Discover Vic-En-Bigorre

Vic-En-Bigorre combines market life and architectural and cultural history with a range of cultural and leisure activities. Your stay could revolve around the Saturday market and the historic market hall, or around the churches, town hall and canal, as well as cultural and sporting activities. If you are looking for a hotel, first consider which of these themes matter most for your trip. Then compare the specific details for each hotel.

Market and Market Hall

La Halle is not only a distinctive building, but is still used for the Saturday markets. Jean-Jacques Latour built the hall in 1862, modelled on Victor Baltard’s Parisian Halles centrales. Beneath its roof, the market offers fruit and vegetables, poultry, prepared foods, charcuterie and fish. A visit to the market brings together a wide variety of goods and the history of the building.

The “Les Tablées de Vic” food festival is also associated with the hall: it takes place each year in late June, in and around the building. For several days, leading French chefs come to Vic-En-Bigorre to serve special dishes and menus.

Buildings and Local History

The Hôtel de Journet was built in 1770 and has been protected as a Monument historique since November 21, 1977. The protected features include the façades, roofs, entrance hall and wood panelling in the former hospital ward. The Church of Saint-Martin is the only medieval building preserved in Vic-En-Bigorre. It houses a 17th-century organ.

The town hall and its surroundings also tell the story of different periods. The town hall was built in the 18th century on the site of the former church cemetery. A limestone block from the former 17th-century municipal building is on display there; it bears the city’s only surviving coat of arms. In front of the town hall stands “La Revanche,” a statue created by Edmond Desca in 1889. It commemorates the 1870 war and is considered the oldest war memorial in the Hautes-Pyrénées department.

The Canal des Moulin was built in 1281; it begins at the Échez upstream from Vic-En-Bigorre. Today, the canal is an ornament to the town centre and an essential part of the local heritage. It thus combines an early history with its present-day role in the townscape.

Culture and Leisure

Several venues, each with its own programme, cater to a range of cultural interests. The Cinéma de l’Atelier screens films and hosts theatre performances. The Théâtre de l’Atelier presents theatre, concerts and other performances. The Médiathèque has a children’s section, an adult section, a comics section, and a study and research section. It also hosts exhibitions, storytelling events and public activities throughout the year.

The Parc Naturel Urbain has an urban beehive, play facilities for children, a City-Stade and a pond. Its “Parcours Famille” was recognised by the Fédération Française de Pêche. The Espace Aquatique Louis Fourcade offers family water games and sporting activities in both the indoor pool and the large outdoor pool. Facilities also include a hammam, sauna, relaxation area and solarium.

These different highlights can help you plan your trip to Vic-En-Bigorre: the market and festival add culinary appeal, while the buildings and cultural venues offer historical and cultural interest. The park and swimming pool add leisure and sporting options.

Discover more destinations: Gavarnie, Gaillagos, Lourdes, Barbazan-Debat, Fréchou-Fréchet, Galan, Nouilhan, Ozon

For the regional travel overview: Hautes-Pyrénées.