Europe > France > Tarbes: Weather, Climate and Travel Guide

southwestern city of France located in the Hautes-Pyrenees, Tarbes has just over 42 000 inhabitants. Built 300 meters above sea level, the city stands out against a backdrop of mountains, and it is crossed by the Adour. Tarbes is a good starting point for touring the central Pyrenees, but you can also devote a real tour: you can start with the Verdun square, heart of the city, surrounded by bars and terraces and embellished with two fountains, then you walk to the Massey garden, built in the 19th century, with its beautiful diversity of trees, ducks and peacocks, a greenhouse and the pretty cloister Saint-Sever. You will then discover the City Hall on the Place Jean Jaurès, then Brauhauban street, pedestrian and very commercial; the birthplace of Bertrand Barrere, actor of the 1789 Revolution; that of Theophile Gautier; St. John church, typical of southern gothic style. In the old Tarbes discover some 17th century houses; the imposing imperial lycée (high school today Theophile Gautier) and the birthplace of Marshal Foch, which were reconstituted his room and his office. See also, the cathedral of the Sède the 12th and 13th centuries; the National Stud in its immense park planted with cedars and magnolias, and its Empire style buildings; Marcadieu the place and its hall which houses the Thursday market, and fountains; instead of the fairgrounds and its cattle market; the International Museum of Hussars and its collection of 15,000 objects. The city is the setting for several festive events, such as Equestria in Tarbes in July and in August Tango. Tarbes is accessed by flight thanks to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport from Paris, Brussels, London or Italy, and the TGV allows to rally Paris in 6 hours, and Bordeaux in 3 hours. One can also take the A64 motorway from Toulouse. In the city bus networks facilitate the move.