Page 201 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 18: The Pyrenees: End to End 199

Above left Flowers adding colour to
q St-Béat sound of rushing water. The most con- buildings in Tarascon Above right Colombage
Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrénées; 31440 spicuous building is the town hall with town hall and marketplace in Arreau Below
White marble has been carved out a covered marketplace underneath. View of the château and church of St-Béat
of the sides of the valley at St-Béat Beside it is the magnifi cent 16th-
since Roman times. The ancient century Maison de Lys, with a façade
quarries are still plainly visible on the ornamented with fleur-de-lys motifs.
EAT AND DRINK
right just before visitors reach the ª Go straight through Arreau on the
town. St-Béat is worth a brief stop to D618 and turn left to cross the bridge TARASCONSURARIÈGE
see the castle and the Romanesque over the Neste river. Follow signs onto Hostellerie de la Poste
church, both of which date from the the D929 towards Lannémazan. Turn inexpensive–moderate
12th century. There are also several left onto the D918 for the Col d’Aspin A restaurant with a shady terrace on
old houses picturesquely overhang- (1,490 m/4,889 ft). On the other side the riverbank. Specialities include
ing the Garonne river. of the Col d’Aspin come down to Ste- azinat, the typical stew of the Ariège,
cassoulet and foie gras.
ª Cross the bridge in St-Béat, turn Marie-de-Campan. Turn left, still on
16 avenue Victor Pilhes, 09400; 05 61
right down the main street and follow the D918, towards La Mongie and 05 60 41; www.hostellerieposte.com;
the D44. Go through Marignac and turn the Col du Tourmalet. Park in the closed Mon and Tue lunch
left at the roundabout at Cierp-Gaud middle of the ski resort of La Mongie
BAGNÈRESDELUCHON
onto the D125 to Luchon. to take the cable car up to the Pic du
Midi de Bigorre. Les Caprices d’Étigny inexpensive
w Bagnères-de-Luchon One of several restaurants on Luchon’s
main street, this serves good desserts.
Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrénées; 31110 r Pic du Midi de Bigorre 30 bis Allees d’Étigny, 31110; 05 61
The Romans were the first to make Hautes-Pyrénées, Midi-Pyrénées; 65200 94 31 05; closed Mon, Thu & Sun dinner
use of Luchon’s thermal waters, which At 2,877 m (9,439 ft), this is one of
gush out of the ground at around the most accessible peaks of the
65–72° C (150–160° F) and are rich in Pyrenees. There has been an observa-
sodium sulphate. The first spa of mod- tory on its summit since the late 19th
ern times was built in the late 18th century and this is now reached from
century by Baron d’Étigny, after the skiresort of La Mongie by a cable
whom the main street is named, but car. At the top there is a shop, restau-
most of Luchon’s hand some civic archi- rant and astronomy museum. The
tec ture dates from the town’s heyday view from the various terraces gives
under the Second Empire (1852–70). a good overall impression of the
ª Leave Luchon on the D618 towards highest part of the Pyrenees.
Col de Pèyresourde (1,569 m/5,148 ft). ª Come back to La Mongie on the
Admire views over the Vallée de cable car. Continue on the D918 from
Louron on the way to Arreau. La Mongie and cross the Col de
Tourmalet (2,115 m/6,939 ft). On the
e Arreau way down there is a botanic garden
Hautes-Pyrénées; 65240 growing Pyrenean species. Go through
One of the prettiest towns in the the ski resort of Barèges to reach Luz-St-
Pyrenees, Arreau stands at the conflu- Sauveur. Turn left onto the D921 and
ence of the Aure and Louron rivers drive up the valley towards the Cirque
and visitors are never far from the de Gavarnie via Pont Napoléon.
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40