- Walking and biking
- Activities
- Visits and heritage
- Other activities
- Calendar of events for 2012
- Accommodations and restaurants
- Useful addresses
Home > Visits and heritage > The country life
At the end of spring, while the breeders in the valley are busy with the haying, the fifteen or so shepherds in Barétous go up to the summer pastures ; this is transhumance. In September, the ewes return to the valley for the "tournère" and the celebrations begin ! Vocabulary
Cayolar : a shepherd’s hut in the summer pastures.
Tournère : ewe clipping.
Ecobuage : ancient technique that involves burning the tree cover to fertilise the soil.
Pelère : traditional slaughter of the farm pig.
The cayolar in Aramits
The “cayolar" is the name, in the valley, for the shepherd’s hut located in the mountain heights. The one in Aramits has been rebuilt stone by stone from a hut formerly located in la Pierre Saint-Martin and, for the visit, is set out as those in bygone times that were used for cheese manufacture and the shepherd’s living area during the mountain summering period.
A free guided visit is possible every Thursday in July and August, from 6.OOpm to 7.OOpm.
Details from the Tourist Office.
Discovery on country life
On the farm with Béatrice
Béatrice is an enthusiastic young farmer who raises cows and sheep and makes cheese. She takes appointments all year round for tours of her working farm. Talk to her about life on the farm. Phone: +33 (0)5 59 34 65 56 (Barlanès district of Lanne en Barétous)
With Joseph the shepherd
During the summer season at la Pierre Saint-Martin, Joseph will welcome you in his cayolar (shepherd’s hut), and tell you all about his skills. Joseph is one of the shepherds in la Pierre Saint-Martin. Young and enthusiastic, he spends 3 months per year at an altitude of 1,650m with his herd of sheep and cows. His day is regulated by daily tasks : milking the ewes and cows, manufacturing and cleaning cheeses, and looking after the herd. Once a week, he will welcome you into his "cayolar and will make his cheese in front of you, enthusiastically explaining all the stages of this process.
| Visits in July and August at 9.OOam on Tuesday, in front of the cayolar |
| Tasting and visit of the cheese salting room |
On the Issarbe massif
Morning with the Shepherd (ride + meet the shepherd during the morning milking session + tuck into the shepherd’s cheeses).
| For details call 05 59 39 65 08 or 06 60 25 08 73 |
Evenings in the Aramits pastures
Every Thursday from 8 July to 26 August you can take part in the Shepherds’ Supper entertained by local singers. Come and admire the sheepdog herding the sheep, watch the video about the shepherds’ festival.
Find the detailed programme in the Calendar of Events o visit the website