Laruns is a village situated in a lovely setting in the mountains of the National Park of the Pyrenees, 35 km south of Pau, in the Pyrénées Atlantiques department, and with easy access to some of the finest scenery to be found in the Pyrenees.
Explore Laruns village
France This way comment: although there are no great sites to detain you for long in Laruns it is a pleasant town to explore and has cafes and shops.
In the village of Laruns you can see some good examples of the typical Pyrénéean architecture, as well as the 16th century village Church of Saint-Pierre and some houses with attractively designed lintels above the doors, as well as a large marble fountain in the main square.
Almost all sites and places of interest in Laruns including the church, the town hall and the tourist office are around the main square, and the large fountain is in the centre of this main square.
There are several small streets around the square that you can also spend a few minutes exploring.
The weekly market in Laruns is held on a saturday morning, and on thursday evenings during the summer. On the 15th August each year there is a traditional dance, in costume, held in the village, and there is an important regional cheese fair held here the first sunday in october by the local cheese producers.
On the edge of Laruns there is a supermarket, the main supermarket in the Ossau valley.
Mountains and lakes around Laruns
It is the position of Laruns in the mountains that attracts the visitors to the town. 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 d'Ossau at the head of the valley, and Gabas to the south of Laruns.
Among other natural highlights here are the picturesque lakes of the Ossau valley such as the Arremoulit lakes, Artouste lake, Bious-Artigues and Ayous, and famous mountain passes such as the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Pourtalet.
The one hour walk around the edge of Lake Bious-Artigues is a good introduction to the region around Laruns, in a scenic setting in the shadow of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau, with longer trails around the other lakes or the Pic itself also starting from the lake.
While enthusiastic hikers will head for the peaks, others can enjoy the scenery very well from the Soussoueou and Brousset Valleys, or perhaps take the small tourist train that winds through the mountains and has a very scenic view across Artouste lake.
Numerous outdoor activities are available, including rafting, rock-climbing, mountain-biking, hiking and fishing among others. The brave might like to try canyonning, which includes walking, swimming and climbing in one sport that follows a fast-moving river through the bottom of a canyon (you need to do this with a professional guide, don't just go and leap in the river!).
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Attractions nearby
There are many small villages and hamlets in the mountains around Laruns, often little more than a group of houses and a village church, such as Bielle, Assouste, Castres, Gabas and Béost.
South of Laruns you can follow the road that leads to the famous mountain cols of the Pyrénées, starting at Eaux-Bonnes at the bottom of the Col d'Aubisque.
To the west of Laruns (starting at Bielle) you can follow the Col de Marie Blanque, which is also picturesque - especially a large open meadow area where horses and cows can often be seen in large numbers.
Being in the Atlantic-Pyrenees department might lead you to think that Laruns is near the Atlantic but it is really quite isolated and the Atlantic sea resorts such as Biarritz are quite some distance from here: we took about two hours (each way) to drive here from the coast.
Although the area around Laruns is home to wild brown bears you are very unlikely to see one during your visit!
Explore elsewhere in the Béarn. You can find more travel ideas in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques guide and the Aquitaine guide.
Photos of Laruns
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Arrange a visit to Laruns
Hotels in Laruns
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Map of Laruns and places nearby
Visit near Laruns with France This Way reviews
Eaux-Bonnes
Eaux-Bonnes is a 19th century belle-epoque spa town at the base of the Col d'Aubisque
Eaux-Bonnes guide
Col d'Aubisque
The Col d'Aubisque is a beautiful mountain pass with views of numerous high mountains in the Pyrenees
Col d'Aubisque guide
Gourette
Gourette s a small ski station on the route to the Col d'Aubisque near Eaux-Bonnes
Gourette guide
Sarrance
The small village of Sarrance is in the valley of the Gave d'Aspe and has an interesting church to visit
Sarrance guide
Pyrenees National Parc
The Pyrenees National Parc contains a great deal of the most beatiful mountain scenery in France
Pyrenees National Parc guide
Lescun
The village of Lescun is close to the Cirque de Lescun and other scenic highlights in the western pyrenees
Lescun guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Pyrenees-Atlantiques
Address: Laruns, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Aquitaine, 64440, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 42.983, longitude -0.416
Plan your visit to Laruns, Pyrenees-Atlantiques
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Vallée d'Ossau: site of natural beauty
- Col d'Aubisque: site of natural beauty (6 km)
- Cirque du Litor: site of natural beauty (11 km)
- Vallée d'Aspe: site of natural beauty (15 km)
- Zoo d'Asson: zoo or wildlife park (20 km)
- Grottes de Betharram: site of natural beauty (22 km)
- Cirque du Lys: site of natural beauty (24 km)
- Cirque du Marcadau: site of natural beauty (25 km)
- Pont d'Espagne: site of natural beauty (27 km)
- Eglise, Oloron-Sainte-Marie (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (28 km)
- Oloron-Sainte-Marie: town of art and history (28 km)
- Cirque de Saint-Engrace: site of natural beauty (33 km)
The French version of this page is at Laruns (Francais)