Between the Pyrenees and the Basque Coast, the Béarn des Gaves area has 4 history-laden towns: Navarrenx, Orthez, Sauveterre-de-Béarn and Salies-de-Béarn.

It is also a land dedicated to leisure: canoeing and fishing in the whitewater, a variety of excursions in the Pyrenean foothills... and thermal baths in Salies.

Salies-de-Béarn is the town of salt, the white gold found in the town's subsoil and brought to the surface by the waterways, and which made the town's a fortune in the era when salt was essential to preserve foodstuffs.
(Photo credit: OT Béarn des Gaves / D. Guilbot)

The salt and minerals present in the water also helped the development of thermalism from around the mid 19th century, the Belle-Epoque, reminders of which are to be found in the Moorish style in the centre of the public garden, the music kiosque and a few grand hotels such as the Hotel du Parc, with its magnificent glass.

Cross the park to the banks of the River Saleys which winds between the medieval houses on piles, find out everything about salt by visiting the museum devoted to it... Here a wine cellar, there an art gallery, elsewhere a restaurant. And a little effort is need to climb the "Sugarloaf" overlooking the town...

As you may have realised, you don't need long in Salies-de-Béarn to fall under the charm of a town that has been protected over the centuries by inhabitants who obviously love the place. There is thermalism but also golf, pelota... and special events such as the traditional Salt Fête ("Heste de la Sau" in béarnais) in the 2nd week in September - this year from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13.

Say hello to the wild boar for me!*

* you will get an explanation when you visit the town of the website of the tourist office: www.tourisme-bearn-gaves.com