Monads, Oloron Saint-Marie, 10 September 2025

This morning we woke up the news of a general strike in France. This meant that there were no or limited services and the odd riot or two. To counteract the potential for rioting there was a large police presence outside our accommodation (8 police vans) and groups of police at major intersections and outside Government buildings.

At that point our plan to take a train part way to Oloron Saint-Marie did not appear to be viable so we decided that the best option would be to head to the rail station where our worst fears were confirmed.

After a half hour in a queue waiting for the woman in front to finish her inquisition of the rail staff it was finally Jane’s turn to get the bad news. While trains towards Paris were running there was nothing going in our direction.

Consequently we returned to or accommodation, via the Rue due Hedas and caught a taxi.

At this point Jane found a new best friend, the taxi driver, and conversed in French for the entire journey. He was a Berber and had a good story about life in France and Algeria.

After locating our accommodation we walked through the town to check out the last remaining beret manufacturer, the junction of the Gave d’Ossau and Gave d’Aspe rivers and the Lint chocolate shop.

We also visited the cathedral constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries and listed in 1939 as a historic monument ,to have our credentials stamped.

Behind the chateau

Cathedral in Oloron Saint-Marie

Gave d’Aspe

Metal Pilgrim