• The world-renowned jazz festival Jazz In Marciac, 31 July - 16 August 2009, (20 mins)
• The largest country music festival in Europe, Mirande Country Musical Festival, 9 - 14 July 2009, (40 mins)
• National and international car, bike and truck racing at Nogaro Racing Circuit.
• Lourdes, (50 mins) the world famous place of pilgrimage which last year celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first apparition in 1858.
• Vineyards of Madiran (10 mins), see below.
The vineyards of Madiran produce excellent red wines, now being linked to health benefits and longevity.
A little further afield, the popular ski resorts of Cauterets (90 mins), La Mongie (80 Mins) and St-Lary (95 mins) are easily accessible during the winter season and offer stunning scenery for walking/hiking at other times of the year. Visit Pic Du Midi, Pont d'Espagne and Gavarnie to discover the breathtaking mountainscapes of the Pyrénées.
Extract from Daily Mail Tuesday 6 May 08 'Wine CAN be good for you':
An important element of red wine are procyanidins, which help to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol and protect against hardening of the arteries.
One of two wine-growing regions in the world which boast high concentrations of procyanidins is Madiran in the Pyrenees.
"It's no wonder that the Madiran area has double the French national average of men aged 90, and this is despite regularly eating foods high in saturated fat, such as cassoulet," says Prof Corder.
Read the whole article.