Writing Nature
Pyrenean literature festival in the Ossau Valley
2026
About Writing Nature
Every year, Écrire la nature brings together authors, scientists, and travelers in the Ossau Valley and the Béarn region to explore the narratives of mountains and vast open spaces. Established in 2022 by the association of the same name, the festival travels between several towns in the valley—including Oloron, Gan, Laruns, and Béost—offering panel discussions, readings, exhibitions, and a closing literary hike. All events are open to the public and free of charge.
Writing Nature — edition 2026
The 5th edition, titled "AscensionS," takes place from September 17 to 20, 2026, across Oloron, Gan, the Ossau Valley, and Béost. It explores the narrative of ascent in all its forms, from polar expeditions to the high peaks of the Pyrenees, featuring authors such as Michel Dieuzaide, Christiane Rancé, Sylvain Guyot, and Stéphanie Abadie. The weekend concludes with a literary hike at Pont de Camps, featuring readings and a talk by geographer Guillaume Blanc.
Programme Writing Nature 2026
Thursday, September 17 — Oloron
- 9:00 AM — Festival opening · Villa Bedat
- 9:30 AM — Botanical beauty and poetry of Gascony and Béarn, with Nathalie Magrou and Jacolet Abadie · Villa Bedat
- 11:00 AM — Polar expeditions and unknown lands, with Stéphane Dugast and Pauline Quierzy · Villa Bedat
- 12:15 PM — Authors' lunch · La Friche
- 2:30 PM — Shepherd tales, with Madé Maylin for "Les fils de la montagne" · Villa Bedat
- 5:00 PM — Tales of ascent, with Florian Forestier, Julien Starck, and Gérard Raynaud · Villa Bedat
- 7:30 PM — Welcome dinner, with musical accompaniment by Jean-Luc Mongaugé · Écolieu du Laring, Monein
- 8:30 PM — Screening of the film "Le chemin du Rocio" by Michel Dieuzaide · Écolieu du Laring
Friday, September 18 — Gan and Ossau Valley
- 10:30 AM — Tour of the Jurançon vineyards, with poetic readings by Julien Starck · Cave de Jurançon, Gan
- 1:00 PM — Welcome to the valley · Médiathèque garden, Laruns
- 2:00 PM — Exhibition "Ascensions d'Ossau et d'Aragon," photographs by Pyrenean expert Bernard Lassalle (until September 19) · Château de Béost
- 2:15 PM — Mapping Greek mountains, with Sylvain Guyot for his "Atlas poétique des montagnes grecques" · Médiathèque de Laruns
- 4:00 PM — Memories of Spain, with Michel Dieuzaide and Christiane Rancé · Médiathèque de Laruns
- 5:15 PM — Pyrenees, romantic crossings, with Stéphanie Abadie and Thierry Colombié · Médiathèque de Laruns
- 8:30 PM — Authors' dinner · Laruns
Saturday, September 19 — Béost
- 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM — Youth book fair, featuring illustrators and publishers (including Gypaète and Cairn) · Château de Béost garden
- 10:30 AM — Ascents and crossings, with climbing champion Pyrène Santal, Florian Forestier, Julien Starck, and Maxime Caïn · Château de Béost
- 2:15 PM — Collective reading workshop, led by Monique Larrouture-Poueyto · Église de Béost
- 3:15 PM — Hispano-Peruvian sung poetry, with Leo Zelada and Arsinoé Duponchel · Église de Béost
- 4:30 PM — Closing readings and musical interlude by Jean-Luc Mongaugé · Église de Béost
- 6:15 PM — "Kerzh/Marche!," Breton travel songs by Anna Graham · Église de Béost
- 8:30 PM — Final authors' dinner · Laruns
Sunday, September 20 — Off-site in the mountains
- 9:30 AM — Botanical hike and readings, Brousset loop, departing from the OTVO in Laruns or the Pont de Camps parking lot
- 12:00 PM — Picnic · Pierre de Soques
- 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM — Conference-hike to the Pombie summit with historian Guillaume Blanc, on green tourism and African farmers
Practical information — Writing Nature
Admission is free for all events held in Oloron, Gan, Laruns, and Béost. The festival takes place at various venues throughout the valley: Villa Bedat in Oloron, l'Écolieu du Laring in Monein, the Jurançon wine cooperative in Gan, the Laruns media library, and the Château de Béost. For more information, please contact the Vallée d'Ossau Tourist Office at 05 59 05 31 41 or via email at [email protected].
Where does it take place — Writing Nature
Writing Nature in brief
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