Hotels In France

Learn about Laruns Village, French Holiday in the beautiful Valley D’ossau - Gateway to the awesome Pyrenees Mountains on the border of France and Spain…

The beautiful Village of Laruns (525 m. altitude 1425 population) nestles in the Valley D’Ossau in the centre of the Pyrenees National Park:

Surrounded by spectacular gorges, mountain streams and awesome mountains it is a great base for a walking and hiking holiday (probably the best way to see the area.)

Pau with airport is the nearest large city 40 kms to Laruns and well-connected by a combination of Rail and Road transport.

On 15 August the people of Laruns celebrate Our Lady when the players of pipe and tambourine (Pyrenean string drum) lead the procession of dancers from the church to around the central square, where couples dance to the music of pipe and tambourine http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=WEg2SVcUtWo
Château d’Espalungue is nearby where, according to legend, Aramis the musketeer died. Every 1st weekend in October, the delicious Ossau cheese is celebrated with numerous festivities.

The District of Laruns stretches to the Spanish border and includes superb sites protected by the Pyrenees National Park. It is quite easy to follow the fantastic mountain road (used by The Tour de France) through gorges where you can see eagles and griffon vultures circling overhead up in to the mountains to also visit Eaux-Chaudes (alt. 675 m) Hydrotherapy centre (Commune of Laruns) in a breathtaking setting of deep gorges and surrounding mountains. Illustrious French and Spanish characters came to be treated at ‘Algas Caudas.’ In the 19th century rheumatism , respiratory and fertility conditions were also treated there. Further on you will come to Fabrèges the last village before Spain where you may also arrive at the ski resort of Artouste, specializing in snow board sports, facing the Pic du Midi Mountain.

A great tourist attraction is the famous Artouste- - Fabrèges ‘little train,’ originally built to take workers and materials to the building site . The Little Train of Artouste is the highest in Europe (2000 m), allowing you to discover the wonders of nature , the azure blue Lake Artouste and enjoy a guided tour of the underground tunnels.

Or, if you prefer somewhere closer to Laruns Village, why not directly cross the Valley D’Ossau (only about 2 miles) to the magical little village of Béost (520 m. altitude 197 population) where you can follow the village’s heritage tour to admire and learn more about the village’s floral, religious, political and professional (set square, compass) inscriptions so typical of the Ossau Valley that decorate the walls, stones and lintels of its buildings. The scallop shell decoration, the 12th century castle and the church are reminders that Beost is a stage on the Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage.

Dedication
This book is dedicated to obtaining justice for Erica D’Anitoff Williams, three and a half years and her young father Arthur Eric Williams, 27 years who died in their Labrador Development Company home, Port Hope Simpson, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in acrimonious, suspicious circumstances in the early hours of 3 February 1940. The R.C.M.P (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Serious Crimes Unit, Gander, Newfoundland in 2002, opened up their own investigation about the deaths. If you know anything at all about what happened please do not hesitate in contacting your local RCMP detachment or the police force of jurisdiction in your area. If you live outside Canada, please contact your local police service and ask them to make a request for assistance from the appropriate Canadian law enforcement agency. The main RCMP website address is http:// www.rcmp.ca or Email me!