Navarrenx: The First Bastioned Town in France and the Salmon of the Gave
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
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Navarrenx Bastion Guard
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225
XP
+100 France
= 325 total
1 day
Navarrenx: The First Bastioned Town in France and the Salmon of the Gave
225 + 100 XP
Navarrenx, walled from 1538 by Henri II d'Albret, king of Navarre, carries the first bastioned enceinte built in France, and joined the Plus Beaux Villages de France in October 2014 as the first village in Bearn to get the label. Its arsenal of about 1680 now holds the town's interpretation centre, and below the ramparts the Gave d'Oloron is a salmon river: Navarrenx was once known as the salmon capital and the first world salmon-fishing championship was held here in 1950.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Walk the full 1.66 km of Navarrenx's wall, 10 m high and packed behind with earth, and find on the way the four bastions copied from the citadel of Lucca, the demi-lune, the watch turrets and the mouths of the countermine galleries under them
2
of 4
In the Arsenal of about 1680, built on the ruins of the house of the kings of Navarre, work through the models and plans of the interpretation centre until you can point to each of the four bastions on the ground outside
3
of 4
Go down to the Pool Masseys on the Gave d'Oloron, find the fish pass built beside it, and watch the water long enough to see whether anything is running: this is a Natura 2000 reach protected for its salmon and its white-clawed crayfish
4
of 4
In the church of Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre, look up between the springings of the aisle arches for the old painted human faces set into the stone, which may well be portraits of Henri II d'Albret's contemporaries, the people who paid for the ramparts outside
Walk the full 1.66 km of Navarrenx's wall, 10 m high and packed behind with earth, and find on the way the four bastions copied from the citadel of Lucca, the demi-lune, the watch turrets and the mouths of the countermine galleries under them
In the Arsenal of about 1680, built on the ruins of the house of the kings of Navarre, work through the models and plans of the interpretation centre until you can point to each of the four bastions on the ground outside
Go down to the Pool Masseys on the Gave d'Oloron, find the fish pass built beside it, and watch the water long enough to see whether anything is running: this is a Natura 2000 reach protected for its salmon and its white-clawed crayfish
In the church of Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre, look up between the springings of the aisle arches for the old painted human faces set into the stone, which may well be portraits of Henri II d'Albret's contemporaries, the people who paid for the ramparts outside
Before you go
The interpretation centre in the Arsenal opens to the public from the middle of July to the end of September only, and then from 15h00 to 19h00. The ramparts, the church and the river walk are open and free all year. Navarrenx is on the Via Podiensis to Compostela, and a welcome drink is put on for pilgrims every evening from Easter to All Saints.
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About Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
225 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
325 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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