Surroundings

Our area is called “The Comminges”. It is a relative unknown county in the department Haute-Garonne. The northern limit and gate to the Haute-Garonne is the picturesque town l’Isle-en-Dodon, which is about 60 km south west of Toulouse. The southern limit is the Spanish border. In the north-west is the bordering departement of the Gers, an agricultural area with endless rolling hills, hidden old farms and villages a bit like Tuscany in Italy.

Slowly the scenery changes with growing hills and more and more forests, small lakes and rivers. From the top of these hills the majestic Pyrenees Mountains rise, and when the weather allows it, you can see for 200 km. Between these hills at about 35 km distance from the mountains our village Labastide-Paumes is hidden in a valley, guarded by a castle.

“Barès” is on the hilltop south of the village. It is an unspoilt area with quite villages, and lively towns of Aurignac and l’Isle-en-Dodon where you find bakeries, shops, and some nice restaurants, also swimming pools.

The view of the mountains was our main reason to live in this area. We have been thinking of buying a house in the mountains itself, but there you won’t find a view as far reaching as here, and the weather is less stable and changes very fast. This area is unspoilt, not too many tourists, ideal for biking, hiking, fishing or simply doing nothing.

Motorcyclists will certainly enjoy staying at “Barès”, with the “patron” having driven 46 different models and about 300.000 km throughout Europe. A number of routes are available, enough to see and drive within a 50 km range but also larger trips through the Pyrenees into Spain or Andorra and back. Or travel the 10 highest passes through the Pyrenees to Pau and back, having lunch at the restaurant on the summit of the col de Tourmalet at 2114 metres altitude, or a coffee on a sunny terrace of a Café in one of the many villages.
A motorcyclist friendly stay at “Barès”, with a secure and covered parking at your doorstep.

In the winter period there are numerous possibilities within an hours drive to Bagnères de Luchon.

Beautiful cities as Lourdes, Carcassonne and Toulouse in easy reach by day trips. The Mediterranean Sea in about 2 hours and the Atlantic with Bayonne and Biaritz in about 2.5 hours distance. Tax free shopping in Andorra? 2 hours drive!
Cultural interests: beautiful remains of Roman villas in 25km distance and the ancient cathedral of St. Bertrand in 50 km or the old palace in Anan.

Should you want to visit the nearby restaurant, which is 3 km away, we can book your transport to the restaurant and back.