The apartment is just outside the small touristique town,
Laruns, which has all the basic commerce’s
and is a centre of cheese making. On the 15th August each
year there is a traditional dance, in costume, held in the
village.
It is a ski resort in winter and a good
spot for exploring the mountains in summer. It is best known
due to its position in the heart of the Ossau valley. Steep
wooded hills rise up around the village, which provides
hikers with good access to the Pic du Midi to the south
(Gabas, to the south of Laruns, is another
possibility).
This small town marks the junction of the valley that leads
to the ski resort of Gourette and the dramatic Aubisque
Pass (Col d'Aubisque) with the beautiful Ossau Valley. There
are nearby lakes, such as Arremoulit (shown
below left), Artouste and Fabrèges
(which boasts spectacular views from the dam walls). It
is an ideal centre for exploring the mountains and valleys,
with the National Park close by and an unusual observatory
for a colony of Griffon Vultures.
Things to do in Laruns: fishing (river -Gave d'Ossau (Categ
1) and mountain lakes), rock climbing, hiking and snow walking,
skiing (Ski Resort at Gourette, 12km), canoeing, thermal
spas (Eaux-chaudes and Eaux-Bonnes, 4km).
