Rébénacq

Parc National des Pyrénées


Rébénacq is one of the few bastides (fortified towns) of the Pyrenees, built in 1347 by a lieutenant of Gaston Fébus, the 11th Count of Foix. Like all bastides, it’s set around a central square, the place de la Bielle, whose buildings and dimensions have barely changed in seven centuries.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Parc National des Pyrénées attractions

1. Castet

6.25 MILES

Perched precariously on a glacial outcrop, this hilltop village boasts a 12th-century keep and a truly magnificent valley view. From the belvédère …

2. Bielle

7.23 MILES

The former ‘capital’ of the valley, Bielle is a beautiful village with many fine 15th- and 16th-century houses, linked together via a guided walk.

3. Falaise aux Vautours

8.56 MILES

The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) was once a familiar sight over the Pyrenees, but habitat loss and hunting have taken their toll on these strange,…

4. Château de Pau

9.46 MILES

Originally the residence of the monarchs of Navarre, Pau’s castle was transformed into a Renaissance château amid lavish gardens by Marguerite…

5. Rue du Hédas

9.63 MILES

Take a stroll along this revitalised lane for a look at green spaces by day and light installations by night.

6. Musée Bernadotte

9.65 MILES

This townhouse is the birthplace of one of Napoléon’s favourite generals, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (nicknamed ‘Sergent belle-jambe’, on account of his…

7. Musée des Beaux-Arts

9.72 MILES

Works by Rubens and El Greco both figure at Pau’s fine-arts museum, but the museum’s prize piece is a famous Degas canvas, A New Orleans Cotton Office,…

8. Grottes de Bétharram

11.3 MILES

Grottes de Bétharram is a network of subterranean caverns that has been carved out from the limestone, glittering with impressive formations of…