Arzacq-Arraziguet - Arthez-de-Béarn

(S) Follow the shore of Lac d'Arzacq on your left to begin the walk. Continue to the middle of the opposite bank.

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

(2) Turn slightly right, then at the fork, 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 since Le Puy-en-Velay).

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

(4) Continue south-west and head down to the River Le 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, continue straight on to enter the village of Louvigny and carry on to the first junction.

(7) Turn left to pass in front of the town hall, followed by the church. (Picnic tables, drinking water and toilets are provided in the village hall by the town hall). Continue through the cultivated fields until you reach the first path.

(8) Turn right onto a stony path, climbing towards the pine forest, following a power line. (Take care on this section: you’ll need to open a few gates and, most importantly, close them behind you once you’ve passed through! ). Continue along the Chemin de Lassoulade until you reach the fork just past the house with blue shutters.

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

(10) Turn left onto Chemin de Pedebignes, marked by a small red corrugated iron hut. Stay on this path for about 200 m 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 Chemin d’Amélie.

(13) Head down to the right, towards a wooded valley, to the Rance stream.

(14)  Head back up the winding path to the village of Fichous-Riumayou. Pass by the foot of Saint-Girons Church (water point at the cemetery) and continue to the Stop sign.

(15) Follow the D279 to the left and walk to the junction.

(16) Turn right towards Larreule on the D278. Pass the turn-off to Larqué on your left and reach a junction.

(17) Turn 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 it carefully and continue straight ahead on the road to Mazerolles, passing through the village of Larreule. Pass the ‘L’Escale à la ferme’ lodge and continue to the crossroads.

(19) Turn right and continue 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, turn right onto the Route d’Uzan to reach an intersection just past the Baron farm.

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

(22) Continue north-west, through vast cultivated fields, to the River Uzan.

(23) Cross the bridge and pass the pumping station. Continue 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 continue to the junction.

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

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

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

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

(29) Continue to the large pink house and turn right onto the Route de Pomps. Pass the football pitch and continue along this road until you reach the sign pointing towards the Église Saint-Jacques.

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

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

(32) Turn left (south-east) onto the Route de Brana and continue to the fork.

(33) Turn right at the abandoned farm and continue through the countryside until you reach the Stop sign at the junction with the D945.

(34) Cross it 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 this road, cross the Lech stream and ignore the^{PR® signs.} Turn left at the fork to continue on the D269 until you reach the sign marking the entrance to the village of Castillon.

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

(37) Turn left towards the town hall. Continue to the Stop sign.

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

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

(40) Leave this 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 to the town of Arthez-de-Béarn. Stay on this road until you reach the crossroads.

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

(43) Turn left towards Orthez, then turn immediately left, temporarily leaving the^GR®65to follow the signs for Collège Corisande. Walk past the school and continue to the fork.

(44) Turn left towards the sports complex/swimming pool/campsite. At the stop sign, continue straight on along Route du Foirail, which becomes Allée des Sports, to reach the municipal campsite and your camp for the night (E).

Provisions available at the lodge l'Escale à la ferme (18) with 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 Info:.
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 1515 under the name Gieus; it only took its current name (to distinguish it from its namesake in Oloron) in December 1956.

The Chapel of 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 great period of 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.