The village of Arreau
Just 5 km from “Le Ruisseau” campsite in Saint-Lary, the village ofArreau, former capital of the Quatre Vallées (County of Aure), lies at the junction of the Aure and Louron valleys. The village is remarkable for its rich architectural heritage.
Situated on the secondary route of the Compostelle pilgrimage, Arreau is often a stopover for the most prestigious cycling races, such as the Tour de France, thanks to its location between the Col d’Aspin and Col de Peyresourde.
But it’s above all thanks to its civil and religious heritage, unique in the Hautes Pyrénées, that Arreau attracts visitors. Indeed, the village has always been an important administrative center: seat of the Quatre-Vallées judicature until the 16th century, then lieutenancy seat until 1789, Arreau was also archpriest seat.
This made it a very busy economic capital, with fairs and markets of regional importance, especially for the cloth industry. In the 19th century, spa tourism took over, supported by the arrival of the railroad in 1897.
What to see in Arreau
Château des Nestes (or Château Camou) is a vast building dating from the 17th and 19th centuries, a reminder of the valley’s history. A former military and hospital commandery built on the enclosure enclosing the village of Neste du Louron, it protected the sanctuary of Saint-Exupère. The 19th-century wooden bell tower atop the central tower served as a family astronomical observatory.
Book your vacation accommodation at camping Le Ruisseau in Gouaux
Château de Ségure
Featuring a 16th-century square tower, this former 12th-century keep, built on a rock face, had a weapons room on the first floor. The facades are embellished with wooden lattices and hammered coats of arms. The last descendant of the De Ségure family became a king’s musketeer on the eve of the French Revolution, and after numerous battles in Italy, Portugal and Bohemia, ended his life in Spanish prisons.
La maison des Lys
This superb Gothic-style house dates from the late 16th century. It is admirably well-preserved and boasts some remarkable features: the finely sculpted grey marble façade, the corbelling of the house’s two storeys and the half-timbering decorated with lilies.
Saint-Exupère school and chapel
The two adjoining buildings do not date from the same period.
The school, built in 1554 on the site of Saint-Exupère’s birthplace, is referenced as early as 1602. The chapel, built to replace the original sanctuary, features a Romanesque porch dating from the 10th to 12th centuries, and a 16th-century nave and bell tower.
La Mairie-Halle
This spectacular architectural ensemble dates back only to 1932, when it was built to replace the old 16th-century wooden market hall. The architect’s choice was to preserve the Aurois style of timber-framed houses, while adding a bell tower with a 3-sided clock on the roof. The hall has retained its function as a weekly market, while the first floor is occupied by municipal services.
In the historic heart of Arreau, on the main street and in the Saint-Exupère, Calvaire, Coutellerie, Bon Rencontre and Garian districts, you’ll find a wealth of houses dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Among the many fine residences are the main ones with remarkable facades:
- The Foch house (Pic Molié) on the Neste front (once owned by the grandfather of the famous Marshal Foch);
- The Maison Laguens with pink marble facade;
- The Ducuing-Forgue House
- The Maison Féraud, with its exceptional carpentry and joinery. And many others: Artigue, Cazala, Latour, Mouré…
- Arreau is also home to an important religious heritage:
- Notre-Dame church with its treasure trove of religious art, a 16th-century piéta.
- Saint-Michel de Garian chapel (12th c.)
- Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Rencontre, pilgrims’ chapel
This village is incredibly rich and I strongly invite you to visit it during your stay at your campsite in the Aure valley.
