Mazeres-Assat circular loop via the Henri IV path

Park in the car park behind the presbytery in Mazères Lezons (Avenue de la République).

(S/E) Turn right and join the main road 20 metres ahead. Turn right and walk 100 metres, then turn left (Rue du Gave). Continue straight on until you pass two consecutive gates (protecting the drinking water catchment areas), going round them, and follow the path to the banks of the Gave

(1) Pass a path on your right that crosses a small stream; you will return via this path.
You will then pass a gas installation and follow the left bank of the Gave downstream to the Mazères Stadium, which you will leave on your left. Go right under the first bridge on the ring road. Follow the riverbank (for about 800m) until the path veers away from the water’s edge and leads you to a small, narrow footbridge under the trees.

(2) Cross it and turn right. Admire the Gelos National Stud Park on your left. You will then arrive near the Gelos sports grounds and climb the ramp leading to the white footbridge that takes you across the Gave de Pau.

(3) As you cross, when you are in the middle of the footbridge, take a moment to admire Pau Castle in the distance on your left, overlooking the river.
Then continue along the path on the other bank (right), which follows the edge of the Gave upstream towards the white-water stadium. Go round it, keeping to the right, and come out leaving the large stadium building on your left. Then leave Avenue Léon Heid on your left and turn right onto Avenue de l’Yser. Take the second left after 600m and cross the level crossing. At the traffic lights, turn right and cross the main road to reach the bottom of the hill leading to Franqueville Castle.

(4) Climb the steps on your right and follow the path to the castle.

(5) Walk down the esplanade alongside the vineyard (enjoy the lovely view) and head towards the castle’s entrance gate. Once you have passed through it, take the path on the right (Chemin Henri IV) and follow it. At the second road on the right (1500m), take the path opposite which, 100m further on, turns sharply left to cross the dual carriageway (footbridge).
Continue along the path, ignoring the side paths branching off on either side (for about 1.5 km) and passing two gas wells on your right. You will then come to a signpost with a map of the hiking trails.

(6) Continue straight on along Chemin Henri IV for a further 1.6 km (a long, fairly windy straight stretch with copses on the left and a gas enclosure halfway along) and you will reach a road. Turn right onto it and continue, leaving Chemin Henri IV on your left. Follow this road for just over a kilometre and you will reach a tarmac road.

(7) Take this road, lined with houses, to the left and head downhill for about 500 metres to the dual carriageway (it’s quite steep). Then turn left onto the road running alongside the dual carriageway; after 200 metres, go under the dual carriageway, then cross the equestrian centre. Then take the bridge after the frog pond and continue along Chemin de Peyrous, then turn left onto Chemin des Prés.
After 500 metres, you’ll come to Route du Bois; turn right here towards Bourg d’Assat. Cross the railway line and continue straight on to the post office, then straight on again to the château.

(8) Go round it on the left via Rue de l’Égalité, then Rue des Platanes, until you reach Place des Platanes, where you take Route du Pont to the right. Walk down to the Assat bridge (500m), cross it, then take the path on the right (pass under the barrier).

(9) Continue along the hiking trail that runs alongside the Gave to the Narcastet Stadium and carry on along the Gave.
At the junction, follow the mountain bike track up the hill opposite. Continue along the mountain bike track, crossing a small bridge.

(10) After the bridge, there is a steep descent, then you will reach a gate on your right. Go through it (drinking water collection area) and follow the track which leads you to the edge of the stream, then climbs up and crosses a bridge through the undergrowth. Keep following the gravelly mountain bike trail and, after a long straight stretch, cross a path and go round a water authority enclosure. Continue along the mountain bike trail, leaving the Uzos football ground on your left.

(11) Continue along the stream downstream and, after a few narrow or sandy sections, you will reach the bridge at the initial crossroads you passed on the way out.

(1) . Then turn left and retrace the first kilometre of the walk in the opposite direction back to the car park (S/E).

Water points at the Bizanos cemetery just after the whitewater stadium and at Franqueville Castle.
Benches around Franqueville Castle for a picnic.

Gelos National Stud Farm, Bizanos Whitewater Stadium, Franqueville Castle.
Flora and fauna along the banks of the Gave.