As the days begin to lengthen and the meteorological spring “sets in”, alongside nature awakening from its winter slumber, the sleepy towns of the Midi-Pyrénées also awaken. When (usually) Easter, with its symbols (rabbits, chicks, lambs, eggs, etc.) that symbolize renewal and awakening, serves as the unofficial “starting line”. This year too, this coming weekend, March 26-28 (Easter) in Salies-de-Béarn
The en art vrac artists' fair will be held. This year is the tenth year that the fair has been held, so the fair will be especially large. With eighty artists, including an Israeli artist who will be very happy to chat in Hebrew, live music, street theater, concerts and conferences, all in a town with an interesting legend.
A few words about Salies-de-Béarn
This is a picturesque town with an interesting history located about 70 km from Biarritz, which lies on the Atlantic coast and about the same number of km from the Spanish border. Between Gave de Pau and Gave d'Oloron are two tributaries of the Gaves Réunis River and the Saleys River, which flows leisurely (mostly in a built canal) between the alleys and houses of the town.
In several places along the canalized river there are bridges from which the white town houses with their wooden balconies and colorful shutters can be seen. The Place du Bayaa with the 'fountain of the sanglier' in the shape of a pig's head but what... is the center of the town. Originally the town developed around the salt industry and thermal springs. Legend has it that this was discovered thanks to a pig that was injured and fell into a swamp and was discovered somehow, after a while covered in salt and beautifully preserved. The water in the thermal springs is ten times saltier than seawater and at a temperature of about 50 ° (according to the locals the water is particularly useful for treating gynecological diseases and childhood rheumatism). The town's spa baths are housed in an interesting building built in the Moorish style. And without "sick" there are baths at cooler temperatures. In addition, the town offers a museum dedicated entirely to the salt industry and a museum of arts and traditions.
So after you've wandered a bit between the fountain, the baths, the bridges, the alleys, and maybe sat down for a little break to gain some strength in one of the bars or restaurants, here are three more anecdotes about the town:
• Right behind the town hall, surrounded by arches, is Chateau Saint-Pe, in whose courtyard witches were tried.
• And the Parc du Hotel, a luxurious hotel built for wealthy visitors who came to soak in the thermal baths in the 19th century. Its Italian-style terrace has served as a backdrop for various films. You might recognize…
• For those who love to read, the town served as the basis for the best-selling novel “Katya’s Summer,” written by Trevanian. “Many of us,” the review says, “have one great and exciting love in our youth, which rarely ends happily: often it crumbles with heartbreaking speed and leaves us with a feeling of emptiness. Trevanian skillfully illuminates this love in all its beauty and pain in his book Katya’s Summer.” Source: Kinneret Zmora Bitan Dvir Ltd.