Arzacq-Arraziguet - Arthez-de-Béarn

(S) Follow the bank of Lake Arzacq on your left to begin your walk around it. Continue until you reach the middle of the opposite bank.

(1) Turn right to begin a gentle climb through the woods, leading onto the Chemin du Petit Mic.

(2) Turn slightly to the right, then, at the Fork in the road, continue straight on along the Chemin de Larrouzé. Pass the Camps Hôtel (campsite) before reaching the hamlet of Labalette. (A marker informs you that you have walked 614 km from Le Puy-en-Velay).

(3) Keep going along the Chemin Caribou to reach the hamlet of the same name.

(4) Continue south-west and head down to the River Luy de France.

(5) Cross the bridge, then turn left in front of the Moulin de Louvigny to continue along the Chemin du Moulin and reach the hamlet of Diégou (farm).

(6) Keep heading south-west to reach the D270. At the give-way sign, carry on straight ahead to enter the village of Louvigny and continue to the first junction.

(7) Turn left to pass the town hall, followed by the church. (Picnic tables, a water point and toilets are provided in the village hall by the town hall). Carry on through the cultivated fields until you reach the first track.

(8) Turn right onto a stony track, heading uphill towards the pine forest, running alongside a power line. (Please take care on this section: you’ll need to open a few gates and, most importantly, make sure to close them behind you once you’ve passed through! ). Continue along the Chemin de Lassoulade until you reach the Fork in the road just past the house with blue shutters.

(9) Turn left onto the Chemin de Lacoste. Pass a picnic area to reach a crossroads.

(10) Turn left onto the Chemin de Pedebignes, marked by a small red corrugated iron hut. Stay on this path for about 200 metres until you reach the crossroads.

(11) Turn right and continue along a pleasant ridge path, climbing until you reach the junction with the Chemin de Lasserre.

(12) Continue south-east until you reach the junction with the Chemin d’Amélie.

(13) Head downhill to the right, towards a wooded valley, until you reach the Rance stream.

(14) Head back up the winding path to the village of Fichous-Riumayou. Pass by the foot of Saint-Girons Church (there’s a water tap in the cemetery) and carry on to the Stop sign.
(15) Turn left onto the D279 and walk to the junction.

(16) Turn right onto the D278 towards Larreule. Pass the turn-off for the hamlet of Larqué on your left and continue to a junction.

(17) Turn slightly to the right and continue along the D278, slightly downhill to the village of Larreule, until you reach the ‘Stop’ sign at the junction with the D262.

(18) Cross the junction carefully and carry on straight ahead along the Route de Mazerolles to pass through the village of Larreule. Walk past the ‘L’Escale à la ferme’ lodge and continue to the crossroads.

(19) Turn right and carry on along the road closed to vehicles over 5.5 tonnes, until you reach the pumping station.

(20) Cross the bridge over the Luy de Béarn, then head left. At the Fork in the road, turn right onto the Route d’Uzan to reach a junction just past the Baron farm.

(21) Turn right onto the Route d’Uzan to enter the Béarn region. Carry on, passing through the hamlet of Commandet, until you reach the junction.

(22) Carry on north-west, through vast expanses of farmland, until you reach the River Uzan.

(23) Cross the bridge and pass the pumping station. Carry on to the cemetery and the parish church of Sainte-Quitterie.

(24) Turn right, then right again, following a low wall until you reach a house, then carry on to the junction.

(25) Turn left, towards Géus d’Asacq, onto Chemin La Carrère, which continues on from Chemin Lous Hours. Pass to the left of the cross, then carry on to the large, solitary tree.

(26) Turn right to continue along Chemin de la Lèbe. Carry on to the hamlet of Lasalle.

(27) Head slightly left, pass the picnic area and cross the stream before reaching a Stop sign.

(28) Turn left onto theGR®®65 Géus d’Arzacq Variant. Stay on the Route de l’Église until you reach the Laroche crossroads.

(29) Carry on to the large pink house and turn right onto the Route de Pomps. Walk past the football pitch and continue along this road until you reach the sign pointing towards the Church of Saint-Jacques.

(30) At the junction (whereyou rejoin the^GR®®65), carry on straight ahead to enter the village of Pomps at the cross.

(31) Turn left at the junction and carry on to the Ruisseau Gauyet.

(32) Turn left (south-east) onto the Route de Brana and carry on to the Fork in the road.

(33) Veer to the right, past an abandoned farm, and carry on through the countryside until you reach the ‘Stop’ sign at the junction with the D945.

(34) Cross the road carefully, then, just past a dilapidated house, head right onto a grassy track and continue to the junction with the D269.

(35) Turn left onto the D269, cross the Lech stream and ignore the^{PR®® signs.} At the Fork in the road, turn left to continue along the D269 until you reach the sign marking the entrance to the village of Castillon.

(36) Carry on straight ahead to reach the cemetery and the church in Castillon.

(37) Turn left towards the town hall. Carry on until you reach the Stop sign.

(38) Cross the D269 carefully and continue straight ahead onto the Camin Lacoume. Leave the village of Castillon, not without first admiring the view of the Pyrenees, then head down a forest track to rejoin the D269.

(39) Turn left onto the D269, cross the Aubin stream and continue along the road for about one kilometre until you reach the right-hand bend.

(40) Leave this departmental road and take a small road on the left which is closed to lorries. Pass through the hamlets of Benicet and Carrère in turn before reaching the D233, opposite a transformer.

(41) Turn right, passing between the church and the Caubin oratory, taking care on the D233. Continue on to the town of Arthez-de-Béarn. Stay on this road until you reach the crossroads.

(42) Carry on straight ahead towards Arthez-de-Béarn Centre. (Take care on this street as the pavements are very narrow or non-existent). Continue until you reach Place du Palais.

(43) Head left, towards Orthez, then turn immediately left, temporarily leaving the^GR®®65to follow the signs for Collège Corisande. Walk past the school and carry on until you reach the Fork in the road.

(44) Head slightly to the left, towards the sports centre/swimming pool/campsite. At the stop sign, carry straight on along Route du Foirail, which continues as Allée des Sports, to reach the municipal campsite and your camp for the night (E).

Provisions available at the ‘L’Escale à la Ferme’ lodge (18), offering sandwiches and takeaway meals, and in the town of Arthez-de-Béarn (43) at a Casino supermarket, bakery and butcher’s.
Camping at the Municipal Campsite. Tel: 05 59 67 76 56 Information:
Accommodation options:
Broussé stopover lodge. Tel: 05 59 67 74 46
Communal lodge. Tel: 05 59 67 70 52
Domaine de Compostelle. Tel: 06 86 27 19 01
Jean-Marc Prat. Tel: 05 59 67 40 94

Uzan (24). This fortified town was founded by the monks of Larreule Abbey at the end of the 12th century. Near the church, dedicated to Saint Quitterie.

The village of Géus-d’Arzacq (28) (pronounced ‘géouss’) first appears in records in 1515 under the name Gieus; it did not take its current name (to distinguish it from its namesake in Oloron) until December 1956.

The chapel at Caubin (41). Probably built on the orders of Gaston IV of Béarn by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem upon their return from the First Crusade, ‘Espital de Calvi’ was founded around 1160. This commandery, richly endowed by the Knights of Malta, was to enjoy a period of great prosperity.

Arthez-de-Béarn (43), perched on a defensive ridge, was once a veritable citadel. It was for this reason that it was included in the defensive system established by Gaston Phébus, who was tasked with defending Béarn against neighbouring regions. At the centre of the village stood the castle (12th century) with its two square towers, of which only one remains and now serves as the bell tower for the Church of Saint-Étienne (1887). The main street was closed off at both ends by bridges spanned by chains.