Arreau

Arreau is a very beautiful mountain village of Bigorre. Its many attractions make of it the natural destination for a tourist halt.

The charm of the old houses and the monuments is raised by the two rivers with waters running which cross Arreau. Lastly, the Pyrenees complete this decoration of postcard harmoniously.

Beyond the interest of the village, the neighbourhoods are also remarkable, with natural reserve of Aulon. The sportsmen will appreciate the possibilities of excursions and practice of extreme sports.

Lastly, several ski stations propose fields adapted to the ski touring, the skiing on piste and the other sliding sports modern.

Arreau, at 700 meters high, is situated at the foot of the Pyrenees, not far from the top of Arbizon which culminates at 2830 meters. This is here Where the valleys of Aure and Louron open and that meet their two rivers, Neste of Aure and Neste of Louron.

The village, rather tourist, proposes a pleasant and interesting walk in its old streets and along the banks of Nestes. Several monuments interesting to discover punctuate the visit. The together is well maintained, and of many explanatory signs the visitors guide.

You will begin your course on the principal place in front of the town hall. The building is enough pimpant, with its proud pinnacle which supervises the village.

You leave the places by borrowing the " large rue" who leads to the Notre-Dame church. On the way we can admire the typical attic windows on the roofs. After a blow-d' eye on the place d' or we come, we take again our walk.

You arrive now on a small place where is drawn up a massive tower. It is the bell-tower of the Notre-Dame church, at the bottom of the gate of the entry. You will see the door to reach the interior of the monument. You pass now behind the bedside of the church to direct us towards Neste de Louron and the beautiful walk along its banks.

• Neste of Louron

The small district behind the Notre-Dame church comprises some beautiful half-timbered houses. You arrive at the street of the mills, which skirts a small low wall before arriving at the river.

You pass then on the another bank thanks to a small footbridge pedestrian.

• The Ségure castle and the small artificial lake

Low in the street, we arrive at the level of the principal bridge which joined the place of the town hall. Facing the bridge, a way thus leads to a general point of view on the village with the flying of the eagles of Aure.

Downwards, a calm artificial lake separated from Neste by a small way of walk.

Facing the artificial lake, the tower of the Ségure castle. The latter is unfortunately covered by an aesthetic rough coat grisâtre not very. The space around the artificial lake is a small haven of peace. A bench makes it possible to rest by appreciating the refreshing rustle of the brook.

• The vault Saint Éxupère 

You arrive on the small place in front of a vault. In spite of its name, the vault Saint Éxupère is a monument is rather imposing.

The panel at the entry of the building tells us the legend of Saint Exupère, character epic of the village. The vault is today a stage on the pilgrimage towards Saint Jacques de Compostelle.

• The castle of Nestes

The castle of Nestes (beginning XVIIth century), since it is presented in the form of a building all in length crossed in its center by a tower square. Offices of the tourist office is in the left wing.

This building was used to protect the sanctuary. The tower of the center was used a time as astronomical observatory.

Just at side, a wooden building is opened with the visit. It is a beating saw (XVIIIth century), in remembering the sawmills of antan. Indeed, the village had a very important industry of wood with a score of sawmills, until the XIXth century.

The GR105 passes in Arreau.
Many sports of mountain are possible in the Pyrenees in the neighbourhoods:

• Excursions in natural reserve of Aulon (many courses since Aulon or Vielle Aure, with ten kilometers).
• VTT or bicycle, some of the collars in the neighbourhoods were made famous for the turn of France (collar of Azet-Louron, collar of Peyresourde and collar of Aspin, all three with less 15km of the village).
• Close to Guchan, approximately 10 km in the south, the small port of Bazus-Aure is devoted to the sports of the running water.
• Parapente