The Atlantic Pyrenees along the Bay of Biscay

To the west it is bordered by the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees crosses from east to west. This department carries traces of human life long before our era, as can be seen in the caves of Bétharram. The harsh climate of the Pyrenees did not favor the presence of the castles are few in number but generally well restored as Mascaraàs Castle, or the Square House of Nay or the castle of Pau.

As against religious buildings are present and often rich in history. Some have maintained their good start as the Romanesque church of St Jean Baptiste Diusse. Others, reworked or restored over the centuries have inherited some details of Romanesque architecture associated with parts of Gothic or Gothic. You can find out by visiting such as the Church of St. Mary of Oloron or the church of Ste Foy Morlaas. The church of St Vincent de Nay is entirely in the style "Gothic" and I also shows the church of St Girons Monein in the shape of a double hull vessel overturned.

Those of you who are culture vultures can visit one of the many museums in the departments they are traditional or more specific. You will go to the museum and Bernadotte in Pau, or the Museum of Our Lady of the Rock in Sarran or even the "House of Barétous" or one of two museums Salies de-Bearn. You will be keen to attend a party or a festival, and during holiday time they abound, so you go the film festival web Oloron Ste Marie and enjoy the feast of Estives Barétous.

If you are talking about physical activity and seduced even very athletic, you can learn to extreme sports like paragliding or rafting with Air Attitude Accous; you practice all the usual water sports Pyrénées Atlantiques with Aqua Pyrene to Montaut. A Lanne in Barétous you can practice as well as rock climbing or canyoning caving Pyrenees with New Adventures. Those who prefer eco tours alone or with family, on foot or by bicycle, many ways marked await you. You will make the GR 65 3 Bedous or if you are led to the Jurançonnade through the vineyards. Horse lovers can head towards Lanne in Barétous, Ossau and the Plateau Banu.

During your walks you can enjoy friendly villages as Lacommande or Navarrenx Salies-de-Béarn, Sauveterre-de-Bearn or Ste Colome: oldest village of Béarn. Your children will be entertained on the other hand if you take them to the leisure center "O kiri" Assau of the village. A "Adventure Park" to Aramits, while the kids play you can try a Bungee Jumping! Always a family you can go picnic at Lake Bious Artigues. Also note that there is a Water Park "Aqua Beam" Oloron-Ste-Marie, and at Orthez, the recreation center Biron.

Other activities to do in the department with your children: The Little Train of Artouste which is the highest in Europe and then also go to the City of St Bees to Faust. Finally do not leave the Pyrenees Atlantiques without having at least tasted the "Cizana" or "Poumado" Basque cider!