An easy village walk and a considerably more challenging hike reveal two different sides of Lées-Athas. The Tour des Anaques is 3.5 kilometres long with 60 metres of elevation gain; the Chemin de Pirait is a moderate hike covering 12.3 kilometres with 720 metres of elevation gain. The area also offers historic architecture, an annual fern tradition and regional produce.
Village Trails and the Church of Saint-Félix
The Tour des Anaques starts at the fronton between the town hall and the church in Lées. This very easy walk follows village streets lined with historic houses and decorated lintels, crosses a meadow, and continues along a white limestone path beside walls and boxwood shrubs. At 3.5 kilometres with 60 metres of elevation gain, the loop is manageable and suitable for families. If you are concerned about trail conditions, check them before setting out and confirm the starting point on site using the signs.
The parish church of Saint-Félix stands in Athas. Its construction dates back to the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries: it was damaged by a fire in 1569, altered in the 17th century and restored in the 19th century. The portal bears the inscription “HOC EST PORTA COLI”. Its building materials also give it a distinctive character: the masonry is made of limestone, rubble stone, slate, pebbles and marble, and the roof is covered with slate.
Hiking, Cycling and Landscapes
The Chemin de Pirait is suited to fit hikers. Its 12.3 kilometres and 720 metres of elevation gain make it a very different undertaking from the short Tour des Anaques. Cyclists can also try mountain bike route VTT No. 42 – Chemin de Pirait: it is moderate, 14.5 kilometres long, has 650 metres of elevation gain and is intended for fit riders. The mountain bike route is longer than the 12.3-kilometre hike, at 14.5 kilometres; the hike has 720 metres of elevation gain, compared with 650 metres for the cycling route. Check local conditions before setting out.
The Chemin de Pirait has several panoramic viewpoints, and the mostly open route offers views in both directions. The Cromlech du Pirait is also right beside the trail. In summer, ferns can conceal the site. La mousquère is another natural feature: on a windswept promontory, livestock lie down during the hottest hours of the day.
Fern Tradition and Village Produce
As part of the Les Faucheurs tradition, men carefully cut ferns on the hillsides each year to create a human figure or an animal. This recurring work with the ferns connects local customs with the landscape where the plants grow on the slopes.
In the village of Lées-Athas, the family farm GAEC Bouchoo offers Tome des Pyrénées made from sheep’s milk, mixed milk or cow’s milk. It also makes farm ice cream from sheep’s milk. The different types of milk used for the cheese and the sheep’s milk ice cream offer a tangible introduction to local produce.
Stay in a Natural Setting
Aire Naturelle de Lées-Athas is a natural campsite in the mountains of the Aspe Valley. It is set in green surroundings opposite the Cirque d’Iseye d’Accous. The pitches are large, spacious and heavily shaded. Hiking trails, streams and the Gave d’Aspe are nearby. If you plan to stay here, check the campsite’s conditions before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Aste-Béon, Lanne-En-Barétous, Osse-En-Aspe, Aurions-Idernes, Méracq, Lys, Barcus, Barraute-Camu
For the main travel overview: Pyrenees-Atlantiques.
