Cathedrals, palaces, castles and museums — discover Occitania's cultural treasures

Auch

The monumental staircase in Auch with 370 steps, which was built in 1863, connects the upper and lower towns of Auch. Once at the top, you have a wonderful view of the Tour d'Armagnac, the prefecture, former archbishop's palace and the impressive Sainte Marie Cathedral.

The Sainte Marie Cathedral in Auch, which was built from the 15th to the 17th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and impresses with its dimensions and late Gothic flamboyant style. Your choir with its 116 choir chairs, which are decorated with a total of 1500 carved figures, is an artistic masterpiece. Even the colors and lighting effects through the 18 stained-glass windows, made by Arnaud de Moles, are masterpieces from the 16th century. Next door in Tour d'Armagnac, A former prison, houses the cathedral's treasury: also very worth seeing!

The Musée des Amériques presents the second-largest collection of pre-Columbian art in France. Other collections in the museum lead through antiquity and the fine arts of Gascony.

Lourdes

The small town of Lourdes at the foot of the Pyrenees is one of the most famous Marian pilgrimage sites in the world. Those who come to Lourdes quickly sense the connection this place has. The sacred precinct of Lourdes is a place of prayer, trust, peace, respect, unity, and also silence.

A walk through the old town of Lourdes, following in the footsteps of St. Bernadette, provides profound insight into the life of the young woman to whom Mary is said to have appeared several times. In addition to the famous Grotto of Massabielle, the site of the Marian apparition, the sacred precinct includes various churches and chapels, including the Rosary Basilica. Its nave is circular and crowned by a dome with 16 stained-glass windows. The gilded crown with a cross was a gift from Ireland in 1924 as a token of thanks for its independence. The nave is surrounded by 15 smaller chapels, each of which symbolizes a mystery of the Rosary. The 15 sections represent the 15 groups of ten of a traditional rosary. Each chapel features a large mosaic depicting the content or theme of the respective mystery and a Latin inscription. Most of the magnificent mosaics were created around 1900.

The modern Basilica of St. Pius X is an underground basilica. It can accommodate approximately 25,000 visitors, making it one of the largest Christian churches. The shape of the sacred building is modeled after an inverted ship's hull.

Tarbes

The historic garrison town of Tarbes is closely linked to horses and the history of its hussar stud: the listed and historic site created by Napoleon in 1806 is nestled in the Jardin Massey Nature Park in the heart of the city. On eight hectares, you will experience numerous museum treasures that reveal the influence of horses on the city. The Tarbes hussar cavalry made possible the birth of the Anglo-Arabian breed through clever crossings with the Tarbais horse. The Haras de Tarbes looks back on over 200 years of history and presents historical collections of antique saddles, carriages and much more.

The Massey Museum is located in the heart of Jardin Massey and presents its two most important collections in the former Moorish-style home of the famous botanist Placide Massey, with an observation tower overlooking the Pyrenees.

The International Hussar Museum As already described above, a fascinating journey through 400 years of history and with over 15,000 objects on display offers an overview of the epic of the hussars, one of the most unusual and fascinating military “phenomena” that continues to influence the fashion world today.

The Museum of Fine Arts brings together important works from the Italian school and the Dutch and Flemish schools of the 16th and 17th centuries as well as the French schools of the 18th and 19th century. Among the masterpieces on display, mythology and religious art play an important role.

Pau

Art or history? Museum of Fine Arts, National Castle Museum... In this royal city, the capital of Béarn and the cradle of aviation, various museums bring history and art to life.

National Castle Museum: 1000 years of history

The castle of Pau overlooks the city and the river and preserves the legend of the “Good King Henry” and the Kingdom of Navarra. It was restored in the 19th century and is now a national museum. It provides insights into 1000 years of history. You will be surprised by the quality and richness of the decoration. It presents one of the finest collections of tapestries from the 16th to 19th century.

The green lung in the heart of the city of Pau, a 22-hectare national estate, surrounds the Château de Pau. As a remnant and heir of the vast dominion of the kings of Navarra, it is suitable for beautiful walks in the shade of its remarkable trees.

From Boulevard des Pyrénées, the so-called Renaissance Gardens and the Vegetable Garden follow one another, small, perfectly arranged squares, the Basse Plante and then the castle park. They are a small piece of art in their own right!‍

The Museum of Fine Arts

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau is the second-largest museum in Aquitaine in terms of the wealth of its collections and has a masterpiece by Degas: “The Cotton Office in New Orleans,” surrounded by rich collections. The paintings on display in the museum take you on a journey through the Flemish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and French schools from the 15th to the 20th century. Temporary exhibitions regularly present you with new artists.

Lescar Museum‍

The Lescar Museum is located in the heart of the historic city, in the former cellars of the Episcopal Palace. You'll discover the history of Béarn's first capital, ancient Beneharnum. The episcopal capital and ancient history have left behind objects and ruins that testify to this rich past: bronze jewelry and vases from the Iron and Bronze Age, mosaics from the 4th century, sealed pottery and everyday objects...

etc...

These were just a few examples of the cultural offerings and diversity of southwestern France that will enrich your trip.