See & Do

 

What to see and do around Garderes and Gascony

The exquisite French market town of Marciac is 4km from Garderes. Marciac is world renowned for its annual Jazz festival – the biggest outside of New Orleans. Marciac is home to a number of delightful cafes and bars, which surround one of the most picturesque squares in the region. Just outside of the town centre, guests can visit the beautiful 70-acre leisure lake, complete with water sports and lake side restaurant.

Visit the local vineyards of St Mont, and Plaimont and the celebrated Madiran wine acknowledged for its antioxidant properties and health benefits. Sample the delicious and unique flavours produced by artisans from the Gascon soil with their iconic produce of Confit de Canard (duck confit) and Magret de Canard (duck breast) Foie Gras, Armagnac and Prune Crustarde – as far away as you can get from the mass produced flavours of supermarkets.

The Pyrenean ski resort of La Mongie is just an hours drive away with great skiing on and off piste. The thermal spa town of Bagneres de Bigorre is under an hours drive, where bathing in the hot healing springs complete with waterfalls, chutes, and jets is a great place to relax on the way home after a days energetic skiing. Walking and hiking are highly recommended in the surrounding countryside or in the foothills of the Pyrenees, all less than an hour away by car.

Garderes sits on the official Cycling Route 4, making this an ideal venue for cycling enthusiasts. The Tour de France passes through the region each year due to the perfect cycling conditions associated with the area.

For golfers the beautiful Chateaux Pallanne 3km away is home to an 18 hole golf course with restaurant.

The historic Royal City of Pau in 45 minutes drive, or a trip to the coast at Biarritz ( 2 hours drive) makes a great day out, with fabulous surfing beaches and restaurants.

For those wishing to engage in some spiritual enlightenment the world heritage site of Lourdes, the most famous healing shrine in the world is an hours drive away.