Surrounding Area - Activities

Security

This part of France is extremely safe, with crime almost unheard of. Never the less for your security and added safety the property has several security lamps and electric security entrance gates.

Malabat

Malabat is small commune, of a mainly farming community, it boasts a Church, a Sale de Fete, and a school, which also accommodates the Marie. We have met all our neighbours who are extremely friendly and welcoming to visitors to the area.

A few minutes drive or cycle ride away is the village of
Villecomtal-sur-Arros which houses all the facilities of most larger towns. But also just a few miles from Malabat is the beautiful old
town of Marsiac with its superb traditional town square, ideal for
family meals out or taking in the atmosphere outside the cafe's.
In the summer the area enjoys many festivals and in particular world renown Jazz festival at Marsiac and equally renown Country and Western festival in Mirande.

If its big city lights you want then the city of Auch or Tarbes are also within easy commute. Malabat is also an ideal base for winter pursuits or summer hikes as we are surrounded by beautiful countryside and are only one and half hours drive from the Pyrenees.

Fishing, we understand this can be available from the river Arros under licence, but also from the lakes/reservoirs in our locality. Please refer to the tourist board and local map for further information and the best locations.

Marciac

A beautiful small market town, with shops, restaurants and coffee houses surrounding a central square which also holds an open air market on the square once or twice a week.

Auch

Built on and around a hill on the west bank of the Gers River, the early Basque settlement of Auch is the home of the legendary fourth musketeer, D'Artagnan. Divided into an upper and a lower quarter, the town has a bustling Saturday morning market held in front of the Gothic cathedral of Ste-Marie. The old part of the town, in the upper quarter, is lined with narrow streets that center on place Salinis, which affords a good view of the nearby Pyrenees.
Our house is perfectly situated in this stunning region enabling you to easily explore this marvolous historic town.

Local Attractions

Cathédrale Ste-Marie is 7 miles away. (distances quoted are from Auch) Built between the 15th and 17th century, this is one of the handsomest Gothic churches in the south of France. It has Renaissance choir stalls made of carved oak.
Its 17th-century organ was one of the finest in the world at the time
of Louis XIV. L'escalier monumental is 2 miles away. Built in the 19th century, this impressive staircase comprises 234 steps. You can admire there the statue of the Gascon certainly most famous as Charles de Batz that everyone known under the name of Artagnan.

Les pousterles is 2 miles away. What could be more picturesque and more charming than these 'pousterles' which are narrow lanes with a marked slope or in staircase...not to be missed

Pau

The ideal combination for coast and mountain access. Still relatively undiscovered PAU, ideally located and nestling between two of France's most famous regions AQUITAINE and MIDI PYRENEES is only one hour from beaches and mountains. With a central position at one hour 30 mn from Toulouse and Bordeaux, 40 minutes from Lourdes, landing to Pau is an opportunity to radiate over a wide area in Southwest France. Pau is away from two of the most visited sites in Europe : the Sanctuary of Lourdes which receives some 5 million visitors per year and has over 400 hotels, and the Pyrenees national Park which has 1,8 million visitors per year.

Also nearby are other beautiful natural and historic wonders such as Henry IV's castle and birthplace in Pau, the natural circus of Gavarnie, a multitude of museums, the Betharram caves and many other and historical and cultural sites.

www.pau.fr

Our Area of the Midi Pyrenees

From the plateau of Aubrac to the peaks of the Pyrenees and from the infinite space of the great limestone plateaus to the sloping hillsides of Gascony, the wide range of landscapes in the Midi-Pyrénées is the setting for many leisure activities. There´s the pleasure of hiking in the Pyrenees or along the route to Santiago de Compostela, canoeing on the river Lot, or along the rivers Tarn or Aveyron, paragliding in Millau for those in search of natural thrills, and downhill skiing or snowshoe hiking on the plateau of Aubrac; Midi-Pyrénées honours sport - and everyone´s pace, whether young or old, is taken into consideration thanks to specially adapted centres.

Tour De France 2005 2nd to 23rd July

The annual Tour De France passes through our region. Our house is therefore an ideal base to view the event if you are a fan of this fantastic spectacle. Our Agent is an expert and may be able to offer advice on the best spots to follow and support the riders.