The university town of Tarbes is situated in a valley at the foot of the High Pyrenees in the Midi Pyrenees district of southwestern France. The world-famous town of Lourdes, destination of over 200 million pilgrims since 1858, is 20kms to the south, close to the Spanish border.

Convenient and cheap car hire in Tarbes enables visitors to make the most of their stay in this beautiful locality, as there are many attractions outside the town itself. Tarbes is close to the A64 autoroute, and the Mediterranean coast is three hours’ drive away, another great reason for car hire in Tarbes.

An attractive feature of the town is its numerous fountains and streams, meandering through the streets and fed from the nearby river. Historical buildings include the 13th century Cathedral de Sede and the 17th century dwellings in the Old Town. Jardin Massey Park has a museum, wildlife park and orangery.

Shopping in the town is well provided for by a large selection of stores of all kinds. Every Thursday a farmers’ market takes place in Halle Marcadieu, with several hundred stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, honey and delicious local cheeses. In the adjacent square, stalls offer bric-a-brac, clothing and a few antiques.

Car rental in Tarbes is easy to arrange, making daytrips to Lourdes or into the mountains a real pleasure. As well as the famous shrine to the Virgin Mary, Lourdes has many interesting old buildings and museums. Nearby is the spectacular Chateau de Pau, renovated in stunning style in the late 18th century.