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THE AREA

This is a beautiful rural area of rolling hills and valleys, A lot of the farmers are still very traditional; there is a shepherd in the village who hand-milks his flock of 90 ewes twice a day, making delicious cheese, and many local farmers, like him, will sell their produce directly from the farm - even milk if you take a jug!

The local people are particularly welcoming and friendly, especially if you try to speak a bit if French, even if it's only �Bonjour' and �Au revoir'! The pace of life is leisurely, most things stop for 1 ½ hours for lunch, and in many ways it is like England 50 years ago; market day is still a major social event, and many of the village families have lived here for generations.

We are on the edge of the Madiran wine-growing area, famous for its red wine, though very palatable white wine is produced, both dry and sweet. Many local vineyards sell wine from the property, and will be happy for you to taste before buying.
For further information contact or visit the Maison des Vins in Madiran Tel: 05 62 31 90 67.

The local area famous for white wine is the Jurancon, which is just south of Pau. Locally produced Armagnac is also widely available.

There are 2 local towns, Lembeye and Maubourguet, each about 10 minutes away, which provide good food shopping, as well as a large supermarket. Each has a weekly market, on different days, selling a variety of delicious local produce. There are a number of cafes and bars, where you can sit outside with a coffee or a glass of wine, and also a choice of restaurants.

Foie gras is produced widely here, but the whole bird is used in cooking; local specialities include cassoulet, a rich duck stew, and magret de canard, duck breast served with a variety of sauces. In autumn, ceps are abundant in the woods; we really look forward to our first cep omlette with a glass of Madiran! (You MUST not eat any mushrooms you find unless you are sure they are edible � if in any doubt, the local pharmacy will provide advice). There are many different local cheeses, especially from the Pyrenees, and also local �Parma' type hams, which go beautifully with the warm, ripe figs you can pick off the trees in the garden in September!