Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen - Day 5

 September 15, 2023

Oloron-Sainte-Marie, rest day.

We've had a relaxing day. A weekly market was held directly opposite our accommodation so, of course, we enjoyed wandering, looking at all the wares and people watching. 

We also visited the Cathédrale Sainte Marie. This cathedral, like so many of the small churches we have visited along the way, sustained damage by Protestants during the French War of Religion in 1569.

Our other mission of the day was to get help with my blister. The pharmacy we went to was very helpful. 

Late this afternoon we did a supermarket shop for tonight's dinner as well as a few extra supplies for the next two days.

The day has been a mix - drizzle in the morning, fine during midday and thunder and rain when we went to the supermarket this afternoon.

Once again the photos are in reverse order. I thought I had it sussed but obviously not yet!

Oloron-Sainte-Marie in the rain this afternoon. 

Houses built right up to the river.

In central park.

Cathédrale Sainte Marie 

Some photos of inside the cathedral. 

The detail in the portal arch is amazing. 

This chap and the one on the other side of him were exhausted as they are holding up the pillar, if not the whole cathedral. 

The back of the cathedral. 

I had just bought two baguettes and a gateau from the shop behind me.

And some photos from the market.

Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen - day 4

September 14, 2023

Buzy to Oloron-Sainte-Marie, 21 km

Today was an easy day in so many ways. Today's path took us through farmland initially then through forests and as we neared Oloron-Sainte-Marie we followed the River Gave again through the Forest of Oloron. Most of the walk was level apart from a bit of a descent down to the river and a long ascent when we were approaching Oloron-Sainte-Marie. 

The weather made for an easier day too as it was so much cooler. When we set out it was quite cool and we walked in a mist. The mist cleared but we still had cloud cover until near the end of the walk when the sun came out. 

We left Buzy before 8am and after an easy 5km walk we reached the small village of Ogeu-les-Bains where we found a lovely wee bar/cafe. We stopped for a chocolat chaud, hot chocolate, and asked for a cheese and salad baguette to take away for our lunch - we sat in the forest enjoyed it later on in the walk.

We encountered a French couple early on in the forest section, they were walking in the opposite direction, going from Roncesvalles to Lourdes. They warned us that the path on the descent down to river had badly washed out during the same storm we experienced when we were in Lestelle-Betharram. Sure enough, that section was badly washed away and muddy.

After the peacefulness of our farm and forest walk Oloron-Sainte-Marie was a bit of a shock. People and traffic everywhere. We're staying here for two nights which is just as well as I found that I had developed a massive blister on one of my toes. I was shocked to see it as I had no sensation of one forming. Hopefully, tomorrow I can sort out what I need to do about it. 

Breakfast at our accommodation in Buzy. We were the only ones eating at 7am.

 

Leaving Buzy.

A house in Buzy. I love all the different styles. 

Most dogs bark quite viciously as we pass. Thank goodness they've all been behind fences so far.

Out on the path again. 

We've seen many fantastic stacks of forewood. The wood is cut into quite long lengths - we have noticed that the fireplaces in the places we've stayed in are wide.

This doesn't really capture how misty it was. 

The bar/cafe in Ogeu-les-Bains 

In Ogeu-les-Bains 

Leaving Ogeu-les-Bains. 

A small section of the storm-damaged track - there was much worse to come.

Resting 

The River Gave 

The walk goes on. 

We met some friendly locals.

Not far now.

Entering Oloron-Sainte-Marie. 

Our accommodation - we have a rumpity but perfectly usable room here.

Oloron-Sainte-Marie.