Editing Tarbes (section)

==<FONT COLOR="#CC3300">'''HISTORY OF TARBES'''</FONT>==

TARBES is the second-largest town in the Midi-Pyrenees region, and the prefecture of the Hautes-Pyrenees departement. 

The site is better known as a base for skiers than as a site of architectural interest. Although heavily damaged during the wars of religion, the town has forged a new identity. It was a garrison town, and its most famous military hero is Marechal Foch, one of the most important figures of World War One. Monuments to him are almost everywhere, among them a bronze statue in front of the Parachute Regiment barracks. His home is open to the public in the unsurprisingly named rue de la Victoire. 

Inside, each room retraces a step in his life. The soldier’s faithful steed for many centuries has been the horse, and Napoleon was responsible for the creation of an equestrian centre in Tarbes. Right in the centre of town, the Massey Garden looks like an English Park with giant Himalayan Cedars and Giant Sequoias. Massey was a naturalist who also helped with the design of the Versailles park near Paris. 

His garden in Tarbes also contains a museum, featuring European painting from the Renaissance to today Tarbes has been a garrison town for nearly 200 years, but it is also the town of horses. During the summer, you can ride in a horse-drawn carriage or visit the national stud. Created by Napoleon, it is one of the biggest studs in France. 

Tarbes also opens its doors to numerous competitions: show jumping, dressage or showing... Rugby is also revered in this sporting town, which also hosts the international "Les Petits As" tennis tournament Because of its location, Tarbes is counting on tourism to compensate for the industrial slump and consequent unemployment. Tarbes is developing intercommune relationships with Lourdes and Pau, and is seeking to set up a university campus. It places its hopes in advanced technologies and the food industry, trying to capitalize on the famous "haricots Tarbais" (Tarbe beans).

'''''More informations about the History of Tarbes on the [[wikipedia:Tarbes]] !'''''