A PRESENTATION OF OUR REGION

Our region is situated in the southwest of France, its called the Pyrnes Atlantiques. Pau is the most important town of the eastern part called Barn and Bayonne is the most important town of the western part called Basque country (Pays basque). In Barn, people speak Occitan and in the Basque country, people speak Basque. Both are regional languages with a different origin.

The most important towns and villages of our region. In La Pierre Saint-Martin theres an important skiing resort (15 kms from Arette). Youll stay at the hotel in Oloron Sainte-Marie (15 kms from Arette)

The Pays basque is divided in three different provinces : Soule , called Xiberoa in basque, Navarre (Nafarroa) and Labourd (Lapurdi)

There are three main small valleys : our school is in the Baretous valley

Typical basque houses

A typical basque house with piment dEspelette on the front of the house. This pimento is not as hot as chili, its very important in the basque gastronomy. They even make chocolate with this pimento!

A typical bearnish house

A partial view of Arette