Page 460 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

6
Sauveterre-de-Béarn Did You Know?
! C6 ⌂ Pyrénées-
Atlan tiques @ n Pl St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Royale; www.tourisme- translates to mean
bearn-gaves.com “at the foot of
the pass”.
An attractive market town,
EXPERIENCE The Pyrénées night’s stay. It has stunning 7
Sauveterre is well worth a
views southward over the
Gave d’Oloron, the graceful
single arch of the fortified
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
bridge over the river, and the
16th-century Château de
! B7 ⌂ Pyrénées-
Nays. Fishermen gather in the
town for the annual salmon-
Général de Gaulle; www.
fishing championships in the
saintjeanpieddeport-pays
fast-flowing Oloron, which Atlantiques £ @ n 14 pl du
basque-tourisme.com
take place from April to July.
Be sure to visit the Château The historic capital of Basse- The junction of the wild
de Laàs, 9 km (6 miles) along Navarre, St-Jean-Pied-de-Port Aspe and Ossau valleys
the D27 from Sauveterre. It lies at the foot of the Ronces- at Oloron-Ste-Marie
has an excellent collection of valles Pass. Here the Basques
18th-century decorative art crushed Charlemagne’s rear
and furniture – most notably guard in 778 and killed its seasons still provide St-Jean
the bed in which Napoléon commander, Roland, who was with its income, entering the
slept the night after his defeat later glorified in the epic narrow streets of the upper
at Waterloo, as well as a fine poem, Chanson de Roland. town on foot from the Porte
display of Aubusson and Throughout the Middle d’Espagne, and passing cafés,
Gobelins tapestries and Ages this red sandstone hotels and restaurants on the
paintings by the Old Masters. fortress town was famous way up. The ramparts are
There is also a pretty park as the last rallying point worth the steep climb, and
with romantic Italian- and before entering Spain on the the citadel has spectacular
English-style gardens. pilgrim route to Santiago de panoramic views. On Mondays
Compostela (p406). Tall booths the town hosts a popular
Château de Laàs were erected next to the craft market and
" ⌂ § 05 59 38 91 53 gates for additional security. Basque pelota
# Hours vary, call ahead Visitors and pilgrims in all matches.

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