Twixt France and Spain Part 25

Hotels.--De France, || Des Bains, || Du Parc, Des Princes, De Paris.

Guides (living at Luz).--Martin, Noguez, Fortanet, and Bernard senior. For lofty summits, such as the Pic d'Ardiden, and for other excursions, Lons, Pratdessus, and Cramp Brothers.

Horses may generally be obtained from them, and Carriages (at Luz) as well.

Post and Telegraph during the season only, but letters and telegrams are forwarded from Luz at other times, there being one delivery and one collection of the former daily.

Chief Excursions:--

To Bareges.--10 to 15 frs. landau; 2 frs. pourboire. See Chapter VI.

To Sazos and Grust.--See Chapter VII.

To Gavarnie.--Landau and four horses, 15 to 25 frs.; pourboire, 3 frs. Horses and guide to the Cirque, each 2 frs. from Gavarnie. See Chapter VIII.

The Pic de Bergons.--4 frs. each horse, guide 5 frs. out of season, 6 frs. each in season. Refer to Chapter VII.

The Pic de Viscos.--7 hours up and down. Guide 10 frs., horse 8 frs. Via Grust; a pleasant excursion.

Pic de Nere.--8 hours there and back. Horse 10 frs., guide 12 frs. Horse-track three-quarters of the way; an easy and pleasant climb.

Pic d'Ardiden.--8-1/2 hours up and down. Guide necessary. A fine but difficult climb.

SAINT SAVIN.--A very ancient village in the Argeles valley, in the Hautes-Pyrenees; fully described in Chapter IV.

SAINT SeBASTIEN.--A town in the north of Spain, on the sh.o.r.es of the Biscay, 163-1/2 miles from Bordeaux, 35 from Biarritz, and 19 from Hendaye (the French frontier town). Possessing a fine citadel, bull-ring, beach, and bathing establishment, and two fine churches. See Chapter XIII.

Hotels.--De Londres, || De Escurra, Anglais, De Arrese, De Berdejo, &c.

SALeCHAN.--A village in the Garonne valley, in the Hautes-Pyrenees, and station on the Montrejeau-Luchon line for Ste. Marie (baths) and Siradan (baths).

SALIES.--A town on the river of same name, in the Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, 10 miles from Orthez, the nearest station.

It is celebrated for its salt springs; and Bayonne hams are said to owe their fine (?) flavour to the use of the salt produced from them.

Hotels.--Du Cheval Blanc, De France, De Paris.

SAZOS.--A small village near St. Sauveur, in the Hautes-Pyrenees, below the hamlet of Grust. For description of church, &c., refer to Chapter VII.

SIRADAN.--A small bathing resort in the valley of same name, in the Hautes-Pyrenees, with a bathing establishment and hotel in one building, 2 miles from Salechan station on the Luchon-Montrejeau line.

The springs contain sulphuret of lime and bicarbonate of iron. They have a similar effect to those of Ste. Marie (1 mile distant), but tend to excite more strongly. The water stands bottling well.

SOULOM.--A small village at the foot of the peak of same name, in the Hautes-Pyrenees, near Pierrefitte, possessing a curious old church. See Chapter IV.

TARBES.--A large town on the Adour, in the Hautes-Pyrenees.

Station on the railway between Pau and Toulouse, and junction for the Bigorre and Morcenz lines. Cavalry barracks, cathedral, &c. Buffet at the station. See Chapter III.

Hotels.--De la Paix, France, Commerce.

URRUGNE.--A village in the Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, 2-1/2 miles from St.

Jean de Luz.

USTARITZ.--The name of two villages, formerly separate, in the Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, 8-3/4 miles from Bayonne, on the carriage-road thence _via_ Elizondo to Pampeluna (63 miles).

VALCABReRE.--A small village in the Haute-Garonne, 2 miles from Loures station on the Luchon-Montrejeau line, celebrated for the Church of St. Just, a venerable pile in the vicinity.

VENASQUE.--A small and prosperous town in Spain, 9 hours from Luchon (21 miles) by the _Port_ of the same name. There are some baths similar in their uses to those of Luchon, fed by sulphurous springs at some distance from the town, and 2-1/2 hours nearer Luchon.

Excellent accommodation can be obtained at the Casa san Mimi (Antonio Saora) for travellers.

VERNET-LES-BAINS (2050 ft.), a bathing resort situated in a hollow in the Eastern Pyrenees, 7 miles from the nearest railway station.

There are several springs which supply the large Bathing Establishment and the smaller Thermes Mercader. The water is largely charged with sulphate of lime, and possesses properties similar to other waters of that type. It is especially useful in affections of the air-pa.s.sages and skin complaints, and is more or less exciting according to the springs. The climate is mild, and therefore Vernet has some reputation as a winter resort, being very little colder than Amelie (to which refer in Appendix).

Hotels.--Des Commandants (in the bathing establishment), Du Parc, Ibrahim Pacha et des Bains, Du Canigou, &c.

Villas furnished to be let.

Carriages and Horses.

Post and Telegraph Office, Theatre, Clubs, &c.

Guide.--Michael Nou.

Chief Excursions:--

The Canigou (9144 ft.)--11 hours up and down. Guide recommended, also provisions. Horses 10 frs., guide 10 frs. Horses can go within a mile of the top, from which the view is splendid. The ascent is long but not difficult.

The Fountain des Esquereyres.--_Via_ Castell, 1/2 hour; a pleasant walk.

Tour de Goa.--4 hours up and down. An interesting battlemented tower, with a fine view.

Vallee de Sahorre.--3 hours there and back; an enjoyable trip.

Cascade de Cadi.--6 hours there and back; guide recommended.

The Abbey of Canigou.--2-1/2 hours there and back; guide unnecessary. An interesting ruin.

Vieuzac.--A suburb of Argeles, in the Hautes-Pyrenees, possessing a donjon tower. The station on the line from Lourdes is called Argeles-Vieuzac.

Villelongue.--A small village in the Argeles valley, in the Hautes-Pyrenees, near Pierrefitte. See Chapter IV.

APPENDIX B

RAILWAY INFORMATION AND SKELETON ROUTES TO THE CHIEF RESORTS IN THE PYRENEES.