Arreau Towns and Villages in Arreau

At the confluence of the Aure and Louron valleys, crossed by the Neste, Arreau was an important administrative and economic capital. It owes its prosperity to the drapery trade, from the 16th to the 17th century, then in the 19th century to thermal baths which made it a tourist destination.

From its rich past, Arreau has preserved an exceptional heritage :

• The House of Lilies, a Gothic house built at the end of the 16th century with corbels and half-timbering decorated with lilies.
• The Saint-Exupère chapel, which owes its name to this peasant who became savior and then bishop of Toulouse in the 4th century, with its ornamental stones in pink tones.
• The Notre-Dame church with its square tower-shaped bell tower.
• The Nestes Castle, a military building which today houses the Museum of the Cagots (a cursed and rejected caste until the 12th century, treated as pariahs) and the popular arts and traditions of the valley.

At the entrance to the village, the birds of prey of the Aigles d'Aure offer magnificent aerial ballets.

Photo Credit - Fotolia ©Passion Photo