Orthez

Here is Orthez, at the crossroads leading from Bigorre to the Basque Coast, from the Landes region to the Pyrenees. Orthez, a stopover for pilgrims on the Way of St. James, became the brilliant capital of Béarn and remained so until 1464, during the reign of Gaston II of Béarn and Gaston Fébus. It is home to the Protestant university founded by Jeanne d'Albret . From this rich past, you can discover the Moncade Tower (offering a superb panoramic view from its 33-meter height), the 13th-century Old Bridge, the Church of Saint-Pierre, the Jeanne d'Albret House, the Chrestia House with mementos of the poet Francis Jammes, and the Museum of Béarnese Protestantism.