Village of Haute-Garonne, Occitania new region, Saint-Béat takes place at the foot of the peak of Gar, in the heart of the Pyrenees. It is located about thirty kilometers from Saint-Gaudens, not far from Fronsac and Marignac.
In antiquity, the site of Saint-Béat was known as a Passus Lupi, or passage of the wolf. Former stronghold which commanded the valley of the Garonne, the village was then nicknamed the Key of France. But it is especially for his white marble quarries that he is known in the rest of the country. According to local legend, it is they who would have allowed the building of the Trajan column in Rome. The town develops a strong tourist activity in the twentieth century with the opening of the ski resort of Mourtis.
Saint-Béat also has a rich architectural and historical heritage that attracts visitors from around the world.
Built in the sixteenth century, the mill Arts produced flour until the 1960s. Owned by the town hall since the early 2000s, it has been fully restored and today serves as an ecomuseum. You can discover collections of objects and documents retracing the daily life of the town. Temporary exhibitions are also regularly organized.
Walking through the town, you can appreciate the prehistoric remains, the castle of the twelfth century with its chapel, the chapel of Géry, the chapel of Ladivert, the troglodyte chapel Saint Roch or the birthplace of Marshal Gallieni.
Romanesque church Saint-Béat-Saint-Privat dates from the twelfth century. Listed as a Historical Monument, it presents a tomb sheltering the relics of Saint Beatus and Saint Privat.
Do not miss the white marble quarry, known as the Roman breccia, which has been in use since Roman times. It also allows the extraction of blue turquin marble.
The Mourtis ski resort offers more than 20 kilometers of downhill ski runs and 4.5 kilometers of cross-country ski trails. It takes place at an altitude between 1350 and 1860 meters.
Several marked hiking trails allow to appreciate the local fauna and flora, especially towards the Marignac forest and that of Saint-Béat. A leisure base also takes place on the lake of Géry, offering tours by boat or pedal boat.
The village festival is held around August 15th, with a petanque competition, fireworks, concerts, children's entertainment, or festive meals.
In October, Marble and Arts festival, event dedicated to marble sculpture allowing young artists to make their work known.
Sports & Recreation:
In winter, it is possible to ski almost to the Saint-Béat Mourtis (just 10 km from the village center).
In summer, many different activities are proposed: paragliding, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, swimming, fishing, bowling, rafting, climbing and many others.
Near Saint-Béat, a botanical garden treasure hunt for children, entertainment scheduled from mid-April.
