Twixt France and Spain Part 24

Bankers.--Merillon, || will take English cheques, &c.; Mr.

Church, English Vice-Consul; Mr. M. Clay, U. S. ViceConsul; Tricou, &c.

Post and Telegraph Office, Reading--Rooms, Theatre, Casino, &c.

English Club.--Place Royale.

For the princ.i.p.al Excursions and sports and pastimes, refer to Chapter I.; for trips to Eaux Bonnes and Eaux Chaudes, refer to Chapter XIII.

PAYOLE.--See Paillole in Appendix.

PERPIGNAN.--A large town on the river Tet, in the Pyrenees Orientales, junction for Prades (station for Vernet), from the Toulouse line and starting-point of the coach for Amelie; 132 miles from Toulouse, 25 1/2 from Prades, 29 1/2 from Molitg, 32 1/2 from Vernet, and 23 1/2 from Amelie. It is fortified; celebrated for its garnet jewellery; and situated in a valley covered with groves of olive and pomegranate, and fruitful vineyards. Cathedral; chateau (splendid view from donjon tower) in the Citadol, entrance i fr.; theatre, Picture Gallery, &c.

Hotels.--Grand, De France, De l'Europe, Du Pet.i.t Paris, &c.

Post and Telegraph Office.

The Chief Excursions are:--

La Salanque, the whole day, by carriage _via_ St. Laurent de la Salanque; Torreilles; Ste. Marie and Villelongue de la Salanque.

Castell Rossello et Canet.--6 1/4 miles; carriage-road part of the way.

PEYREHORADE.--Village in the Landes, and station on the line between Puyoo (13 miles) and Bayonne (19 miles).

Inns.--Lafond Des Voyageurs.

PIERREFITTE.[Footnote: The station is called Pierrefitte-Nestalas.]--A village situated at the foot of the Pic de Soulom and the Gorge de Cauterets in the Hautes Pyrenees. Terminus of the railway line from Lourdes, and starting-point for the diligences to Cauterets, Luz, St. Sauveur, and Bareges.

Hotels.--De la Poste, || Des Pyrenees, De France. Living more moderate than at any of the above-mentioned towns or Argeles. For further information see Chapter IV.

PRESTE-LES-BAINS.--A bathing-resort in the Eastern Pyrenees, 19 miles from Amelie (to which refer in Appendix), and 42-1/2 from Perpignan, the nearest railway station.

The Bathing Establishment is supplied by one sulphurous spring only, partaking of much the same properties as the more celebrated ones at the larger resorts, being specially beneficial, when drunk, for lithiasis and catarrh of the bladder.

Hotel accommodation in the Bathing Establishment.

Season.--June to October.

PUYOO.--A village in the Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, one mile distant from the station of same name; junction for Bayonne from the line between Bordeaux and Pau; from which it is 11-1/2 miles and 32-1/2 miles distant, respectively.

Hotels.--Lafont, Voyageurs.

ReBENAC.--A village in the Val de Neez, Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, 10 miles from Pau, and 17-1/2 from Eaux Bonnes on the direct route, between the two.

Inn.--Du Perigord.

SAINT AVENTIN (2805 ft.).--A village in the Haute-Garonne, 2-3/4 miles from Luchon, on the Route Thermale. Known for the chapel of same name, to which a legend is attached.

SAINT BeAT.--A village in the Haute-Garonne, 3-1/4 miles from Marignac, a station on the line between Luchon and Montrejeau, from which it is 9-1/2 and 13 miles distant respectively. A favourite drive from Luchon (see Chapter XI. and Luchon in Appendix), road to Viella _via_ Bosost.

Inn.--Commerce.

SAINT BERTRAND DE COMMINGES.--An ancient Roman town in the Haute-Garonne, 3 miles from Loures station on the Luchon-Montrejeau line, For information respecting the old cathedral, &c., refer to Chapter XI.

Inn.--De Comminges.

The Grotto de Gargas is in the vicinity. Guides must be hired at St.

Bertrand.

SAINT CHRISTAU.--A village in the Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, 5 miles from Oloron, from which it is a lovely drive.

Two Bathing Establishments, fed by four sources, one of which is calcareous, and the rest of a sulphurous nature. They are useful for curing wounds, rheumatism, skin diseases, eczema, laryngitis, and affections of the eyes.

Hotels.--Poste, Grand Turc, Mogul; also Chalets, and rooms from 2 to 5 francs per diem.

There are many pleasant walks in the neighbourhood, and excellent fis.h.i.+ng.

SAINTE MARIE (pres Bigorre).--A village in the Campan valley, Hautes-Pyrenees, at the fork of the Route Thermale from Bigorre (see Chapter II.). It is distant 7-1/2 miles from Bigorre, 17-1/2 from Bareges by the Col de Tourmalet route, and 36 from Luchon by the Col d'Aspin.

SAINTE MARIE (pres Oloron).--A suburb of Oloron, on the opposite bank of the river Aspe. See Oloron in Appendix.

SAINTE MARIE (pres St. Laurent).--A small village on a hill in the Eastern Pyrenees, 2-1/2 miles from St. Laurent de la Salanque, and 7-1/2 from Perpignan.

SAINTE MARIE (pres Salechan).--A small bathing resort, situated in a lovely valley in the Hautes-Pyrenees about 1 mile from Salechan station on the Luchon-Montrejeau line.

The Bathing Establishment is supplied by four cold springs, containing sulphate of lime princ.i.p.ally, but also small quant.i.ties of magnesia and soda. The water is heated for bathing purposes, but drunk in its natural state. It is tonic in its action, but diuretic and purgative as well, and is used efficaciously in liver complaints, dyspepsia, neuralgia, and nervous irritability. Hotel accommodation in the Bathing Establishment and Apartments in the houses near it.

SAINT JEAN DE LUZ.--A watering-place on the Bay of Biscay, in the Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, 8 miles from Biarritz, which it is very anxious to outrival. It is well protected from the winds, but is less free from dampness in its climate on the same account. It possesses an old church and several historical buildings, and is one of the favourite drives from Biarritz. Refer to Chapter XIII.

Hotels.--De la Poste, De France, D'Angleterre et de la Plage, De l'Ocean, De Madrid.

Apartments and Houses furnished in the town.

Sea-Bathing Establishment, Casino, &c.

SAINT LAURENT DE LA SALANQUE.--A town in the Eastern Pyrenees, with a good agricultural and commercial industry, 8-3/4 miles from Perpignan.

Hotels.--Got, Garriques.

SAINT MAMET.--A village in the Haute-Garonne, 3/4 mile from Luchon (see Chapter X.). The church is interesting.

SAINT Pe.--A village built on an eminence in the Hautes-Pyrenees, and station on the railway between Pau and Lourdes, 18 miles from the one and 6-1/4 from the other.

SAINT PeE-sur-Nivelles.--A village in the Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, on the route between St. Jean de Luz and Cambo--8-3/4 miles from the former, and 10 miles from the latter.

SAINT SAUVEUR (2525 ft.).--A bathing and mountain resort in the Hautes-Pyrenees, 7 miles from Pierrefitte--the nearest station--1-1/4 from Luz, and 5 from Bareges. A most charming place for a spring or summer residence, being beautifully situated and possessing numerous pleasant walks in the vicinity. See Chapter VII.

Two Bathing Establishments, each supplied by one spring, in which sulphuret of sodium predominates. The water is largely diuretic in its action, having at the same time a tonic and anti-spasmodic effect. Its sedative properties are beneficial to the nervous system generally, and it proves useful in removing the after-effects of long illnesses, haemorrhages, &c., besides being pleasant to the skin.