Attractions & Activities

There are plentiful opportunities here for enjoying the excellent Gascon cuisine, wines and Armagnac, as well as a wide range of outdoor activities including birdwatching, fishing, golf, horse riding, canoeing, caving, as well as driving, cycling and walking on quiet roads and thoroughfares. Some particular highlights and suggestions for excursions might include, for example:

Lombez cathedral for a candlelit choir concert – 15 minutes by car

Samatan on market day - very lively and a must for gourmets, browsers and people watchers alike! –15 minutes by car

Aurignac - a lovely picnic desination with it’s castle and views - 30 minutes by car

The Gorges de la Save for picnicking, rock-climbing and lovely walks – 25 minutes by car

St Bertrand de Comminges - a beautiful medieval village and magnificent cathedral perched high above a green valley in the foothills of the Pyrenees - just over an hour by car

A Mountain thermal spa - is really not to be missed if you enjoy lazing away an afternoon in soothing thermal waters, and feeling refreshed and invigorated from the hot (and very cold!) Roman mosaic thermal baths! - just over an hour by car

Toulouse is a city which richly rewards its visitors, if you like beautiful 14^th century pedestrian cobbled streets with individual shops and cafes, world class art galleries and museums, a stroll by the river or in the botanical gardens, then Toulouse is for you – 1 hr by car

Canoeing on the River Save - a secret world of waterbirds, fish and dragonflies where the 21st century seems a million miles away - 5 minutes by car

A breathtaking cable car ride to the Observatory at the Pic du Midi, followed by a wonderful display of free-flying birds of prey at Arreau – 2 hours by car

The Grotte de Gargas prehistoric caves with their bizarre hand paintings – 40 minutes by car

Sailing, windsurfing, and even microlighting are available for the adventurous at the lovely Lac de la Gimone - only 25mins by car

Pop over to Spain for the day! Only 1.5 hours of easy driving by a lovely scenic route takes you over the border into Bossòst in the heart of the mountains.  Stop for good Spanish fare, the magnificent views, and great value shopping, particularly wines and spirits.

And of course Skiing and Snowboarding, in season!  There are a number of excellent ski stations within an hour or so’s drive, catering for every ability level and interest.

There is always something going on in one of the villages nearby all through the year – Gastronomie Fayres, Brocantes, Night-markets, flower festivals, music events and village fetes – we can happily tell you what is happening and what not to miss! Oxen at Samatan Agricultural Fayre