Maison Blanc
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Maison Blanc is set in the beautiful countryside of South West France on the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the village of Bassercles. The South West of France enjoys a privileged geographical position. Its southern position guarantees plenty of sunshine and warm summers, however the area's proximity to the Atlantic allows cooler air to provide much relief in the height of the summer. The curative powers of the climate has been well recognised by English visitors over the ages and Pau the capital of the Béarne region is known as the English city. Biarritz rivals Nice in once being the playground for European royals with its spectacular shoreline and Belle Epoque architecture. Depending on your interests, the following await your discovery: |
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Historic Béarne region - Béarne des Gaves. You will discover a land of great historic interest in this lush, green and undulating countryside created by three rivers with the Pyrenees mountains as your backdrop. Gaston Fébus declared Béarne's independence from France in 1347, and created Orthez as his capital. Béarne was thus spared the throes of the 100 years war waged by Edward III of England. One of the smallest principalities, coveted by the Kings of France and Spain, it became a protestant enclave which was not reunited with France until 1594 by King Henri IV of France after two centuries. The region did, however, see English forces in 1814, when Wellington came in pursuit of Napolean's army. In this part of France, you can stroll through history and enjoy the distinctive architecture of this region in the towns of Orthez, Salies-de-Béarne, Sauveterre-de-Béarne and Navarrenx. In addition, not to be missed is Orthez's beach and fresh water lake, should you wish to enjoy the fun of the beach without the salty sea. |
The Old Bridge at Orthez |
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Any visit to the Béarne region would not be complete without a trip to Pau. Pau became the capital of the Béarne region after Orthez. A royal city, complete with Henri IV chateau, there is plenty to discover in this town. Enjoy a magnificent view of the Pyrenees range as you stroll down the famous Boulevard des Pyrénées, or in the many parks which are to be found throughout the centre of Pau. The Béarne region offers history with amazing countryside. |
The Chateau at Pau |
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The River 'Salys' at Salies-de-Béarne |
The Church at Salies-de-Béarne |
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Pyrenees Mountains. The Pyrenean mountains are never very far away, wherever you are in this part of France. Maison Blanc is on the border of the Pyrénees Atlantique county border and Bassercles offers some of the most spectacular views of the mountain range. One of the highest peaks the Pic du Midi d'Ossau at 2,884m can be seen from our village. There is much to discover in this mountain range with its gorges, valleys and mountain lakes, thus providing a completely different fauna and flora to the warmer lowlands of the Béarne. Everywhere in the range you will find breathtaking scenery and should you decide to take the cable car to the top of the Pic du Midi, you will see where the mountains and the sea join!! The towns and villages of the Pyrenees are a must, so make sure you visit St Jean-Pied-de-Port, where all the Compostella pilgrim routes meet before passing through the Pyrenees into Spain. Also worthy of exploring are the mountain towns and villages, of Cambo-Les-Bains, Espelette, Sare and Hasparren. In this part of the Pyrenees, you will find all the winter pleasures provided by the ski resorts of Gourette,La Pierre-Saint-Martin and Artouste. Alternatively, should you desire something more restorative and relaxing, you can enjoy the mountain spa waters at the many thermal mountain spa towns. The most notable spa towns are Saint Christau and Eaux-Bonnes. |
Views down towards the Atlantic Ocean from Col D'Ibardin. |
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Atlantic Beaches - La "Côte D'Argent" - The Silver Coast. 150 miles in length from the Gironde Estuary down to the border of Spain you will find a single stretch of white sandy beaches forming France's Atlantic coast!! As the longest stretch of beach in the whole of Europe, you will easily find yourself a quiet spot to sunbathe, or should that not be enough for you, then you can explore the lakes and forest of trees which have formed just behind the dunes. However, if you wish to share your beach with other people then head for the resorts of Capbreton, Hossegor, Biarritz, Ondres or St Jean de Luz. |
The Silver Coast |
| Landes Forests and Walks.
In the 19th Century, Napoleon III ordered the planting of Maritime pines to combat the encroaching sand and to drain the marshes of the Landes, thus creating Europe's largest single forest covering 2.5 million acres, which now bears witness to an amazing micro-climate of Pines, ferns and natural lakes. To the north of the Landes county, in the middle of this forest you will find the Parc Naturel Régional des Landes de Gascogneoffering nature trails, guided walks, cycle paths, mountain bike trails, bridlepaths, canoeing and kayaking, and finally not to be missed is the Ecomuseum!! |
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Basque Country. As you approach the Spanish border, the Pyrenean mountain range descends into the Atlantic ocean. In this area of France, you will find the harbour towns of Bidart, Ciboure, Guéthary, Hendaye and St Jean de Luz, with their traditional but distinctive, red and white houses set against the mountains as your backdrop. Inland, you will discover beautiful mountain villages and spa towns. Here the four grand paths of the Compastella Walk (Walk of St James') converge at the medieval town of St Jean Pied de Port before crossing the Pyrenees. The Basque country has a lot to offer with its mountain settings, gastronimc delights and beautiful coastline. Of course, no trip to the Basque country would be complete without visiting Biarritz, the jewel in the Basque crown, with its wide open bay and white beach. Whilst frequented by French high society, it still very much remains France's best kept secret. |
Lighthouse and the Grande Plage at Biarritz Copyright © Christian Amet |
| Historic Towns
Orthez
Salies de Béarne
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Distances
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Maison Blanc, 40700 Bassercles, France ~ maisonblanc40700@orange.fr
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