Travel Guide Bérenx

The Berenx region was occupied by prehistoric men more than 4,000 years ago, as evidenced by the discovery in 1930 of polished stone axes dating back to the Copper Age (Chalcolithic). At the top of the turrón de Saint-Pic, a fortified camp with the feudal castle of Mongiscard built by Gaston IV of Béarn and demolished under the reign of Louis XIII, dominated the valley, making it an effective site during the Protestant revolt. The main activity of the village was and still is agriculture, but also handicrafts or fishing with a salmon fishery on the river until the beginning of the 20th century, without forgetting the quarry of the Bérenx bridge and for many years seven mills marked the activity of the village. There is only one left in operation. Today, the village that had its peak of glory has only 500 inhabitants and the salmon fishery, as well as the quarry, have disappeared. A village in the heart of a pleasant countryside, nowadays living almost exclusively from vines and corn.