Casabieille (19 kilometres from Pau).—A sharp ascent.
Ibos.—The winding descent to near this village in the plain of Tarbes is dangerous.
Pau to Lourdes.—The shortest route is along the road to Tarbes as far as Soumoulou, and then through Pontacq. The longer way mentioned above is more beautiful.
Tarbes to Montrejeau.—A steep climb out of the plain of Tarbes; then several ascents and descents from one valley to another.
Montrejeau to St. Gaudens.—Level after the steep descent on leaving Montrejeau.
PLACES OF INTEREST ON THE ROUTE
Pau.—A large modernized health resort, with splendid views of the Pyrenees; numerous first-class hotels, winter garden, and places of amusement; interesting château, built by Gaston Phœbus between 1373 and 1380, and altered by Henri d’Albret.
Lourdes.—Pilgrimage town, visited annually by thousands of Roman Catholics since 1858, when a child said she had seen the Virgin in a grotto; medieval castle, modernized; fine mountain scenery.
Tarbes.—A rather uninteresting town, famous for horse-breeding; modern streets of small houses; public gardens of 30 acres, more worth seeing than the ungainly cathedral.