Tarbes, France
Self Catering Tarbes Holiday Homes Gites and Cottages
Tarbes is found in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region of south-western France – it is reputed to be among the oldest towns of the south west.
When you stay in a Tarbes Holiday Cottage you’ll note that it is the gateway to the Pyrenees which lie to the south. There are attractive views of the snow-capped mountains from the town and the first Pyrenean ski resorts are about half an hour drive from Tarbes.To the south of Tarbes is the pilgrimage town of Lourdes and the border with Spain.
When you rent a holiday home in Tarbes, be sure to visit the Jardin Massey - a substantial (25 acres) park dating from the 19th century - and much as you might expect to find in 19th century England. The sprinkling of statues and monuments in the park, which also features many interesting species of trees, make for a pleasant exploration. There are also 14th century cloisters in the park, as well as remains of an abbey that once stood here.
Another park to take in when you stay in a Tarbes Holiday Gite is the Parc Bel Air - above all for its view of the mountains. Tarbes also enjoys a microclimate enabling palm trees to grow in the town centre - you will also notice a surprising number of fountains as you explore Tarbes. Most of these are from the 19th century heyday of the town.
Other sites of interest when you stay in self-catering accommodation in Tarbes include the Cathedral Notre Dame de la Sede and the small museum dedicated to wartime deportation and resistance in the region. There is also a museum dedicated to the Marshall Foch – a hero of the First World War, it is also a listed National Monument of France.
The Napoleonic Haras (horse breeding and training) centre also plays an important role in Tarbes - as it has for the last 200 years.
Just 17 kilometres away is beautiful, spiritual Lourdes, nestling in the foothills of the Pyrenean mountains. It’s the largest pilgrimage site in the world with over five million visitors each year.
The Gare de Tarbes railway station offers direct connections with Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Bayonne and several regional destinations. The TGV runs a direct line to Tarbes from Paris.The A64 motorway connects Tarbes with Bayonne and Toulouse. Allow a full-day’s drive if you intend to drive from France’s northern ferry ports. Tarbes is also served by the small Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport – Ryanair flies into the airport form London, and BMI baby flies from Manchester.
The local climate is typical of a continental region: summer temperatures peak at around 28°C, and the area is mainly sunny all year round. In the winter temperatures drop considerably, but strong winds are rare.