| Oloron-Sainte-Marie | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  France |
|---|---|
| Region | New Aquitaine |
| Area | 68,31 km² |
| Population | 10 629 hab. () |
| Density | 155,6 inhab./km² |
| Postal code | 64400 |
| Spindle | UTC 01:00, UTC 02:00 |
| Tourist information office | |
| Location | |
 43 ° 11 ′ 39 ″ N 0 ° 36 ′ 24 ″ W | |
| Official site | |
Oloron-Sainte-Marie is a city located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in France.
Understand
Oloron Sainte Marie is a very special town that hides beautiful gems very well. We go through Oloron to reach Spain, but we rarely stop there.
We owe the creation of this city to the Romans who wanted (to Ier century) a simple stopover on the road from Zaragoza to Dax. The city was then marked by various crusades and by the rise of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. At XVe century, its textile craftsmanship developed strongly and Oloron became the economic capital of Haut-Béarn. In 1858, the towns of Oloron and Sainte-Marie were reunited by force and the railroad arrived. A large number of industries then developed using hydroelectric power from the gaves. There are tanneries, beret factories, chocolate factories.
These industries are still there. At the confluence of the two gaves there are beautiful old factories which can be squatted. Do not hesitate to get lost in the small streets, very beautiful photos are to be taken.
To go
By plane
By Pau airport which is connected to the main cities of France by Air France, in London by Ryan Air. Join Oloron by train.
By train
Arrive in Pau (from Paris, from Toulouse) then take the Pau-Oloron line (approximately 30 min). This line, which works for locals, allows connections to most of the main lines.
By car
Circulate
No public transport which is a shame. It is still possible to cross Oloron on foot in half an hour. The walk in the heart of the city is very pleasant. Prefer the banks of the Gave and stroll near the Jeliote area.
To see
Stroll around the Sainte Marie Cathedral district. This cathedral is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Pay particular attention to its portal carved by a French and a Spanish. There is also such a portal on the other side of the border. The portal of this cathedral was also pictured in Larousse in the 1970s to illustrate the definition of the word Portail. Possibility to visit the cathedral all year between 8 h and 20 h.
Stroll through the streets and notice the presence of strange gray markers. Although ugly, they allow a self-guided guided tour with the purchase of a magnetic bracelet which can be collected at the tourist office. This device is unique in France. The design of the terminals too.
