Vielle-aure

A narrow road with mountainside crosses picturesque small villages. At every moment, it offers very beautiful panoramas on the Valley. As many places where you begin to dream of a lifestyle in total symbiosis with nature, rythm by the whims of the sun and the movement of the seasons.

Valley of Moudang (1350 m)

• One of curiosities of the Valley resides in the villages of open barns, out of stone located in the middle of meadows of mowing or mountain pastures, in altitude. On the plate of Moudang, a dozen barns are occupied by the shepherds. Most remarkable are undoubtedly the Valley of Campran (1132m), that of Lurgues above Aulon and that of Lias (1230m) above Vignec.

The Valley of Rioumajou:

• To 3.5 km, of Saint-Lary, turn left towards the picturesque village of Tramezaïgues. The road is narrow but good untilthe barns of Frédancon. It finishes with the old people's home of Rioumajou in a circus of pastures and forests. It accomodated the travellers and the pilgrims on the way of Compostelle. Formerly exchanges with Spain were done by this long valley.

Barns of Grascouéou:

• It is a whole of a score of barns located at 1400 - 1500 m of altitude above Vieille-Aure, in edge of the communal pasturages. The herds of Vieille-Aure grazed in Grascouéou in spring, the end of the summer and in autumn, after having spent the beautiful season in the high pastures of Oule and Néouvielle (2200 m of altitude).

The Circus of Barroude

• A rather particular site, impressive. It is a great wall that the “old hand” call “l' back of the circus of Troumouse”. This 3 km long peak undulates in top of an imposing wall from 5 to 600 m of the base at the top.

 It is an area of high summits and 70 lakes of altitude accessible by the road. The latter are famous for their beauty (Aubert, Aumar, Cape length, Oule). Here, you can randonner or to walk in family or quite simply to admire nature. To know the secret world of the mountain and the perfume d' venture which in releases, it is necessary to accept a certain effort, that you can “proportion”.

The Lake Cap de Long (2161m):

• The landscape which the frame is very characteristic of the Pyrenean high mountain. The peaks which dominate the site: Turon of Néouvielle (3035m), the Three-Advisers (3039m), Néouvielle (3091 m), Ramougn (3011 m).

The lake of Orédon:

• The lake spreads out its water of a dark blue framed of forests in a site more human than that of Cape de Long.

The Lake Bastan:

• You can reach it on the basis of the Collar of Portet of the station of Saint-Lary and to follow the G.R 10.

The lakes of Aumar and Aubert:

• Lake of Orédon, a recent road goes up to the two lakes, dominated by the high mountain of Néouvielle: splendid landscape. To preserve the forest the fragile and rare gasolines, a regulation of circulation is installation for the summer.

It covers 45.700 ha where are protected from the animals like the isards, gypaètes, vultures, marmots and of course the brown bear. You should not especially forget the very varied flora, such as the lily of the Pyrenees, the ramondia, the pines with hook which represent the highest forest of Europe. An exceptional inheritance which you must discover according to your rhythm and up to 3298 m of altitude.

The National park tightens you the hand, with its traced paths and its refuges. You equip, put bag at the back and you will know a new love of life perhaps which you do not suspect…

The Village: at 800 m of altitude, Vielle-Aure place chief of canton, extends quietly at the edge of Neste of Aure. The heart of the village is an authentic whole of houses auroises 17th and 18th, sheltering a classified Romance church. Located in the middle of the Valley of Aure, near to the ski stations in Saint-Lary (thermal spa) and Piau-Engaly, not far from the border Spanish, Vielle-Aure, small district rural, knew to reconcile its agricultural vocation harmoniously and to open with tourism.

In addition to its architectural richness, Vielle-Aure is on the route of the GR. 10, which connects it to the West with the Natural reserve of Néouvielle (altitude 1800 m) splendid landscape of high mountain which is reflected in its lakes (Aumar, Aubert, Port-Beilh, Bastan…)

The East, this route makes it possible to join other authentic villages of the canton: Bourisp, Sailhan, Estensan, Azet for finally carrying on its road towards the valley of Louron.

In the same way, for the greatest happiness of the pilgrims, the path of the ways of Saint-Jacob passes by the village to join Spain. History and leisures go hand in hand.

It is only to add a true good being to the foot of the high mountains, at the edge of the river….

• Church of Vielle-Aure

Dedicated to Saint-Barthélémy, it was built with the XII° century. With its bell-tower with bays with three posts, surmounted of an arrow of the XVII° which refines its silhouette, it constitutes one of the purest jewels of l' Romanesque art.

At the bottom, vis-a-vis the left pillar, a scallop was carved on the interior wall recalling that this building is on the way of Saint-Jacob de Compostelle.

One locates the fresco of the chorus (click) at the XIV° century, was discovered in 1951-52, was restored in 1969. Painting covers the triumphal arch, the half dome and the walls of the apse. It represents Sainte Catherine of Alexandria, Saint-Christophe, Adoration of the Magi, Apôtre, Tétramorphe, Christ judges.

• Saint-Anthony vault

Romance vault built to the XI, XII° century. It has more the aspect outside a defensive tiny room than of a house of prayer. Simple and sincere, robust and serious, it reigns there a mystical and tepid environment where the heart and the body can rest in meditation. It depended on an old people's home pertaining to Hospital of saint-Jean-of-Jerusalem.

• Vault of Agos

According to the Marsan abbot, the Saint-Anthony vault would have been built for the family of Devèze, one of most important of Magnoac. The term is recent. The keystone carries the date 1551. It is a small vault with single nave and semicircular apse, arched warheads. The pinnacle is on the Western pinion.