Nestes, Coteaux, Barousse and Baronnies

Pyrénées buissonnières

With the Pyrenees in your sights, this is a secret country not to be missed. Here you can experience the intoxicating sensation of discovery and the pleasure of encounters: lush, unspoilt nature, mysterious chasms and caves, small villages clustered around their churches, simple, discreet people… The bas pays des Nestes is a unique place, where nature and heritage meet. To the east, you’ll discover Nistos and the Barousse, mountainous and pastoral areas. To the north are the hillsides, with their fortified towns, fields and sunshine.

secrets

The secrets of the valleys

nuggets to discover

The magic of the Baronnies

Two historic monuments stand out and invite you to visit: one at the bottom of a valley, the Abbey of Escaladieu, and the other at the top of a hill, the Château de Mauvezin. Cycling over these small passes is a delight, with few cars and views over the Tarbes plain and the Lannemezan plateau. Easy hiking and cave exploration are also on the programme.

Discover the Baronnies

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Tasting of local Pyrenean cheese, Barousse

Savoir-faire and gourmet crafts

In each little village, signs point the way to a blacksmith, a woodturner or a ceramist’s workshop surrounded by flowers. At the entrance to Sost, a large sign warns: Sost, the cheese village! In this region, which has opted for family-run, subsistence farming that respects nature and the cycle of the seasons and preserves the quality of its produce, you can also sample delicious pâtés and Noir de Bigorre ham, traditional pies, local cider and duck foie gras…

The gentle life of the Coteaux

We’re delighted by the rural tranquillity of the sun-drenched hillsides. The villages and bastides typical of the south-west soothe our spirits, with the Pyrenees as a backdrop. Tournay Abbey is part of a rich heritage. The expertise of the local producers and the people we meet in the bistros in the village squares make for a calm and authentic holiday.

Discover the Coteaux

The little Amazon of the Pyrenees

What an original getaway! Lose yourself again and again in this green setting with its fascinating jungle feel… This unique place benefits from a microclimate that makes the vegetation dense and atypical. Lychen covers the ground and the trees, hanging from the branches, giving them such a strange appearance. A place full of mystery and enchantment where the exuberant vegetation plays with the clear waters down to the bottom of a narrow, damp gorge carved out by the latter: the Gourgue is there, surrounded by its natural pools. An easy walk with a change of scenery.

Visit

Visiting the Pyrenees

Edenvik

In Capvern-les-Bains, where the spirit of the Viking gods reigns, the naturally warm and soothing thermal water flows through the pools, bubble beds and massaging jets… It will bring you pleasure and rejuvenation.

Parc de Loisirs de la Demi Lune

This large park in a wooded setting offers plenty of activities for parents and children. Tree climbing, pedalos, miniature train, mini-golf, giant bubbles, zip line, shows…

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Chateau De Bramevaque 2® Ot Nestes Barousse

Bramevaque Castle

In the heart of the Barousse, the ruined castle of the Counts of Comminge at Bramevaque is well worth a visit. You can admire a vast panorama of the Barousse from its square keep dating from the 11th and 13th centuries.

Holidays

Your holidays in the Nestes region

In the Pyrenees

All-inclusive holidays

Get moving, eat better and look after yourself

Wellness and health break for two in Capvern-les-Bains

from315 €per person

Getting up high

Family weekend in a tree house

from320 €per family

Calm and pleasure

Nature and gastronomy weekend for two

from184 €per person

See all summer holidays

Focus on...

Escaladieu Abbey

Out of time

In a secret corner, a pretty country of hills and valleys off the Pyrenees, a dome topping a bell tower stands on the edge of a forest: it signals the discreet presence of the Cistercian abbey of l’Escaladieu.

Hundreds of years ago, white monks from Burgundy, claiming the right to live under the banner of brotherhood, poverty and humility, settled at the confluence of the Luz and Arros rivers, under the protection of the powerful castle of Mauvezin and its suzerain the Count of Bigorre, to establish a monastery. They gave it the poetic name of “the Ladder to God”, l’Escaladieu.

The magic of the place and the purity of the architecture are an invitation to serenity and travel. Also on site: a fun,interactivemultimedia area where you can discover the history of the abbey, its legends, myths and environment, as well as cultural events all year round.

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