Our Village

During our time here in 2015, we came to realize that for such a small village, there's quite a lot to enjoy in La Bastide sur l'Hers in summer. On a daily basis, we enjoyed croissants, pains au chocolat, maple and pecan slices, and fresh bread from the local boulangerie. We could also buy provisions from a tabac, an épicerie, and a boucherie, have a drink and/or an ice cream (though sadly no 'real' food) at our local bar, and there is even a post office!


Richard looks born to be here in a colour-coordinated outfit at the local bar

One day at the end of July, we woke to find preparations being made for the village fête, a four night festival of live music and scantily clad dancing girls (ooh la la!) until 2 o'clock in the morning. 

Village fête

Also as local residents, we enjoyed being able to use the swimming pool at the village vacances by purchasing tickets at the mairie for a nominal fee, very handy on a hot summer's day. 

Village pool

And for a pretty countryside walk, we discovered a voie verte ran behind the village. A voie verte is a green way or path, in this case an old 38km railway line from Lavelanet to Mirepoix that has been transformed into a walking, cycling and horse-riding path. We aborted several walks along here because of rain but we did make it to the neighbouring village, Le Peyrat, a few times. We are looking forward to getting a couple of bikes and cycling all the way to Mirepoix!

A long wait for the next train at the old train station on the voie verte