Authentic villages

LOUDENVIELLE

Village at the end of the Louron valley, at an altitude of 960m, bordering Spain to the south and Génos-Loudenvielle lake to the north. A 32 hectare reserve since 1975, offering a wide range of activities for families and friends.

Heritage

Visit the churches of Saint-Just and Saint-Sauveur in Loudenvielle, the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Martin in Aranvielle and the chapel of Notre-Dame in Artiguelongue, rebuilt after the French Revolution. You can also visit the Saoussas watermill and the Arixo museum.

GENOS

The village of Génos is positioned at an altitude of 940 m on the edge of the Génos-Loudenvielle lake, built on a very narrow part of the valley near the slate quarries.

Heritage

As you stroll around the lake, you'll notice some remarkable remains. The Tower of Génos, built in the 13th century, is a 10-metre-high watchtower. In the Middle Ages, it was used to alert the other towers to the north in the event of an attack from the south. On the other side of the lake, you can see the Tower of Moulor, built in the 12th century. It belonged to the Moulor family, lords of Loudervielle. All that remains of the original castle is the square tower, the chapel and part of the surrounding wall. This defensive tower protected the entire southern Louron valley from Moorish invaders. The legend has it that there was even a secret passage linking the two towers... Not to forget the 16th-century Saint-Vincent church in Génos as well.

GERM-LOURON

Germ is the highest village in the Louron valley, situated at an altitude of around 1350 meters. Located at the foot of the Peyragudes ski resort, the village includes the Peyresourde side of the valley, as well as the hamlet of Balestas. The village was completely destroyed by fire in 1690, then gradually rebuilt.

Heritage

The village church, built in the 16th century, is named after Saint-Étienne, the first martyr of the Christian religion. Two chapels were subsequently built in the village. The first, dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Rosaire, was built in 1597. The second, built later, around 1832, is named Notre-Dame-Des-Sept-Douleurs.

ADERVIELLE-POUCHERGUES

The two villages merged in 1987 to form Adervielle-Pouchergues. Pastoralism and slate mining kept the area alive for centuries, and this is still deeply visible in the landscape. The lowest altitude in the village is 920m, the highest 2300m. Adervielle-Pouchergues offers magnificent mountain panoramas in a peaceful setting; its closeness to the Génos-Loudenvielle lake and the Louron ski resorts make it a privileged and sought after location.

From Romanesque to the 19th century

The church of Saint-Etienne d'Adervielle and the Romanesque church of Saint-Laurent de Pouchergues, the 19th-century chapel of Saint-Eloi d'Adervielle and the washhouses.

The hay barns

The Nabias barns, typical of livestock farming from days long gone, the hike has breathtaking panoramic views, perfect for a family picnic. The Pouchergues slate quarries are a reminder of  when slate was mined on this site.

MONT

Mont is a small village located on the East side of the Louron Valley, at an altitude of around 1,300 metres. Its southern exposure provides exceptional sunshine throughout the year and also shelters it from the cold winds descending into the valley.

You can stroll through the renovated stone-paved streets of the village, lined with old farmhouses and barns characteristic of the valley.

Heritage

The Saint-Barthélemy Church, listed as a Historic Monument, was built in the 12th century before being transformed in the 16th century. The bell wall was replaced by a tower, and a chapel was added on the northern side of the building. In addition, many of the interior and exterior walls are still decorated with frescoes.

Near the church cemetery stands an oratory dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Also listed as a Historic Monument, it is remarkable for the paintings covering its walls and vaulted ceiling.

A paddle-wheel mill can also be seen on the Poudaque stream, on the edge of the village. The last remaining of the five mills that once occupied this area, is nevertheless very well preserved.

VIELLE-LOURON 

Vielle-Louron is located on the West side of the Louron Valley, at an altitude of around 950 metres. The Neste du Louron river crosses the commune from south to north, marking the eastern boundary with the commune of Cazaux-Fréchet-Anéran-Camors before flowing on towards Avajan to the south. The village is home to just under one hundred residents today.

Heritage

The village church, named Saint-Mercurial after an Aragonese knight who died on these lands while fighting the Saracens in the 11th century, was built in a Romanesque style in the 16th century. It has been modified several times throughout history and was listed as a Historic Monument in 1979.

ESTARVIELLE

In the Louron Valley, at the bottom of the ski resorts of Peyragudes and Val Louron, Estarvielle is a preserved, family-friendly village. It is set in a landscape of terraced fields, offering charm and a sense of escape for those who love nature and calm.

Heritage

Legend says that a Visigoth lord, who owned a large estate in the Louron Valley, left his lands to his five children: Estar, Ader, Aran, Louden, and Louder. This is said to be the origin of the names of the communes Estarvielle, Adervielle, Aranvielle, Loudervielle, and Loudenvielle. Don’t miss the Saint-Pierre Church, built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century.

CAZAUX-FRÉCHET-ANÉRAN-CAMORS

This village was originally made up of four separate parishes, which first merged in pairs in 1806. Cazaux-Fréchet on one side, and Anéran-Camors on the other, eventually merged completely in 1979. This relatively young commune, made up of six hamlets in total, is located east of Avajan and north of Estarvielle. It spans an altitude ranging from 950 to 1,250 metres.

Heritage

The six hamlets that make up the commune are rich in remarkable heritage, including beautiful stone mountain houses as well as several fountains and water basins.

Four churches with distinct characteristics are spread across the area. They represent the four original parishes that once served as administrative landmarks before their merger. These include the Notre-Dame Church in Anéran, the Notre-Dame Chapel in Fréchet, the Saint-Jacques Church in Camors, and the Saint-Calixte Church in Cazaux.

ARMENTEULE

Located on the north-east side of Lake Génos, Armenteule is a small village of around thirty inhabitants in the heart of the Louron Valley. Historically, the village, situated at an altitude of 950 metres, had an economy based on a mix of agropastoralism and slate production. This heritage can still be seen today while walking among old farmhouses and renovated barns. The commune merged with Loudenvielle on January 1st, 2016.

Heritage

The Saint-Félix Church, built in the Romanesque style, is located slightly north of the village. At the time of its construction, it consisted of a simple structure. It was not until the 16th century that it was reinforced with buttresses. The interior of the building is particularly notable for its extensive wall paintings, as well as its nave frescoes dating from the same period.

LOUDERVIELLE

The village of Loudervielle lies to the east of the Louron valley, at the beginning of the col de Peyresourde, at an altitude of around 1,150 meters. In the past, several manganese and slate mines contributed to the village's economy, before it was destroyed by a fire in 1729 and later rebuilt.

Heritage

In the Middle Ages, the village of Loudervielle occupied a strategic position thanks to the view it had over the valley. The Moulor tower and castle were built here in the 12th century, in order to communicate with neighboring towers, such as the one in Génos. Sounding the alarm in case of invasions by the Moors. Legend has it that there was a secret passage connecting the two towers.

Sainte-Marie-Madeleine only became the official church in 1870. Before that, it was used as an annex by the village of Armenteule, then Loudenvielle. Modified several times over the centuries, it was completely repainted in 1935.

AVAJAN

Located at an altitude of 900 metres and close to the Peyresourde, Val Louron-Azet, and Aspin mountain, Avajan is sure to charm lovers of trout fishing, hiking, cycling, and of course skiing, as it lies at the bottom of the Val Louron and Peyragudes resorts.

Its main highlights include its guesthouses, a mill where visitors can stay and enjoy meals, as well as its campsite located on the edge of Lake Avajan and the Neste river. This agro-sylvo-pastoral village « whose economy is based on pastoral farming » has retained its traditional charm.

Heritage

Avajan was historically a pastoral village, where inhabitants mainly lived from livestock farming (cattle, horses, sheep) and agriculture (wheat, potatoes, and buckwheat). The slopes around the village are covered with boxwood, which once represented an important source of income for locals. The wood was used for heating and could also be sold to local carpenters.

The parish church of Saint-Blaise in Avajan, renovated in 1962, dates back to the 16th century.

RIS

A small village perched at around 1,000 metres in altitude, Ris benefits from exceptional sunshine thanks to its south-west exposure and the absence of surrounding relief that could block the light. The open view to the west offers an outstanding panorama of the Arbizon Peak as well as the surrounding mountains. The village, partly made up of now-renovated farms, once lay along one of the routes of the Way of St. James.

Heritage

The Saint-Blaise Church, built in the 16th century, is striking due to the tower added a century later. The tower contains a spiral staircase leading directly to the bell tower.

In addition, a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows was built in homage to alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a young shepherdess. Located about 1 kilometre from the village, it was long the destination of a pilgrimage held every 5th of August.

BAREILLES

This village is actually made up of two hamlets, Pouy and Ys, making it almost a “three-in-one” settlement. Bareilles has also given its name to the small valley in which it is located, and it is its highest village. Administratively, it belongs to the Louron Valley, making it a small enclave on the other side of the Ris Col. It is the starting point of a very accessible and beautiful hike up to Lake Bareilles, overlooked by the Pic du Lion.

Heritage

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption dates back to the 14th century. It was rebuilt in the 19th century using granite and schist, giving it its current light colour. Its well-preserved appearance also comes from restoration work carried out in 1999. The cul-de-four is decorated with a monumental painting.

BORDÈRES-LOURON

Bordères-Louron marks the entrance to the Louron Valley. The Neste river flows through this peaceful village, gently shaping the daily life of its inhabitants. Since 1972, Ilhan, the village located on the heights, has been attached to Bordères-Louron, adding several beautiful places to discover when walking uphill. The commune also features charming, recently restored washhouses that give the streets their character and preserve the village’s heritage. In summer, visitors can enjoy a local producers market every Sunday morning, as well as the annual festival on August 14th and 15th.

Heritage

The village is home to the imposing parish church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, as well as the remains of the fortified castle walls dating from the 13th century, destroyed by a fire in 1740.

Higher up, you can explore the Moulette district, where terraced hanging gardens were created to improve irrigation—offering insight into historic community water management.

Also worth noting is the Romanesque Saint-Germé Church in Ilhan, whose furnishings and wall paintings have been listed as Historic Monument objects since 1979 and 1983

CAZAUX-DÉBAT

The village of Cazaux-Débat, perched at an altitude of 800 metres, is the first village on the departmental road D618 leading into the Louron Valley. On the left side of the Neste river lies the hamlet of La Prade, which is part of the commune, while the main village stands on the right side of the river. It is therefore necessary to cross the bridge and take the D156 road to reach Cazaux-Débat.

In 1918, during the early stages of the First World War, the French state deployed a contingent of Vietnamese workers to complete construction work on a hydroelectric canal diverting the Neste from Avajan towards Arreau. Installed near the hamlet of La Prade, many of these workers were struck by a severe flu epidemic that claimed numerous lives. A commemorative stele was erected in 2013 in honour of their sacrifice.

Heritage

The Saint-Saturnin Church, built in the 16th century, is recognisable by its Gothic style and white façade. An ancient Romanesque chrism has also been added to the building, standing out against its overall colour. Finally, two chapels were added to the church at the end of the 19th century.