I'd be interested in hearing about the gites - any that were extraordinarily great? I'm guessing from your last comment that you cut down right after Maubourguet to get to Lourdes rather than going to Oloron and then connecting to Pinemont to get to Lourdes? If so, did you stay at the monastery in Tarasteix?
1 Léguevin - Maison Saint-Jacques
The whole house (belonging to the town) has been renovated by volunteers for pilgrims’ use. I had it to myself: one bedroom with 4 beds, kitchen, bathroom upstairs, small garden. Donativo.
2 L’Isle-Jourdain.
The tourist office gave me a key to a small bungalow giving onto the lake. Again, I was on my own but it can sleep 3 (bunkbed plus sofa in kitchen/livingroom). €12
3 Le Grangé (near Giscaro)
Family home that takes in pilgrims. Beautiful place and lovely hosts. I originally chose it because it said in the guide they provide evening meals but sadly they don’t any more. Provides bedding - rucksack and belongings have to stay downstairs. €20
4 Gîte Pied-à-terre en Gascogne (l’isle d’Arné)
Again, family home completely renovated with separate pilgrim house. Stunning, but cold (no heating but a fire can be lit in the living-room). No meal either but well equipped kitchen. Great hostess! €20
5 Auch - Accueil pélerins in Presbytère.
I had the whole second floor to myself - several bedrooms, bathroom, kichen and view from balcony onto the Cathedral. No booking, volunteers are there every day from 3 to 5pm to let you in. Donativo.
6 Barran - gîte pélerin.
Basic but clean. Cooking facilities. The Maire let me in as Mme Coco was away. I think it was €10.
7 Montesquiou (lieu-dit Arnaud)
Private house, very nice. Bedding provided. Meal provided. Lovely hostess! €30.
8 Marciac - Le Grenier
Another lovely house, bedding provided. Again, bags stay downstairs. Lovely kitchen, nice garden. Not heated (it’s the attic and I was warned). Two big bedrooms. €20
I’ll try and find some pics.
One warning: bed bugs in l’Isle-de-Noé. (At the time). This is not gossip, I was told by the President of the Association of gîtes to avoid it. They are trying to sort it out, if not I guess they’ll take that address off their list ☹
Order of the pics: 2, 1, 5, 3, 4, 7