This 250 km (4.5 hours) itinerary on the foothills of the Pyrenees will allow you to discover a hinterland full of valleys, straddling the departments of the Hautes-Pyrénées, the Haute-Garonne and the Gers. Among the highlights of this tour, we would like to highlight the small town of Mauvezin with its castle and the Escaladieu abbey, in the superb Arros valley, the Save gorges, between Montmaurin and Lespugue, the Gallo-Roman villa of Montmaurin and the view of the Pyrenean range from Puntous de Laguian. Between the two ends of this nature trail, take the time to stop in small villages that have remained authentic, such as Saramon, Simorre or Miélan.
There are 4 tourist stops on this route. You are free to stay for a few minutes or a few hours.
- Valmirande castle (*)
- Mauvezin castle (*)
- Escaladieu abbey (*)
(*)Please check the opening hours and booking possibilities.
1. Valmirande castle: Only 24 years old but having inherited his mother's immense fortune from the Pillet-Will bankers, Bertrand de Lassus had an extravagant and sumptuous neo-Renaissance building built in Montréjeau from 1892 onwards, with its chapel, large flowerbeds and a park.
2. Mauvezin castle: The castle of Mauvezin dominates the entire Toulouse-Bayonne route from its crenellated keep. The inner courtyard is a perfect example of medieval military architecture, in which replicas of war machines are displayed. A guide in period costume accompanies and captivates visitors on the history of the castle.
3. Escaladieu abbey: Daughter of the Cistercian abbey of Morimond, the Escaladieu abbey was founded around 1140 at the confluence of the Arros and Luz rivers. Its architecture is in perfect harmony with the precepts of the order: simplicity and sobriety. The magic and purity of the place are an invitation to serenity and travel.