Travel Guide Bad-De-Béarn

Surrounded by green hills, the 5,000 inhabitants of Salies-de-Béarn are nestled between the Gaves de Pau and the Gaves d'Oloron. The town is nicknamed the "Venice of Béarn" and, above all, the city of salt, thanks to its rare water, which is ten times saltier than the sea! Although excavations have revealed that this rare and precious commodity has been exploited for over 3,000 years, it was in the Middle Ages that the inhabitants began to organize themselves around trade, with the creation of the Corporation des Parts-Prenants. Over the years, activities diversified, and in 1855, Salies-de-Béarn opened its first spa. Today, well-being and relaxation have been added to these assets, and the town remains a must-see tourist destination. Composed of ancient alleyways that weave like snail shells around the center, it has a unique charm with the Saleys river running through its heart and past typical half-timbered, picon-tiled houses on stilts. Despite the floods of June 2018, the town and its shops quickly came back to life, enabling the town center to retain its conviviality and appeal. In Salies-de-Béarn, you'll find majestic examples of Belle Epoque and Art Deco architecture encircling the thermal baths and casino, as well as an old town with a wealth of medieval architecture, a magnificent setting that puts the town in the spotlight for its Fête du sel, the Fête des Sottises, the Piperadère and its magic, contemporary art and amateur video festivals.