Apr. School Break to Bordeaux, St. Jean-de-Luz, Rocamadour- Part 2

Roger and I  continued our trip through the Pyrénées stopping at a lovely, river town for lunch.  We saw more of the white, chalet style, Basque houses with deep red and green shutters found in the towns and across the lush rolling hills.

On our drive we passed by the 12th century Eglise de l'Hôpital St. Blaise, a beautiful UNESCO site and a stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. We stopped for a short break in Lourdes and then traveled on to a very interesting old fortified village called Larresssingle; a vestige from the times of Medieval Gascony.  The village was first recognized in 1163-1250 as the property of the Abbots of Condom and a refuge for the people when under threat.  A circular rampart encloses the castle, the church and dwellings.  It was interesting to learn that in 1920 Edouard Mortier, Duke of Thévise, seeing the village in a deplorable condition, lectured in 35 American cities to finally find support in Boson, MA.  The Boston Committee for Larressingle was founded in 1926 and contributed much to the renovation of this charming, historical site. 

The Pont d'Artigue, another UNSCO site, is not far from the village of Larressingle.  The bridge is a 12th century civil construction for pilgrims walking on the path to Compostela.