FRANCE  |  Tarbes, France Travel Guide
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A Brief History and Geography of Tarbes

Tarbes has experienced a colorful history, once called Bigorra in Roman times. Later, it was designated as an Episcopal see. Tarbes eventually joined France in the 1500s. Its neighbor, Lourdes, was a small village until, in the 1800s, a young girl had 18 visions of the Virgin Mary. In response to the swelling crowds of pilgrims, a church and sanctuary were built on the site of the visions.

The name of the department, the Hautes-Pyrénées, or High Pyrenees, says it all. The area’s cities, Tarbes, Lourdes and Argèles-Gazost, are nestled into plains and valleys. At almost any spot in this department, you are either on a mountain or have a splendid view of snow-capped peaks.

Last updated October 23, 2010
Posted in   France  |  Tarbes
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