Barèges
Encyclopedia
Barèges is a commune
in the Hautes-Pyrénées
department in south-western France
. It is situated in the valley of the stream Bastan on the former Route nationale 618
, the "Route of the Pyrénées."
and the duke of Maine
, son of Louis XIV
. A military hospital was founded in 1760.
Barèges is situated at the perimeter of the National Parc of the Pyrénées. In and around the village all mountain sports are practiced, such as paragliding, walking, cycling, canyoning/caving, mountain climbing, mountain biking, and more.
Barèges is also the second oldest ski resort in France, and when the funicular
was opened in 1936 the resort became a tourist destination. The resort, now linked with La Mongie
, is the largest ski area in the French Pyrénées.
The light silk and wool fabric called barège takes its name from the place, where it was first made.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in southwestern France. It is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.-History:...
department in south-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is situated in the valley of the stream Bastan on the former Route nationale 618
Route nationale 618
Route nationale 618 or RN618 was a French national road linking Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Argeles-sur-Mer . En route it crossed many of the famous passes in the Pyrenees, immortalized by the Tour de France; hence its name was the "Route of the Pyrenees"...
, the "Route of the Pyrénées."
Economy
Its warm sulphurous waters first became generally known in 1675 when they were visited by Madame de MaintenonFrançoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon
Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon was the second wife of King Louis XIV of France. She was known during her first marriage as Madame Scarron, and subsequently as Madame de Maintenon...
and the duke of Maine
Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, duc du Maine
Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Legitimé de France was the eldest legitimised son of the Louis XIV of France and his maîtresse-en-titre, Madame de Montespan...
, son of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
. A military hospital was founded in 1760.
Barèges is situated at the perimeter of the National Parc of the Pyrénées. In and around the village all mountain sports are practiced, such as paragliding, walking, cycling, canyoning/caving, mountain climbing, mountain biking, and more.
Barèges is also the second oldest ski resort in France, and when the funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
was opened in 1936 the resort became a tourist destination. The resort, now linked with La Mongie
La Mongie
The village of La Mongie is at 1800 metres altitude. There are also residences at 1850 and the Tourmalet building at 1900. It lies below the Col du Tourmalet . It is in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France and around 20 km from the Spanish border...
, is the largest ski area in the French Pyrénées.
The light silk and wool fabric called barège takes its name from the place, where it was first made.