Les Hautes-Pyrénnées, de Lourdes à l’observatoire du Pic du Midi – Les 100 lieux qu’il faut voir

Les Hautes-Pyrénnées, de Lourdes à l’observatoire du Pic du Midi – Les 100 lieux qu’il faut voir

Do you like France? Do you like to explore it,
discover it, and meet it? Sometimes you even
feel like you know her well. We all have a small beach,
a small cove, a clearing, a hamlet or a path that belongs
only to us, far from the beaten track and that we only want to share with
those we love. This is the France we want
you to discover through 100 places that you absolutely must see in your lifetime.
Today, we invite you to explore the Hautes-Pyrénées,
a department where the inhabitants are proud of their land, their
traditions and their culture. During this trip,
you will discover a unique astronomical observatory,
perched at an altitude of over 2,800 meters. Oh yes, well, here you are on one of the most
beautiful viewpoints in the Pyrenees. It’s just magic. Then you will head to the Pyrenees National Park
, to discover one of the most
spectacular sites in the department. With a light wind stirring the water
on the surface and the sun sparkling on the waves. Oh my, it’s really too beautiful. Finally, you will live a mystical experience
in the heart of the largest religious sanctuary in France. So already, it is one of the
largest churches in the world. It is a technical feat. We will of course undertake this journey in the company
of authentic Pyrenees . Thanks to them, you will dive
into a sometimes unexpected department. To
begin your walk in the high Pyrenees,
we will show you one of the prettiest villages which shelters the
landscapes of the Vallée d’Or and Louron. Situated at an altitude of 700 metres,
the small village of Arrault has managed to preserve its picturesque character as well
as numerous vestiges from its rich past. To guide us on this walk,
we will follow in the footsteps of Bastien, a local guy in love with his region
and a well-known athlete in the Pyrenees. In 2017,
he won the World Speed ​​Skiing Championship, becoming
the pride of his department. Let’s follow Bastien to the heart
of this charming village. Nestled in the hollow of a valley,
Arreau brings joy to its 800 or so inhabitants, including Félix. This seasoned fisherman is
well known to everyone here. Hi Felix. I’m fine, sir.
Well, it’s okay. How are you ? I’m trying to catch a nice
little brown trout. And there, it’s a little difficult,
but hey, I despair of you. I guess you came for
something other than to encourage me to fish. I could,
to see the village a little too. We’re going to go for a walk. I take the cane back and we go. Located at the confluence of the Deux-Rivières,
the Nestes d’Or and the Louron, the village of Aroues is
constantly rocked by the sound of water coming from the surrounding mountains. In a Harault, there is the term water. So, Harault is inseparable from water. And water, here,
was also the wealth of the town, since at a certain time,
economically, there were mills almost every 100
meters on these waterways. We don’t have any more now? Oh no, they gradually disappeared. This is modern evolution. A village of passage and commerce,
Harault has long benefited economically from its privileged location. The prosperity of this former
local capital left the town with a rich heritage. So here, Felix, we are
in the historic heart of the village. Here we are in front of the Town Hall,
which is an old building since it existed in a wooden version
from the 16th century, apparently. And then in 1932 it was redone
with a more solid architecture. With its exterior walls decorated
with faux timber framing, this pretty town hall echoes the style
of many typical houses in the Vallée d’Or. Let’s continue our visit. A few meters away,
on the main street, you cannot miss this
Gothic building, listed as a historic monument. We are in front of the most famous house
in Arrault, which has the characteristic of having
a base made of grey marble from the Pyrenees. It dates from the 16th century. It was a family who were notables
of Arrault, who had this work built in gratitude
to the King of France, Louis XI. After receiving their letters of nobility,
the wealthy owners of this house wanted to pay homage to the monarch. So, what could be better than a facade
entirely decorated with fleurs-de-lis, the symbol of French royalty? It’s something we’re
not used to seeing. It’s quite extraordinary to still have
a vestige of that era today. Quite. And that’s why it’s very popular. And then, it’s a house
that hasn’t aged a day. Let’s leave Harault and the charm of these
old houses and continue our walk in the Or and Louron valleys. Every summer, as soon as the vegetation is
suitable, the shepherds take hundreds of herds
to the mountain pastures. More commonly known as transhumance,
it arouses the curiosity of many visitors every year. If you would like to learn a little more
about the shepherd’s profession, then we invite you to push open
the door of this farm which overlooks the Campan valley. It belongs to high
mountain shepherds, lovers of wide open spaces and passionate about their activity.
Hi Yann. Hi Bastien.
Welcome to you. How are you ?
Welcome to summer life. I’m finishing
the shark in September. This is the second shoot of the year. We went snooping this summer. Then what remains
is a little richer for the animals since on the farm, we raise bremis. It’s been 10 years since Yann and his colleague
Cédric left the hustle and bustle of the city to take over this
traditional high mountain farm. But running a farm
at altitude is not easy. I suggest we bring in
a little hay together. I’ll show you how to load the steel. The cierré is the large canvas bag
used to make hay bales. In sloping landscapes,
it is the only way to transport the sheep’s meal to the sheepfold. How long do they have enough to eat? There ?
Not long. Because there are 200 sheep
to feed every day. It’s 600 kilos of hay
that needs to be distributed in winter. Each hay bale can hold
up to 80 kilos of hay. And the real difficulty in this exercise
is being able to carry it on your shoulders.
Do you want to try it or not? I’m here for that.
I’ll give it a try. Go ahead. You try, so you take it and then
you flip. Stage fright, perfect.
You put it in the axis and it’s good. I don’t know if I can hold you. You have to
find your center of gravity. It’s good.
You got it, let’s go. So you’re the one who’s going to wear this one
. Bastien can consider himself lucky
to only have one journey to make. Each year,
our shepherds can transport and store up to 100 bales
of hay to feed their flock. That’s almost 8 tons,
just by back strength. Do you feel like climbing the ladder?
Like this, there? Yeah. Are
you holding it? Yeah. There you go, perfect. THANKS. Thanks Bastien for the helping hand.
It was trying. While you’re still feeling it, I suggest
we go and get the sheep together. We’ll take the dog.
Lut, come to the foot, come. Come on, let’s go. Of
the 200 animals that make up their herd, more than three
quarters have gone to the summer pastures. The
replacement lambs, still too young for the mountain pastures, remain on the farm. There is a particular breed
that fits something. So there, the whole herd that we have
in front of us, with the exception of one animal, is a whole local breed,
Aure and Campagne, like the Aure valley, Aareau, okay, and Campagne,
where we are. So, in this breed, we have
black sheep and white sheep. You see, it’s quite slender,
it’s thin, and so it’s very well suited to very steep slopes. You will find them on the cliffs
in the high mountains, at 3,000 meters. Although rustic,
this animal has fragile skin. So, for mowing or care, it
is better to be agile to be able to catch them. It remains to be seen whether Bastien will be able to reproduce
this surprising judo hold. Are you trying?
Come on. Come on, go ahead.
Okay. Like that.
Go ahead, all at once. And you sit him down. Oh, beautiful. Okay, you have the first
level of the orchard there. I’ll go get the lawnmower.
Hold her. Being a high mountain breeder
means devoting yourself seven days a week and three days a year to your animals. This is why Yann and Cédric
chose to open their farm to the public. A fun and friendly way
to pass on their knowledge and share their exciting profession. Let’s leave the Vallée d’Or and Louron
and climb to one of the most
majestic peaks in the Pyrenees. Perched on its mountain at an altitude of 2,877 meters , the Pic du Midi Observatory is a true emblem here in Bigorre. Since 1890, this monument has been entirely dedicated to the study of the sun, planets and stars. It was at La Mongie,
at the foot of the cable car, that Nicolas, geographer and site manager,
arranged to meet Bastien. Hi Nico.
Hi Bastien. We are going to discover this famous Pic du Midi. Come on, let’s go. While today
it only takes 15 minutes to reach the Peak, at the end of the 19th century
the climb was much less easy. This did not, however, discourage
a handful of crazy savers from their plan to build a weather station there
using porters and mules. It was not until 1952 that the first
cable car was inaugurated. Long reserved for scientists,
this site is now accessible to the general public. And there you have it, Mr. Dernot,
welcome to the Pic du Midi. Have a good visit, it’s good. THANKS. And what tourists want to see
first and foremost when they arrive at the Observatory
is the panoramic view that these terraces offer of the mountains. I’ve been coming to the Pic very regularly since
I was little, but it’s still just as exceptional. The panorama is incredible. Oh yes, well here you are on one of the most
beautiful viewpoints in the Pyrenees. It’s just magic. How is it possible to have
such an impressive structure around a mountain? So, indeed, here
we have a truly gigantic building. In a few figures, the Pic
is almost a hectare of floor space. There are more than 12 levels, including
the inter-ministerial building and its large antenna.
And we have more than 4 kilometers of galleries. So, it’s really a
huge infrastructure. It is a fascinating place. I often tend to say
that it’s a Jules Verne place. It is a place of epics,
adventures, and science. It’s almost futuristic. And if we’re going to talk about science,
there’s one who will tell you about it much better than me, it’s Eric Josselin,
whom I invite you to go and find under his dome, at the Bernard-Lyon telescope.
Great. Thanks anyway.
With pleasure. See you soon.
Enjoy your visit. Charles Gai,
a legendary observatory steeped in history, is still a major center
of scientific research today. Since it opened to the public in 2000,
it has even been possible to visit part of its backstage. Scientific Director of the Observatory,
Eric, who studies the magnetism of stars using the gigantic
Bernard-Lyau telescope, a must-see here at the Pic. Hi Eric. Hi Bastien. Welcome to the Pic du Midi Observatory
and the Bernard-Lyau telescope in particular. He is very impressive. So, the highest telescope on
French soil, since we are at almost 2,900 meters above sea level, the largest too,
a little over two meters. So, if we are under the mirror,
so two meters in diameter, the mirror is – Under this
metal thing which is a mirror. Exactly. It is a large block of glass that is
covered with a layer of aluminum. You see, all the light collected
through this 2-meter mirror is concentrated inside this
optical fiber which will therefore carry all the light collected through
the mount to level 1 where the instrument is located which will record
and analyze the light collected on the stars. Monitored 24 hours a day using
this small camera, the Bernard Lyault telescope is controlled
remotely in a room located a few floors below. Here we arrive at the secret room.
So. So this is where everything
is done during the night. So this is the control room with
the telescope cockpit The data acquisition station. And you see here, there is a spectrum. So, for us, a star
looks like this. So, light decomposed
with a kind of bar code. Okay, so one star for you, is that it? A star for us, that’s it. Threatened with closure at the end of the
1990s, the Observatory,
until then reserved for research, was partly saved by its
opening to the general public. Thus, for more than 20 years,
scientists and visitors have coexisted in this extraordinary building. A unique place in France that we
highly recommend you visit. The Hautes-Pyrénées certainly possess many riches. For your next stop,
we suggest you stop in a small town
with undeniable charm. Welcome to Cauterets. Situated at an altitude of 950 metres,
Cauterets is the perfect combination of a small mountain town and a
village with a city feel. Welcoming nearly 6,000 spa guests each
year, it is one of the most renowned spa resorts in the Hautes-Pyrénées. Of Chilean origin, Hortense is very
attached to her adopted department. She will be the one to accompany us
on this new escapade. To begin this walk in
Cauterets, she called on Mathieu. Hi Mathieu.
Hi Hortense. An employee at the tourist office, he is
inexhaustible on the history of this village. Head to the Esplanade des Eux,
a place steeped in history. This place is very pretty. So yes, here we are really
in a very typical square in Cauterets. And before, in the 1900s,
when thermal spas were really booming in Cauterets, there
were all kinds of activities and all kinds of leisure activities there. There was even a casino,
there was a kiosk, there were musicians,
there were bear trainers, everything. We really feel like we have
a mini Parisian square set up in the heart of Cauterets. Quite. Here, the Espanade was
built in several parts. There is obviously this colossal building
which was the central part of the thermal baths in Cauterets at the time. We are here in the 19th century. And on top of that,
if you know that the whole gallery that is there was actually the side door
of the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900 and that was built by Baltard. And then, on top of that, if you like,
at the time, in the 19th century, all of Paris came there. He came here on holiday,
both to enjoy the waters of Cauterets, since it was truly the
spa town of choice at the time. And besides, famous actresses
of the time like Sarah Bernhardt came here to enjoy the waters,
but also the mountains. The history and development
of Cauterets are closely linked to the richness of the
water sources which have made its reputation. Built in 1844,
the building to which Matthieu takes us bears witness to this golden age of thermalism. We have just left Est-cePlanet,
which reminded me of Paris, to arrive in Rome. So absolutely, you are right. It’s true that between the columns
and the peephole at the top, it’s very reminiscent of a Roman temple. But despite his name,
Caesar never actually came here. But on the other hand, here
is the Neothermal Center. And then, right next to us, here,
we have the other center which is historic, which is now a thermal spa. But before, it was
the children’s pavilion. So, there was also a specialty
in Cauterets which was treating children. So why do spa guests
mainly come to Cauterets? First, because it’s beautiful. Obviously, we are
in the middle of the mountain. And then, on top of that,
it has been recognized for a very, very, very long time, since
the Romans were already coming here. Besides, the historical sources are
just above Caesar’s baths. And so, suddenly, this thermalism
developed enormously. And the quality of the water,
and that made it possible to welcome a lot of people to Cauterets. At the end of the 19th century, Cauterets attracted
ever-increasing numbers of spa visitors. At that time,
an electric tramway transported them to the center
of the village, with a unique building as its terminus. So, Hortense, listen,
we’re at Cauterets station. It has been a listed historical monument
since 1981. It is a building that is
still 50 meters long. Then it’s true that it has a
somewhat unusual architecture. So, in your opinion,
what kind of universe are we in here? Universe That’s exactly it. Except that in fact, it was done in Bordeaux. And so they built it there,
took it apart, and reassembled it entirely here. And all this in a month and a half. That is to say, it was really a challenge
for the time, since we are still in 1898. So, it is still quite phenomenal
to make this type of structure. Whether it’s a Far West atmosphere, a Belle Époque or a
Roman term, there’s bound to be an architectural style that will appeal to you during
your next visit to Cauterets. At the gates of this village,
numerous trails offer visitors the opportunity to escape and take
a breath of fresh air in the Pyrenees National Park. It is in the heart of this wild
and preserved territory that we find Hortense. Heading to the famous Pont d’Espagne
where Vincent, a high mountain guide, is waiting for him.
Hello Vincent. Hello Hortense. How are you ?
Well and you ? How are you. Did
you have a good trip? Alright. Once a crossing point
for trade with Spain, this bridge is today the starting point
for one of the most visited sites, Lake Gaube. To access this legendary place,
some will choose to hike via the GR 10. For others, there is
a second, much faster option. We arrive at the departure point of the
Hortense chairlift, which will take us to the vicinity of Lake Gauve in a quarter of an hour. With this weather, it’s going to be wonderful. THANKS. In just a few minutes,
this handy chairlift will effortlessly gain you 200 meters of altitude difference. So, during the climb,
you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful panorama offered by
the surrounding valleys. Welcome. Thank you, comrade. Go ahead, raise the bar
and you come right down here to the left. Go for it. For Lake Gaube, it’s easy,
you have to follow the arrow. Hortense and Vincent will have to walk for 20
minutes before reaching their destination. A bucolic stroll in the shade
of century-old fir trees. You see, Hortense, here we see
the trees covered in green filaments. They are all around us. And indeed, we see them everywhere. This is a
special kind of lichee. So, the lichaine is half-algae, half-fungus.
All right. And this is an excellent marker
of the good health of the air, of the almost total absence of atmospheric pollution. It’s well known that going to the mountains
means taking a deep breath of fresh air. But let’s not stop
there, because just a few hundred meters separate us from the splendid Lake
Gaube, nestled in the heart of its glacial valley. In the background, the Vignemale, the
highest peak in the French Pyrenees. Yeah, it’s really pretty. It’s sublime.
These colors. With a light wind stirring the water
on the surface and the sun sparkling on the waves. Oh my, it’s really too beautiful. Located at an altitude of 1,725 ​​meters,
Lake Gaube is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Pyrenean lakes. With its two kilometers of riverbank and its
surface area of ​​more than 19 hectares, it owes its fame to its magnificent
expanse of turquoise-colored water. The first thing that strikes you
is the color of the lake. Yes, it’s splendid. And this is linked to the quality of
mountain waters which contain very little sediment and are quite transparent. So the water in Lake Gobbe
comes partly from the glacier? Partly, but not only. It is spring water,
it is surface runoff water after rains and it is
meltwater from the glaciers that remain on the north face of the Vignemale. But what’s interesting
is that it’s a fairly low-lying glacial lake. And the fact that it is a fairly low glacial lake
meant that throughout the 19th century, Lake Gaube was one of the major excursions for people who came to
take the waters at Cauterets. Here you could find ladies in
crinoline dresses, gentlemen in frock coats who would arrive here near a
small fishing hut and grill the trout there,
on the edge of the lake, to satisfy them. Although
Lake Gaube was a popular destination in the 19th century
, these landscapes still fascinate the thousands of visitors
who come here each year today. I really invite everyone
to come to this magical place, but accompanied, of course. And yes, Vincent, there is no
shortage of guides here. Thanks to them,
you will have the chance to safely discover Lake Gaube, a magical place
that is definitely worth the detour. If
you didn’t have the chance to see
the Pyrenean wildlife during your hike, there is a park where you
can observe it in peace. Located on more than 14 hectares,
not far from Argelès-Gazost, the Pyrenees animal park invites you
to live an unforgettable experience in the heart of the mountains. Benjamin has been an animal keeper
at the park for two years. Hello Benjamin.
Hello Alphonse, how are you? Yes and you ?
I’m doing well. Welcome to the park. With him, we will go
to meet the emblematic wild species of the area. Heading to the enclosure of
Europe’s most hunted and least known carnivore: the gray wolf.
Do you want to help me go feed? I’ll try.
Come on, let’s go. You can throw him a piece of meat.
Come on, I’ll continue. He will come.
Look at. Find. We still feel them
a little fearful. They are very fearful animals. The gray wolf is one of the
most fearful animals we have here in Europe.
We are the opposite of the big bad wolf. It’s decades and
decades of persecution and hunting. It is an animal that has understood
that humans are harmful to it. And we still find
gray wolves in the Hautes-Pyrénées? The gray wolf in the Hautes-Pyrénées has been
arriving naturally for two or three years now. So it’s a good thing
the wolf is back. We call him the animal doctor,
he always goes after sick animals,
old animals, injured animals. And so,
the return of large predators to our territory is essential
to regulate the wild ungulate species which are currently in excessive numbers in many departments, particularly wild boar and
roe deer. It is up to us, human beings,
to find solutions to continue living with these animals. Since its creation,
this animal park has set itself the mission of raising public awareness about the protection
of endangered animals, particularly in the Pyrenees. It is home to around a hundred species
such as the brown bear, the lynx, but also the bearded vulture,
the large griffon vulture and even the Iberian ibex, eradicated
by hunters in the last century. But I thought the Iberian ibex was
no longer left in the Pyrenees. It took more than 30 years,
but we managed to reintroduce the Iberian ibex
into the Pyrenees on the French side. Today there is a small population
here, particularly in the Pyrenees National Park. There are about a hundred people
living on the French side now. And can we see other
Iberian ibexes in other animal parks? We are the only ones to present them,
here in France, this ibex, and it is really important to us,
as an animal park in the Pyrenees, to participate in saving,
in reintroducing these species and to talk about, to make known all these
animals which are emblematic, which are headliners. If the Iberian ibex are
the stars of the park’s reintroduction program,
the stars that everyone is fighting over here are these chubby little marmots, who are
really not shy. When it rains, they… The
animal park never ceases to amaze. An ideal place for a
family walk that will leave you with only good memories.
It’s slippery. She’s going to redo your brush. If
you travel 20 kilometers further north, you will inevitably come across this
factory located in Esquiescer, a family business that has been making
roofing and lining since 1891. Damien is the great-great-grandson
of the founders of the place. Step by step,
he will explain to us the manufacturing process of these
100% Pyrenean fabrics. Let’s first head to
where it all begins: the stock. In this cramped room,
Damien stores his raw material, wool,
hundreds of raw fleeces supplied directly by local breeders. If you touch these wools,
they are very greasy. So the first step
will be to rid these wools of all the fat they contain. So this is wool that has been washed and
therefore no longer has any impurities? There you go, that’s the wool
that’s completely clean. Now we’re going to take it
to the next stage. You’re going to help me, we’re going to go
in a cart and we’re going to card it. Come on, let’s go. And to the right. Important step: carding consists
of untangling and leaving the wool. Placed at the entrance of this machine,
it will gradually be driven by rollers equipped with thousands
of small metal spikes. This is what happens to wool
once it has been carded. There is a part of it that will become
a soft mattress like this, which will be used for filling the duvets.
It’s impressive. It’s funny, it’s very soft,
it’s very fluffy. Also another part that will
be worked a little differently. You see, it is this veil that we will
twist to obtain the thread that we will
then use in the looms. The
loom is the imposing mechanical machine used by Damien
to make his fabrics. The principle here is to interweave
warp threads with weft threads. Warp threads
are the threads that run lengthwise and weft threads
are the threads that run widthwise. And by interweaving these threads,
in fact, it will give this canvas. Once the weaving is finished,
the fabrics will be scraped, then cut and finally
worked in the clothing workshop. So all the products found
in your store are made here in this workshop. So, I can guarantee you that 100%
of the products will pass through the hands of the seamstresses and go
through this workshop. It’s a family business. We are the fifth generation
and our parents were able to bring us and really pass on to us this torch
and this passion which now make the strength of the company today. Since its creation 126 years ago,
the know-how of this family has never failed. If you would like to know a little more
about this 100% artisanal work, Damien and his team open
the doors of their workshop to you all year round. The next stop on your
Pyrenean journey is just 15 short kilometers from the factory. Nestled on its promontory,
above the Gaves valley, here is the pretty little town of Saint-Saven. Inside this imposing
Meurre, which overlooks the village square,
you will find one of the most
renowned gastronomic restaurants in the department. This is where Jean-Pierre,
the master chef, works. This passionate chef loves to celebrate his
terroir through his dishes. Hello Jean-Pierre. Did you have a good morning? Yes, very good. You need to be in shape
because we have work to do here. On the agenda this afternoon for Hortense,
a short cooking class based on an iconic dish: garbure. Garbure is a very rustic dish. It is a convivial dish
with products from this beautiful region: haricots,
cabbage, turnips, carrots, celery, thyme,
ham quilts and ham croces. Then, the black of Bigorre,
which is also essential. What you’re going to be able to do, perhaps
first, is start peeling the carrots.
Carrots. Is it important, Jean-Pierre, to have
local products like that for your garbure? This is very, very important. I often have this image: A cook
is a peasant who has gone bad. He must be the sales representative for his region and
promote all the productions of his region. So, if you like, I have been campaigning
in this area for years and years. I’m known for that. All these local products are
the basic ingredients essential to the successful preparation of our garbure. A soup that was once the
daily dish of mountain peasants. So, you see, this garbure,
we need a very rustic vegetable size to respect
this deep terroir. So, it’s a peasant cut. And there, the peasant size
is the vegetable, ultimately, that we cut in this way, roughly. I’ll let you do it.
You see, roughly. To you for real. There you go, very, very good. What do you want better? Garbure is a recipe accessible
to less experienced cooks. The secret of his success lies
in a few little tricks that Jean-Pierre will reveal to us. We make a broth with the camaillou
in this top of the ham, which adds flavor
because in the garbure, the essential thing is to have this taste,
precisely, of this top of the ham. Here, come closer, smell it, you’ll see. It was simmered a little beforehand, which will
allow us to intensify the taste. There you go, that’s a little tip. So we put the vegetables in? So, we’re going to brown the vegetables
with a little fat in this case. To be consumed in moderation, of course. But here, in this case,
it is essential to bring flavor to our ingredients. Come on, go ahead. There you go, we’re going to moisten it with the broth
we prepared, which I was telling you about earlier. All right.
So. So, here we go.
We’re not going to put everything in? Yes, yes.
If ? So this, you see, is the
classic rustic garbure from Bigorre. But there were also variations. When we wanted to embellish the dish a little
for a more festive side, we added some confit, you’ll pass it to me. Confit which can be
duck like this one. Or goose confit,
or even pork confit. There you go, very good. Okay, so now
we have all the elements and we’re going to pray that it’s good.
And that’s it. Well, go on. There is no reason,
there is no reason. No. It’s off for three hours at its
minimum for our royal garbure. And yes, because the longer your garbure simmers, the
better it will taste. Ah, the tasting. It’s a rustic dish, but it still looks
impressive on the plate. Oh yeah, that’s for sure.
It makes you want to taste it, right? So, shall we go? There is really a
powerful vegetable content. It’s super good. I’ve already eaten garbures,
but maybe it’s because
I’m the one making them with you. It’s certain, it’s certain. In any case, I’m enjoying it. Well, good time.
Yes. Lovers of good food,
Jean-Pierre’s restaurant is made for you. You will taste a generous
and authentic cuisine, directly inspired by the
traditional specialties of the department. Let’s continue our journey and
now head a little less than 20 kilometers further north. We will introduce you to a
unique place in the world, located in one of the most
touristic cities in France, the sanctuary of Lourdes. Located on an area of ​​more than 50 hectares, the sanctuary of Lourdes constitutes the most important
Catholic pilgrimage center in France. Every year, millions of visitors
from all over the world come to this small town where, in the 19th century,
a young girl named Bernadette is said to have met the Virgin Mary
in a cave near the river. A medical student,
Lena is originally from Lourdes. In 2016, she was even
crowned Miss Haute-Pyrénées. Very attached to her department,
she will be our guide for the last stage of this journey. If she chose to show us
the sanctuary of Lourdes, it is to better understand this
architectural ensemble, unique in France, built in barely 100 years. The one who will take us
into the history of the sanctuary is Cécile, a cultural guide
on the site for 15 years. So here, you see,
it’s the Rosary esplanade. This is where everything happens, a
great gathering place. And then, we have an overview
of all the churches that exist on this sanctuary. So, you have the one above which is called
the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the first one which was built in 1866. A very classic little church
which can accommodate 700 people. Very quickly too small. So, in 1883,
we began construction of the second one, the one at our
level, the Basilica of the Rosary. And I’m going to show you this masterpiece
of Romano-Byzantine art. With a style far removed from our
classic churches, the Rosary Basilica can accommodate up to 1,500 worshippers. Around its dizzying central dome
, 16 chapels adorned with sumptuous decorations. These are mosaics, right? These are what we call
Byzantine mosaics. And the purpose of this church
is a book, a picture book. And it is one of the churches in France where we have
the most Byzantine mosaics, since we have a little over 2,000
square meters of mosaics, which is also something extraordinary. So, I’m going to show you one of the chapels
that I particularly like. If you’d like to follow me, let’s go. As you can see,
she is resplendent. The mosaicists did
a remarkable job. This is what is
called Pentecost. As I always say, it’s
a church where everyone finds something for them. Because anyone who wants a
religious reading will be marked by each of those who call themselves. And those who are purely interested
in decorative arts will also find something to their liking
in the density and variety of the decorations. A masterpiece of the 20th century,
the Basilica of the Rosary also quickly proved too small
to accommodate all the pilgrims. To accommodate their
growing numbers, the construction of a third church then became necessary. But in order not to break with
the perspective of the sanctuary, this work will be built underground. There you go, Lena, this is the Pidis Basilica. You must know her as Lourdes. Yes, it’s true that it was a few
years ago, since then I’ve grown up, but I still feel so small in the
face of the immensity of these arches. There, it’s impressive,
it’s very imposing. Already, it is one of the
largest churches in the world. 14,000 square meters, a little more. 210 meters in length,
80 in width. It is a technical feat. At the time, we used a concrete
that was completely new, called prestressed concrete,
which allowed us to have very wide spans, without pillars,
since this prestressed concrete is always in motion, in balance. And we have spans of 80 meters,
60 meters and not a single pillar. And that gives all the symbolism
to the space, a single nave that resembles an
inverted boat hull and which, in religion,
recalls Noah’s Ark, obviously. Whether your quest is spiritual or not,
visiting the sanctuary of Lourdes means immersing yourself in the history of a
century-old site with an architectural heritage as varied as it is exceptional. A destination not to be missed on
your next trip to the Hautes-Pyrénées. Now let’s head a
few kilometers from Lourdes. The ENA will take us to discover
another small Pyrenean miracle entirely shaped by nature. Since its opening to the public in 1903,
the Bétharram cave has been one of the most
famous attractions in the department. But the history of this cave
is also a family saga where generations have succeeded one another at the head
of this unique place for more than a century. Good morning.
Good morning. Nice to meet you. THANKS. So, would you like a little
coffee to warm you up? With pleasure, gladly. Today, it is Albert who manages
and perpetuates this family adventure. And it is no coincidence
that the owner of the cave chose this prestigious room
as a meeting place. It’s beautiful here. I expected
to arrive in a cave. I find myself in a
somewhat Art Deco café there. Where are we here? We are at the exit
of the Bétharram caves. This is a lobby that was
built by my grandfather in 1924. Okay. And so, to accommodate the people who came from
the caves, he made this building. It is one of the first
reinforced concrete buildings in France. So you see, it’s a
historic and beautiful building. It is the work of an entire
family over the generations. Yes, and he was a visionary man
who developed the caves and welcomed customers. Albert represents the fourth
generation at the head of Bétharram. It was his great-grandfather Léon, a
painter and photographer, who had the idea of ​​opening this cave
to the public at the beginning of the 20th century. It was also he who undertook
the first interior improvements to facilitate access. Come on, come on.
THANKS. Today, an underground route
of almost three kilometers allows you to visit the three levels of galleries
dug by water in the limestone mountain. Albert takes us to the
upper part, the largest of all, renowned for its exceptional ceilings. So you see,
we are in the most beautiful room of these caves of Bétharram which is called
the Room of Chandeliers. Because there are many
stalagmite concretions hanging from the vault, which look like giant chandeliers. You can’t imagine what’s
underground when you’re driving and admiring the mountains. It’s magnificent, it’s impressive. A magical,
entirely natural spectacle. Because for several million years,
it is the drops of water that have shaped and sculpted the subsoil of this cave. And among all these formations,
there is one that particularly attracts the attention of visitors. Here we are in front of
the column in formation. She gives us the pleasure of tasting it,
as if it were a handful of diamonds falling on the tip
and going off with a sparkle. In no cave have such
beautiful formations of stalagmitic columns been found. It’s well proportioned. Yes, it’s impressive. How long, roughly,
can we imagine that stalagmite will encounter stalagmite? I’ll meet you in 5,000
years, at a rate of one centimeter per century. If there is a lot of water. Coming to Bétharram means being sure to
see one of the most beautiful spectacles in the Hautes-Pyrénées. A unique excursion is guaranteed, with a
walk along the underground river and a train journey
concluding in a completely original way. So don’t wait any longer, the caves
are open almost all year round. Let’s extend our trip 20 kilometers to the north and stop in Tarbes, the capital of the department. For the last leg of our journey,
we offer you a little getaway in a classic car. Starting point for this
unusual trip: Tarbes town hall. Good morning.
Hello Lena. Nice to meet you. What a
cool car this is. When is it from? It’s from 1938. It’s your jewel, it’s It’s
really a little jewel, that’s it. But she is beautiful. You know that’s
what we’re going to take for a ride? Quite. A member of a
vintage car collectors’ association, René will be our driver. Throughout this beautiful day. At the wheel of his convertible,
he takes us to an emblematic place in Tarbes and very popular
with city dwellers: the Masset garden. A true haven for botanists,
this haven of peace was labeled a remarkable garden in 2004. A little gem that no longer holds any secrets
for Nicole, curator of the Tarbes museums. Good morning.
Hello Lena. Nice to meet you.
Delighted to welcome you to this park. Thank you so much. Is this your first time
in this park? No, I know a little bit about here. I’ve been coming since I was little. Now I would like to find out
a little more about the story. So, this place, before, you have to imagine. Born at the beginning of the 19th century,
it is completely outside Tarbes and it is a very marshy area,
completely unsanitary. And there is this character, Placide Massé,
who is a very great botanist. And this man who has traveled everywhere,
who has built parks everywhere, also dreams of having
his palace and his park. And in 1829, he bought 11 hectares
of land which he began to irrigate and he began to plant
this magnificent cedar. Composed of a large number
of plants of exotic and European origin, the flora of the garden is
remarkable for its beauty and diversity. It was in the very heart of this arboretum
that its creator, Placide Masset, wished to build his home. He entrusted the construction of this palace
to the architect Jean-Jacques Latour, who was also an architect from Tarbes. And Jean-Jacques Latour will
offer him an oriental palace. It’s one of a palace in Cairo and
unfortunately, Placide Massé is going to die. Before seeing the end of his dream, in 1853,
he died and bequeathed all of his properties to the city of Tarbes so that the city could pursue his dream. And this park
is now a place of rest, a place of renewal, a little bit of an Eden. What Placide-Masset wanted
was a paradise. And I think that’s
what this park is today. A truly wonderful story for this garden
which, for almost 85 years, has brought joy to all those
who come to stroll there. Let’s continue our walk
with René and Léna and let ourselves be guided along these magnificent roads
through the hilly landscape. Just under 40 kilometers from Tarbes,
we will show you a highlight of Pyrenean heritage perched
on its rocky promontory. It’s Isabelle, an experienced guide,
who will tell us a little more about this medieval fortress. Good morning.
Good morning. Welcome to Montveselle Castle.
Thank you so much. This castle is impressive,
it is magnificent. Have you seen? Indeed, it is a very,
very beautiful medieval castle built between the 11th and 15th centuries. It is well known for the construction
of its large keep, since it was Gaston Phébus,
the great local lord, who built this large keep in the 14th century. It was the Hundred Years’ War,
so we risked attacks from the English, attacks from the Armagnacs. And so, Gaston Phoebus built this
keep to protect and create a Pyrenean state and control
absolutely the entire territory. So, we’re wondering,
how did Strategy work this time? Yes, completely, since
the castle was never attacked. It was besieged only once,
but it was never attacked. It’s true that Mauvezin Castle
is a place you can’t miss. We can’t miss it. Already, given its position, we can see it from afar.
That is very true. As you will have understood,
the Château de Mauvezin is a must-see that will amaze all
lovers of medieval military architecture. Before ending our walk,
René had a surprise for Lena. Head to the village of Tournay,
just ten minutes away by car. It is here, in this renowned cannery,
that the members of the association
of which René is a member meet regularly. Good morning. Delighted. Hello, this is Léna. Jean-Bernard is the owner of this
gourmet and friendly establishment, but his passion is not
limited to making foie gras. Are you also a
member of the association? Yes, absolutely. I own a
1902 Morse limousine. The one we see here? So, I took it out
for this beautiful day. This is the passion for good
products and beautiful mechanics. Okay, but I understand
that the members of the association like to meet here, so. Absolutely, absolutely, yes. They come quite often, especially in summer. We have a little snack before
going for a walk in our beautiful Pyrenees. Exceptional walks that you
too may one day be able to share with the members
of this association. From the region. Our journey is now over. You now know that the
Hautes-Pyrénées department has many riches to share. So many places that you absolutely have to
see once in your life.

Dans les Hautes-Pyrénées, la nature dicte encore sa loi.

Pour découvrir les merveilles des plus belles régions de France, c’est ici – Abonnez-vous 👉 http://bit.ly/3zjR2Vj 🙏

Si le sanctuaire de Lourdes attire chaque année des millions de pélerins pour son patrimoine architectural unique, le village pittoresque d’Arreau dans la vallée d’Aure et du Louron, est connu, lui, pour son incontournable Halle-Mairie du XVIe siècle. Le Pic du Midi promet quant à lui des nuits d’exception sous les étoiles de son observatoire. Mais c’est dans le parc national des Pyrénées que l’on peut admirer les plus hauts sommets des Pyrénées françaises se refléter dans les eaux turquoise du lac de Gaube.

Réalisé par Isabelle LE GUEN.
© MORGANE PRODUCTION