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SALIES AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
Salies derives its name from 'sal', the bearnaise word for salt. Salies lies on a large underground salt lake which has formed the base of its prosperity for over 150 years. As late as the mid 1800's, more than 100,000 people came to enjoy the 'cure' by taking the waters and spending time at the Thermal Baths. Today, Salies is quieter and the baths still remain, offering a large range of treatments from cosmetic to therapeutic. There is an outdoor and indoor swimming pool plus hammam, sauna, massage, mud-treatments and three times daily keep fit classes in the gym. |
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Salies has many beautiful 14th and 15th century bearnaise houses which cluster together in the small cobbled streets. The river Saleys flows through the centre of town and is a popular spot for local children to fish whilst their parents watch them from the comfort of the nearby bars and restaurants.
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Market day is on Thursday and takes place on the market place just in front of the apartments and you can buy anything from traditional kepis (berets) to local ewes-cheese, bread and cakes. Local farmers also bring in their seasonal crops of fruit and vegetables.
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Within walking distance of the apartments is an open air swimming pool , a tennis club and a golf course.
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| There are numerous fetes which take place during the year - see http://www.landes-pyreneesproperties.com/events.php. | |||||||||
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Other activities nearby:
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Sauveterre de Bearn (13kms) medieval city in superb hilltop location overlooking the Gave du Pau. Market Saturday morning. Bars and restaurants. Canoeing and white water sports on the Gave. Fishing permits available from the tabac. 14th century church.
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Orthez (15 kilometres) busy town of 10,000 inhabitants. Two supermarkets and pedestrianised shopping areas. Market Tuesday morning. Indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Leisure lake with windsurfing and boats for hire also offers bird-spotting, artificial beach, restaurant overlooking the lake and amusement area for young children including pool and water slides. Many bars and restaurants. Hospital.
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Peyrehorade(20 kilometres) busy town set on the Gaves reunis. Fishing by permit. Very large market on Wednesday mornings. If you arrive at 8.00 a.m. there is an animal market with ducks, geese, chickens and pigs offered for sale. You can then enjoy breakfast at the many local cafes.
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Biarritz and St Jean de Luz (60 kilometres) offer superb, clean and unspoilt beaches. Biarritz is still the surfing capital of Europe and offers year round hire of equipment and clothing. Elegant shops and restaurants. Sea-life centre in original 1930's building. Covered swimming pool on the sea front. Lovely promenade walks especially down to the Roche de la Vierge. St Jean de Luz is more suitable for those who wish to swim or have young children. Gently shelving beach with smaller waves. Charming shops in cobbled streets. Small harbour and centre of art. Free children's playarea and competitions on the beach. Try the tea and cakes in the Acanthus tea-rooms.
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The nearest ski-station is La Pierre St Martin (75 kilometres). Offers whole range of skiing and snowboarding activities with pistes for all abilities and tuition available.
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How to get here
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| Ryanair flies into Biarritz and Pau daily. Salies is one hour equidistant from these airports. By road you take the A63 then the A64 motorway (autoroute) from Bayonne and continue in the direction of Pau. Salies is at junction 7. Exit and head into the town centre. The apartments are opposite the Mairie. From Spring to Autumn it is possible to take a ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth and travel down over 24 hours to Bilbao or Santander. Salies is approximately 3 hours from Bilbao and 4 hours from Santander | |||||||||
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