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Walking around the city
This fortified town, which was founded by Gaston II of Foix Béarn, was the birthplace of Pierre Marca, a Bearnese historian and of the poet Pierre Emmanuel. The imposing Gothic town door dating from the 14th century to the west of the town is an example of the importance of the site in the Middle Ages. Pierre de Marca's 16th-century house, which can be seen by the visitor, has a beautiful octagonal tower and mullioned windows. Another Renaissance house, known as Corisande d’Andoins, by and large completes the heritage features on view in the town. The commune is situated in the "Jurançon" wine-growing area. It is the home to numerous wine producers on the Jurançon wine road together with the Cooperative wine cellar.
Jurançon The town was mentioned in 1117 by the Morlaàs court. Jurançon was governed by six jurats and a bayle. The town existed during the iron age and the Gallo-Roman period due to the Las Hies thermal baths. The du Junqué and du Bernet squares are very friendly places for walkers. The Chapelle de Rousse hillsides represent the main agricultural and forest heritage of the commune. The vineyards, which had already become famous under the Navarre Crown in the 16th century with the Christening of Henry IV, are punctuated with old Bearnese houses and a host of small manors such as Perpignaà. The Junqué and Jurque villas partially complete this particular heritage. Chapelle de Rousse has numerous wine storehouses which are open to the general public.
Gelos The town is situated at the foot of the Heureuse Valley and on the edge of the Soust. It has a multitude of interesting features. Although the origins of the name Gelos might perhaps come from "zelosum" zealous ... What we know for certain is that the small village had a secular abbey in the 12th century. The last abbot, Baron Duplaà bought it in 1716. In 1808, Napoleon 1st visited the Duplaà manor. It was in 1810 that this building became the National stud farm. Numerous classic villas dating from the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century such as Estephani, the Vignal, Monfleury and the Nirvan villa are to be found in the forest hillsides around Gelos.
Bizanos The most important parts of its heritage is represented by the Manor of Franqueville, saligues, or wetlands, on the edges of the Gave de Pau river and paintings and mosaics from René-Marie Castaing dating from 1936 in the church. These are three very different sites, which are all worthy of a visit.
Mazères-Lezons This former fief of the viscounts of Béarn has become a residential commune. It nevertheless has some small manors and halls such as Ferré, Marciron and Hatoulet.
Artigueloutan The village existed in the Gallo-Roman period and was mentioned in the 14th century. It is situated on the "Henry IV" way and has a castle and small mills on the course of the Ousse.
Idron-Lée-Ousse-Sendets The Ousse plain is a major agricultural area and is becoming little by little more residential There are also Gallo-Roman remnants. A Castéra and barrow at Sendets, one of Caesar's camps at Ousse and remnants which were found at Idron. The churches of Idron, Lée, Sendets and Ousse.
Lons Lons was probably founded in prehistoric times. From a baronny it was raised into a marquisate in 1648. Initially it was a rural commune, but has progressively become an industrial suburb of Pau. A Hallstattian barrow and burial places with funeral objects were discovered at the place named «the Pont long». The church dates back to the 19th century.
Billère Throughout the greater part of its history the town of Billère has been linked to the fate of the town of Pau. In the 16th century already, Mrs Jeanne Lassansaa, nurse, looked after a very young Henry, who was later to become Henry IV, King of France and Navarre. Very beautiful villas were built here from the 17th to the beginning of the 20th century. The elegance of these beautiful dwellings which are often "so British" renders the landscape in the town centre more attractive, just above the oldest golf course on the European mainland, built in 1856. A few examples of sites to be seen: The Este castle, the Caplane villa, the Hutton villa and Béatrix villa which looks like a small Italian palace.
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