Car and Van Hire in Tarbes

A car hire company operating on the basis of one size suits all is bound to fail. This is why Enterprise lets customers choose their vehicle from an extensive range of top-class cars and vans. Customers looking for a fuel-efficient hatchback to meet moderate transport needs while in the area don't want to be offered a standard two-litre saloon. Enterprise not only have the hatchbacks, but, if a saloon is actually what you are after, they have those too, along with people carriers, different sizes of vans and some stunning SUVs. Every vehicle is from a major manufacturer and undergoes a regular maintenance schedule.

When you hire a vehicle from Enterprise you know you are dealing with a market leader, so you may be surprised at just how competitive Enterprises packages are; one thing is for sure, you will find they are very difficult to beat. What is more, you never have to leave your armchair – check out what cars are available online, complete the booking form, pay for your vehicle to get the biggest saving and leave the rest to Enterprise. It really is as simple as that. Of course, booking well before you actually need the vehicle helps to ensure you get the full range to choose from, and the earlier you book, the more you save.

Hiring a car from an Enterprise branch at the airport at which you land is a great idea that will help get your trip off to a smooth start. You get the same great deals when booking with one of the airport branches, and you can use the online booking tool. Tarbes is served by the Tarbes-Lourdes Pyrenees Airport, which is situated just over six miles outside the town centre. There are regular flights to Paris-Orly and to other European cities. The number of possible destinations increases during the summer. There is an Enterprise branch at the airport.

Tarbes has a fine collection of religious, civic and military buildings to its credit. Many of the civic buildings, such as the City Hall and Court House, were constructed in the 19th century. Today, the military arsenals and other buildings have been renovated and converted into retail and leisure facilities and restaurants. Among Tarbes' religious edifices, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-le-Sede, finished in the 1800s, but with some much earlier features, such as the 12th-century transept, is more than worthy of a visit. Fountains are abundant in the city, usually locate in squares, such as the one at Quatre Valles; the Alhambra Fountain is in the shopping mall at Rue Marechal Foch. Taking a walk in one of Tarbes many public parks, such as Massey Gardens or Echez Park, is a popular pastime in good weather.

The market town of Lourdes is 12 miles from Tarbes. It was here, in 1858, that the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared to a young peasant girl called Bernadette Soubirous. Since then, millions of people from all over the world have flocked to Lourdes to pay homage and bathe in the curative waters. Visit the grotto where the apparition was said to have occurred, and look round the enormous Basilica, built to accommodate pilgrims. The town of Auch, a 47-mile drive from Tarbes, was already in existence when the Romans came to the area during the reign of Julius Caesar. The town has a magnificent Renaissance cathedral, with a particularly noteworthy pipe organ.

Providing drivers are well acquainted with French driving rules and don't breach them, driving in this area of France should be unproblematic. The rules can be quirky: for example, since 2012, drivers must carry a breathalyser kit with them. Generally, main routes, particularly motorways, are maintained in good order. Anyone driving into Tarbes should have researched the layout of the town and plotted the route to a car park. There is a good proportion of free parking in the town in addition to car parks that charge. There are parking facilities at Place de Verdun and Rue de Gonnes.