Let me bring this old post to life again for the road warrior memories of my southern France near border with Spain. Many years by here, and always an exhuberant glory of going there. I like to update our stayed in Gan (as many passing by!). Hope you enjoy as I.
So let me bring you down to a beautiful area and wonderful wines. I have enjoyed with the family for many years and even been base at Pau to just drive around the whole region. It is a pity not better known, as it is worth a detour for an off the beaten path area of my belle France. The city of Gan is best known for its wine, which I have done another post on it. However, it does have a nice Church which again is very little credited and it is a nice stop while in town. It goes to saying have wine and take time for the Church. Let me tell you a bit more on this quant little town. Gan is a town in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques dept 64 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and only 9 km south of Pau.
The St. Barthélémy Church was rebuilt near the ancient church of St. John which was restored in several phases between 1811 and 1930. The St Barthélémy Church has an 18C gilded wooden altar, enamelled Way of the Cross of ceramists Cazaux, stained glass windows of Atelier Mauméjean.. The Atelier Mauméjean is one of the main actors in the decoration of the stained glass. They are the work of three generations of Mauméjean the oldest being a Saint Peter of 1891 the most recent dating from 1939. The 18C gilded wooden altar located in the left ambulatory is the oldest room. The restoration of the church in 1920 and entrusted to the Abbot Annat priest of Gan who will follow the complete remodeling work of the Church to be consecrated in 1922 by Monsignor François Marie ,Bishop of Bayonne.
Gan is a large French wine-growing town with permission to produce the following appellation wines: Béarn, comté de Tolosan; and Jurançon. (see post)The Béarn is a French AOC label (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée)) and a European AOP label(Appellation d’Origine Protégée). The Comté de Tolosan is a European label IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée). Note that the IGP label replaces the VDP label (Vin de pays) since 2009. It also has the word “regional “. The word “regional ” means that the IGP has the legal area of wine production of the widest possible. As it is fixed to a whole region which can bring together several departments. The Jurançon is a French AOC label (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée ) and a European AOP label (Appellation d’Origine Protégée ). We love and are direct with the cooperative at Gan for jurançon and béarn wines, delicious at affordable prices!
The city of Gan on heritage: https://gan.pau.fr/article/commune/histoire-de-gan–henri-iv-et-henri-dalbret
Official bastides fortified towns of the Pyrénées Atlantiques on Gan: https://bastides64.org/bastides/gan/
The Béarn area tourist office on Gan: https://pratique.tourisme64.com/activite/gan.html
Its market is usually open from 8h to 13h in city center. These times can vary depending on the weather and the season. There you go a nice stop for us always on the way in or out of Spain, and we stop by Gan too. As said, we have even stayed at Pau and wondered around this area for several years. Very nice places and should be seen more by all. Hope it encourage you to do so.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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