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Monday, July 18. Last day in the Basque country. Today, little to this day, visits outside the Abbey Arthous, deli Montauzer making dishes from the region and from the panoramic hill Miremont.

During the morning around 10am (due to the fatigue of yesterday) we headed across country to reach the Abbey of Arthous. Upon arriving I think that's going to be very nice to visit. No luck, the abbey is closed on Mondays. Always check the schedules, the evidence. We decided to still visit at least outside. Built in 1167 by Abbot Bernard III, an abbey of the order of Premonstratensian. In the sixteenth century war against Spain and the religious wars undermine the Abbey: 1523 Spain and the Huguenots in 1571. Because of this, the abbey ended ruins. Restored and enlarged from seventeenth to the eighteenth century, the abbey now has only five canons in 1766 and bishop of Dax closed the Abbey in 1791. Gradually neglected, it is used as a farm. Then in 1955, the Abbey is a listed building. In 1966, the state and the General Council of the Landes restore the site of the abbey, and since then serves as an accommodation to students and trainees in archeology. Since 2003 the abbey was also the center of county assets.

The tour was quickly done and then we head towards the town of Hastings. Hastings is actually a country house built in 1289 by John Hastings. A bastide is a fortified town and built for this purpose, it is not a village which was added a fortification, the bastide is like a castel but is still built on the same plane. (Almost all the country houses are the same.) Carcolh the Legend (who gave the word for ''local dialect''Caracol meaning snail) is a snail imaginary folklore Gascon and reside under the city, in a cave. It looked like a huge and monstrous snail to the shell and the body of a large snake slimy and hairy whose mouth has disproportionate tentacles. I did not see it when visiting the city, however I saw a beautiful mansion (also known as home of the Seneschal, dating from the fifteenth century and a historical monument) and the church of Saint-Sauveur of Hastings.

Returning for lunch, I stop at the roadside for take some pictures of flowers, they often line the country roads, it's wild chicory. Like what, no need to go far to find something to make her breakfast (for those who like it), we must take root, chop finely and roasted.

3 small pictures of after-dinner ... Like what, even in the microscopic images found interesting to do and more than foam or water drops.

After lunch, head for the deli to see Montauzer dishes more appetizing. It is a traditional deli that make ham from Bayonne and Ibaiona ham that is far superior in quality and which is also far higher than in taste. The deli also makes pies and dishes of the region using local produce.

After shopping, head for the hill Miremont at Bardos to do some photos.
First, a 360 ° area from the top of the water tower Miremont :

Also a small pan over the village of Bardos which is attached to the hill:

A little before going down, a nice big green grasshopper make me the eye, so here is the closing date for reporting (I was warned that he would be short). It was the last day of reporting for a week in the Basque Country, tomorrow back through the Mont-de-Marsant and a country house which I tell you that.


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