches of of their work. dynasty’s founder Jean I in the See the village and church Haut Adour. Church of St Saturnin. The mo- Campan, nestling below the slopes numental 17th century Baroque 3.30 PM Arrive at Beaudéan From its source in the Bigourdan of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, is altarpiece under a wooden vault See the church region’s Campan Valley, the River home to three churches. Two are representing the starry heavens is Adour runs all the way to the listed as Historical Monuments, awe-inspiring. 4.00 PM Arrive at Asté River Nive at Bayonne. Like the and it is the oldest of them that Visit La Maison des Ferrère other Pyrenean valleys, places of contains the most stunning works et du Baroque Pyrénéen Christian worship abound here, by Marc Ferrère. Since 1700, the and see the church with chapels, churches, wayside Church of St John the Baptist of 5.15 PM shrines and mountainside pietàs Campan, built in the 16th century, Arrive at Pouzac everywhere you look. As three has contained a gilded Baroque See the Church of St Saturnin 6.30 PM Return to Lourdes Ibos Tarbes Monléon-Magnoac INDEPENDENT EXPLORING CULTURALLestelle-Bétharram Bartrès Montgaillard Escaladieu Montrejeau & SPIRITUAL 1 Lourdes 7 Bonnemazon HERITAGE 8 Pouzac TOURRéserve SHEET Naturelle Régionale du massif Asté 6 de Pibeste 2 5 Beaudéan Esparros Argelès-Gazost 01 Arras-en- THEME 1 Lavedan Campan Saint-Savin 4 3 Pierrette Sarrancolin Nestalas Arrens- Marsous Estaing Col d’Aspin Arreau MORNING Luz- AFTERNOON Col du OPENING TIMES Cauterets Saint- Sers Tourmalet > Open from 1 June to 14 July and 15 Lourdes > Esparros 46 km SauveurSarrancolin > Campan 43 km Esparros > Sarrancolin 14 km OR Sarrancolin > Arreau > Col d’Aspin August to 30 September on Wednesdays and bus and car parking available in the villages > Campan 36 km Sundays from 1pm to 6pm. Réserve Naturelle Saint-Lary Col de Col du Parc National Campan > Beaudéan 2 Nationalekm > Open from 14 July to 15 August WednesdayPeyresourde Pourtalet GOUFFRE D’ESPARROSdes Pyrénées CAVE Beaudéan > Asté 2 kmdu Néouvielle to Sunday, from 1pm to 6pm. Col du INFORMATION Asté > Pouzac 7 km Guided tours of the churches of the Haute Pouzac > Lourdes 20 km Portillon 65130 ESPARROS Gèdre Bigorre regionCol de areVal available in July, August Bagnères- Tel.: +33 (0)5 62 39 11 80 Fabian and theLouron-Azet fi rst two weeks of September fromde-Luchon Bossost Website: gouffre-esparros.fr CAMPAN 3pm. Tours are organised by La Maison des Ferrère et du Baroque Pyrénéen. Visit duration: 1hour / Temperature:Gavarnie 13° INFORMATION > Church of St John the Baptist at Campan Bookings and enquiries on + 33 (0)5 62 91 61 28 OPENING TIMES open daily from 10am to 6.30pm 2019 admission: €5.00. > 1 June to 30 September: daily, from Viella 10am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm. BEAUDÉAN > French school holidays: from 10am POUZAC Hospital CHURCH OF ST MARTIN de Benasque to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5pm. INFORMATION > October, February, March and April: INFORMATION > Church of St Saturnin Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays ParcThe National keys are d’Ordesa available from MAISON LARREY Contact "Maison des frères Ferrère et du baroque Biescas et Mont-Perdu from 10am to 12pm and 1.30pmTorla to 5pm, 11 rue Larrey - 65 710 Beaudéan Pyrénéen" for admission. Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 5pm. +33 (0)5 62 91 68 98 Tel.: +33 (0)5 62 91 61 28 > May : Saturdays, Sundays and public Benasque holidays from 10am to 12pm and 1.30pm OPENING TIMES Parc National > Tella d’Aigüestortes to 5.30pm. Every weekday from 1.30pm 14 July to 15 August open daily except et lac St-Maurice to 5.30pm. Tuesdays from 2pm to 6pm Jaca > Janurary : Saturdays and Sundays from > 1 June to 13 July and 16 August to 31 2pm to 5pm for individuals. Wednesday September open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1pm to 6pmPuyarruego Sabinanigo to Sunday for groups, by arrangement. > Castejon de Sos Coll de 1 November to 31 May open Thursdays, Fades Booking is strongly advised all year and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Coll essential in June, July and August. 1pm to 6pm Escalona Saint Jean d’Erbera de la Pena > Annual closing in October 2019 ADMISSION > Adults : €10 > Children (4-12 years): €6.50; (13-17years): €7 > Families (2 adults ASTÉ Ainsa and 2 children): €27 (additional child €6) MAISON DES FERRÈRE ET DU BAROQUE PYRÉNÉEN SARRANCOLIN Beaudéan Church INFORMATION Campo© Maison des frères Ferrère INFORMATION 16, rue de l’église - 65200 ASTÉ Church of St Ebons Tel.: +33 (0)5 62 91 61 28 Open daily from 9am to 6pm www.lourdes-infotourisme.com INDEPENDENT EXPLORING IT’S A MIRACLE! THE CULTURAL & SPIRITUAL SANCTUARY OF NOTRE HERITAGE DAME DE BÉTHARRAM TOUR SHEET 02 THEME 1 Sanctuary of Notre Dame de Bétharram © Shutterstock DURATION 1/2 DAY Lestelle-Bétharram, on the Gave de Pau River a short drive from Lourdes, is an DISTANCE essential stop on the Pyrenean Foothills route of St James’s Way pilgrimage trail (the 32 KM RETURN TRIP GR78).