In Pimbo, the history of a bastide, Romanesque architecture and freely accessible natural hills come together. The Via Podiensis also passes through the village. You can therefore choose different focuses for your stay: historic architecture, the pilgrimage route or observing nature.
Bastide history and Romanesque architecture
Pimbo is home to the oldest bastide in the Landes department. Its founding dates back to a paréage agreement concluded in Saint-Sever on 15 December 1268. The parties were the abbot of Pimbo and the seneschal of Gascony, on behalf of Henry III of England, Duke of Aquitaine. The layout of the village is also part of Pimbo’s character: it is a linear village built along a road running along the ridge.
The Église Saint-Barthélémy is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. Its design is defined by three naves and three apses. A protection order dated 6 January 1998 lists the church and its former presbytery as historic monuments; the designation also includes the northern terrace and the medieval hall below it.
The portal of the Collégiale features carved motifs: discs with Celtic influences, pine cones and figures. The interactive tour offers multilingual written explanations of the portal and the history of Pimbo.
The Jardin du curé next to the Collégiale offers views over the Gabas valley and, in clear weather, the Pyrenees. The weather matters: views of the Pyrenees are only possible when visibility is clear.
The Coteaux de Pimbo: habitats and educational trail
The Coteaux de Pimbo is a 13.81-hectare sensitive natural area in Pimbo, managed by the Landes department. Both hills are freely accessible. The landscape includes limestone hills, natural meadows, oak stands and ponds. These features give the natural area a different focus from the village’s history and church architecture.
A one-kilometre educational trail with panels about habitats and species runs along the Coteau du Moulin. The local flora and fauna can also be observed on a freely accessible path on this hillside; more than 25 orchid species grow there. The information panels and the opportunity to observe plants and animals thus offer two different ways to explore the natural hillsides.
Pilgrimage route and named trails
The Via Podiensis passes through Pimbo on the way to Santiago de Compostela, between the stages of Miramont-Sensacq and Morlanne.
The Circuit de Sensacq passes through the hills of Tursan and by chapels and well-preserved natural habitats. Pimbo is connected with the official route “Pimbo – Circuit de Sensacq”; another route is called “A Pimbo, circuit des Pyrénées”. You can consider these named routes as a focus in their own right, alongside the church, bastide and natural area.
A treasure hunt through the village
The treasure hunt offers another way to get to know Pimbo: it leads through the village, links several riddles and may lead to a treasure. The booklet for the activity is in the letterbox of the former town hall. Since availability should be checked before your trip, it is worth checking the latest information before planning this activity.
When choosing a hotel in Pimbo, it helps to consider what you want your trip to focus on: bastide history and Romanesque architecture, the Via Podiensis, or the natural hillsides with their educational trail and opportunities to observe species. The treasure hunt offers a puzzle-focused activity in the village.
Discover more destinations: Oeyreluy, Saint-Julien-D'armagnac, Bas-Mauco, Mimizan, Sabres, Brocas, Audignon, Castelnau-Chalosse.
For the broader travel overview: Landes.
