Part 3 Day 12 Marciac to Maubourguet

What a difference a day makes. It is warm and sunny! Patrick Robert, from the eclectic Gite Tour Saint Jacques, gave me a head start.  Claude and Jean-Pierre were out the door while it was still dark. The walking wasn't particularly strenuous-- mixed dirt, asphalt and gravel, and the sky was clear and blue. Gorgeous!

Auriébat (above) is tiny and the town hall has a fountain,  toilet, and benches to sit with a panoramic view. Its primary feature is its church of the Nativité de la Sainte-Vierge with a very tall and colorful Gothic spire. I met 3 Brits there and asked two French women for directions.  

The walk to Maubourguet seemed to drag on so I took a couple of breaks along the road. I ran into several cyclists (mostly Brits) and a handful of cars passed but it was very quiet. 

Maubourguet, though, is a fair-sized place and spread out. I understand from the Brits that it is a bit like Paris--all roads lead to Maubourguet...According to one guide book, Maubourguet is at the crossroads of two major axes: Auch-Pau and Bordeaux-Tarbes. 

The history of the place apparently goes back some 5000 years. It became a major stop along the Arles pilgrimage route in the 13th century with the building of the Saint-Esprit pilgrim hospital.