Tarbes

Tarbes
The town hall of Tarbes
Coat of arms
Location of Tarbes
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Hautes-Pyrénées
Arrondissement	Tarbes
Canton	Chief town of 5 cantons
Intercommunality	Grand Tarbes
Government
• Mayor (From 2001)	Gérard Trémège (PR)
Area 1	15.33 km2 (5.92 sq mi)
Population  (2011)	48,166
• Density	3,100/km2 (8,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	65440 /65000
Elevation	284–326 m (932–1,070 ft) (avg. 304 m or 997 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Tarbes (French pronunciation: [taʁb]) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region of southwestern France. It is the capital of Bigorre. It has been a commune since 1790. It was known as Turba or Tarba in Roman times. Tarbes is part of the historical region of Gascony.

Formerly of strong industrial tradition, Tarbes today tries to diversify its activities, particularly in aeronautics and high tech around the different zones of activities which are increasing. The recent development of fr and other regional specialties also shows a willingness to develop the agri-food industry thus justifying its nickname of "market town". With 116,056 inhabitants in 2011, it is the fr in the Midi-Pyrénées region. Its 42,888 inhabitants are called Tarbaises and the Tarbais.

It is the seat of the diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes. The 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment and 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment are stationed in Tarbes.

Geography

Location

Location of Tarbes in the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees seen from Tarbes.

Tarbes is a Pre-Pyrenees town within the rich agricultural plain of the river Adour, 155 kilometres (96 mi) southwest of Toulouse, 144 kilometres (89 mi) to the east of Bayonne, 70 kilometres (43 mi) southwest of Auch and 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Lourdes. Tarbes is 1 hr 30 mins from the Atlantic Ocean, 2 hrs 50 mins from the Languedoc coast and 35 minutes from the nearest ski resorts. It is located at an average elevation of 304 metres (997 ft).

To the south of Tarbes, along with the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, is the border with Spain. The Pyrenees mountains, lying along the border between France and Spain, can be seen from the town.

Hydrography

Tarbes is crossed to the east by the Adour river and to the west by the Échez and by the Gespe, a tributary which joins the Échez on the territory of the commune.

Neighbouring communes

Map of the commune of Tarbes and its adjacent communes

Climate

Tarbes features an oceanic climate (Cfb), with relatively hot summers, mild winters and abundant rainfall.

Climate data for Tarbes, France (altitude 360m, 1981–2010) (Source: Météo-France, Infoclimat.fr)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	22.6 (72.7)	29.2 (84.6)	28.9 (84.0)	27.6 (81.7)	31.8 (89.2)	36.8 (98.2)	38.2 (100.8)	38.1 (100.6)	35.8 (96.4)	33.8 (92.8)	27.6 (81.7)	26.1 (79.0)	38.2 (100.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	10.3 (50.5)	11.3 (52.3)	14.2 (57.6)	15.8 (60.4)	19.5 (67.1)	22.8 (73.0)	25.1 (77.2)	25.2 (77.4)	22.8 (73.0)	19.0 (66.2)	13.7 (56.7)	11.0 (51.8)	17.6 (63.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	1.0 (33.8)	1.5 (34.7)	3.7 (38.7)	5.6 (42.1)	9.5 (49.1)	12.8 (55.0)	14.9 (58.8)	14.9 (58.8)	11.9 (53.4)	8.7 (47.7)	4.3 (39.7)	1.8 (35.2)	7.6 (45.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−17.9 (−0.2)	−14.4 (6.1)	−9.8 (14.4)	−3.4 (25.9)	−1.8 (28.8)	−1.6 (29.1)	5.9 (42.6)	5.3 (41.5)	1.3 (34.3)	−2.2 (28.0)	−9.6 (14.7)	−13.4 (7.9)	−17.9 (−0.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	95.0 (3.74)	81.1 (3.19)	87.0 (3.43)	111.7 (4.40)	111.6 (4.39)	78.0 (3.07)	56.0 (2.20)	68.1 (2.68)	71.6 (2.82)	88.1 (3.47)	102.5 (4.04)	96.7 (3.81)	1,047.4 (41.24)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	11	9	10	13	13	10	7	9	9	11	10	10	120
Mean monthly sunshine hours	118	129	169	170	189	198	205	206	190	151	117	109	1,951
Source 1: climat.meteofrance.com
Source 2: infoclimat.fr

Toponymy

The town was named for the first time in the 5th century as Civitas Turba ubi castrum Bigòrra. It was an important city of the Novempopulania. Gregory of Tours in the 6th century named Talvam vicum.

In the Middle Ages it was called Tarbé (1214), Tursa, Tarvia (1284) and also Tarbia. Not to be confused with the Tarbelles, whose capital was Dax.

Legendary origin of the name

Legend holds that the Queen of Ethiopia, Tarbis, proposed her love to Moses and that he refused. Inconsolable, she decided to leave her throne and hide her disappointment. After many wanderings, she arrived in Bigorre and built her home on the Adour to found the town of Tarbes, and its sister, on the banks of the Gave de Pau, arose as Lourdes.

History

Antiquity

Foundations of an old villa in the Ormeau quarter

In the 3rd century BC, the foundations of Tarbes began to emerge, based on the testimonies of the exhumed remains which had been buried. By need for salt trade, merchants who were likely Aquitanians travelled across the Pyrenean foothills. To continue their journey, they had to use a ford in order to cross the Adour which descended from the mountain. It was more prudent to split the loads to cross the ford as a result of which a pause was necessary. The bottom of the valley was dominated by a sandy emergence which prompted people to settle there.

Then, Tarba experienced a Roman colonisation and acquired ancient villas and large agricultural estates, found particularly in the Ormeau quarter. The existence of craft has been verified by the remains of the workshops of potters and weavers. The urban core, meanwhile, assumed the administrative functions and would have had an early Christian church in the 4th century.

19th century

The Gare de Tarbes, around 1900

Brauhauban market, around 1900

An old image of the arsenal

Prerogatives of a chef-lieu

From 1800, Tarbes became the chef-lieu and headquarters of a prefecture (an increase of its administrative role and its functions). In 1806, Napoleon I re-established the fr and Tarbes gave birth to the Anglo-Arabian horse breed. In 1859, Tarbes was connected to Paris by rail.

Legacy

In the 19th century, various legacies enrich the public spaces of Tarbes. In 1853, fr bequeathed to the city the eponymous garden, still unfinished. In 1877, a donation by the former Mayor Antoine Brauhauban was responsible for the construction of an imposing hall which bore his name (this building was destroyed in 1970 to establish outdoor parking). The end of the 19th century still saw the construction of the two fountains of Place Marcadieu, a legacy of the benefactor Félicitée Duvignau.

Industrial development

After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, General Verchère de Reffye transformed the experimental workshop of Meudon (transferred by train to Tarbes) construction of an artillery workshop (called an arsenal by the people of Tarbes). Thus, Tarbes became an industrial and working-class town but also asserted its military vocation by the construction of the Larrey, Soult and Reffye quarters.

21st century

Today, Tarbes has also become a university city and the main activities are now within the tertiary sector (services). In addition to its privileged geographical situation, less than an hour from the Pyrenees mountains, two hours from the Atlantic Ocean and three hours from the Mediterranean via the La Pyrénéenne autoroute, the city offers a certain lifestyle and boasts a cultural life which is packed with clubs and sport.

Heraldry

Arms of Tarbes

The arms of Tarbes are blazoned: "Quartered of or and of gules."

Economy

Main article: [[:fr]]

Being farther away from Toulouse as other cities of Midi-Pyrénées, Tarbes may appear to display greater economic independence. Also it often occupies the second place in the regional urban hierarchy. It maintains close relations with Aquitaine and, in particular, with Pau, a nearby town of the Pre-Pyrenees.

University centre

Tarbes also houses the second University centre of the Midi-Pyrénées with a University Institute of technology (IUT) and National School of Engineers of Tarbes (ENIT) having more than 5,000 students.

Tourism

The Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport is still the second of the Midi-Pyrénées. Also in the town centre, the Rex Hotel, a designer hotel addressing a rather affluent clientele, and the arrival of brands such as H&M and new places of leisure (fr, etc.) seem to attest to the attractiveness of the town.

Agriculture

Often presented as a "market town", Tarbes is home to important halls and market squares, allowing opportunities for local agriculture. Symbol of the local food industry, a Cooperative of fr including emerged at the heart of the Bastillac zone.

Transport

Main articles: [[:fr]] and Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport

Air

The small Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport is situated 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the town centre. This airport is served by HOP! which provides three daily and two weekend air services to Paris-Orly. Jetairfly, which ensures a connection of two flights a week during the summer, and Thomas Cook Airlines (charter flight) also connects to Brussels Airport. Ryanair serves London-Stansted and Milan Bergamo, with two and three flights a week, respectively. Meridiana connects to Rome and finally Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional) offers two flights per week to Madrid Barajas. The airport also offers seasonal charter flights to and from the largest European cities.

• Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport
• 
  Exterior of the main building
• 
  Interior of the departure hall
• 
  Interior of the departure hall
• 
  Interior of the departure hall

Rail

The Gare de Tarbes railway station offers direct connections with Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Bayonne and several regional destinations.

The TGV makes several times per day the junction with the Paris-Montparnasse station with a journey of six hours. It also allows connection to Bordeaux in three hours. This offer is complemented by that of the TER, Intercités and Intercités de Nuit (night trains, ex-Lunéa) for important exchanges with Toulouse, Pau and the Basque coast. These provide further connections, without another change of train, with Lyon, Irun and also Geneva.

Road

Tarbes is also served by the A64 allowing in the direction of Toulouse, to drive freely to Lannemezan or Capvern, and towards Bayonne and joining Pau, which is also accessible from the fr.

Movements are facilitated by a boulevard circling the town. The recent development of the different centres of activity around Tarbes has promoted the creation of the southwest ring road which should extend to the north towards the D935 (Route de Bordeaux) and the N21 (Route d'Auch). A southern bypass is also projected between Tarbes-east to the Juillan interchange and the airport. Finally, a ring road is under consideration, which would connect Séméac to Orleix.

The new portion of dual-carriageway of the N21 which opened in December 2012 between Tarbes and Lourdes aims to promote economic and tourism links between the Bigorre capital and second city of the department, as well as to Argelès-Gazost already connected a Marian estate by a dual-carriageway section.

The fr and the RD8 allow they to go to Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

Public transport

The communes of fr are served by a bus network called Alezan. An electric shuttle for the town centre. Finally, it is possible to rent cycles in the Place du Foirail, under the Vél'en Ville system.

Politics and administration

List of mayors

Main article: [[:fr]]

List of mayors of Tarbes

Start	End	Name	Party	Other details
March 2001	In progress	fr	UMP	President of the fr from 2008 to 2014 Vice-President of the fr from 2014 Regional Counsel from 2004
March 1983	March 2001	fr	PCF	General Counsel
March 1977	March 1983	Paul Chastellain	PCF
March 1959	March 1977	Paul Boyrie	RI
March 1953	March 1959	Marcel Billères	SFIO

Cantons

Tarbes is the chef-lieu of five cantons (involving only quarters in Tarbes), themselves divided into two electoral districts of Hautes-Pyrénées: Cantons I, III and IV in the first, and the cantons II and V in the second:

• The fr, 7,547 inhabitants
• The fr, 10,500 inhabitants
• The fr, 7,372 inhabitants
• The fr, 8,946 inhabitants
• The fr, 8,669 inhabitants

Higher academic institutions

National School of Engineers of Tarbes

The ENIT building

Main article: École nationale d'ingénieurs de Tarbes

• ENIT, Institut National Polytechnique:

The school's educational project aims to give versatile training in engineering, industrial engineering, strong culture and openness, able to design, implement and construct industrial systems and production equipment, in respect of the environment and safety.

University of Pau and Pays de L'adour

Main article: University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Located at the Spanish border, the University of Pau and Pays de L'adour (UPPA) is a network of 4 campuses, which are in Tarbes, the Hautes-Pyrénées campus, at the gates of the National Park of the Pyrenees and the Observatoire du Pic du Midi de Bigorre. The diplomas awarded in Tarbes: Arts, letters, languages, humanities and social sciences, sport (2 degrees), and science and technology (3 degrees).

University Toulouse II Le Mirail

The University Institute of Teacher Training of the Midi-Pyrénées (IUFM), become internal school of the University of Toulouse II – Le Mirail, offers courses at level Bac+4 and Bac+5 for access to competitive examination of the teaching order, in particular, to become fr (fr). It's the fr EFE-ESE (Childhood Education Teacher Training specialty, schooling in the 1st degree and Education) declined through several research courses including one in Occitan.

The Tarbes Pyrénées art school

Main article: [[:fr]]

• CEAP: Studies in plastic arts certificate (2 years)
• DNAP: National Diploma of Plastic Arts (3 years), equivalent to level III
• DNAT Ceramic design: National Diploma of Arts and Techniques (3 years), diploma equivalent to level III
• DNSEP mention art (ceramics): Superior National Diploma of Plastic Expession (5 years), approved level

Training Institute in music pedagogy

Established in 1998, at the initiative of the prefect Jean Dussourd and encouraged by Mr. Joël-René Dupont, Academy Inspector, this private institute (the Kaddouch education is partner of the Sorbonne) teaches the pedagogy of fr with the teachers of the European music conservatories, and provides music education to students of all ages whose youngest are babies of five months old.

Health

The city has also a medical centre spread over three sites that make up the Intercommunal Hospital Centre of Tarbes - Vic-en-Bigorre (CHIC-TV). On 6 June 2003, the institution changed its name and became the Hospital Centre of Bigorre (CHB): A short stay site ("La Gespe" in Tarbes) and two geriatric sites ("L'Ayguerote" in Tarbes and Vic en Bigorre); in 2016 the new hospital of Tarbes and Lourdes will be in Lanne, opposite the airport. The Ormeau Polyclinic in collaboration with the Pyrenees-Bigorre Clinic is the second centre of health in Tarbes. Every year in October, are organised the Pyreneean Days of Gynecology, of worldwide recognition.

Demography

In 2012, the commune had 41,664 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the population censuses carried out in the town since 1793. From the 21st century, the communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants have a census take place every year as a result of a sample survey, unlike the other communes which have a real census every five years.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1793 6,213 —     1800 6,777 +9.1% 1806 7,934 +17.1% 1821 8,035 +1.3% 1831 9,706 +20.8% 1836 12,630 +30.1% 1841 12,425 −1.6% 1846 13,321 +7.2% 1851 14,004 +5.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1856 14,743 +5.3% 1861 14,768 +0.2% 1866 14,658 −0.7% 1876 21,293 +45.3% 1881 23,273 +9.3% 1886 25,146 +8.0% 1891 25,087 −0.2% 1896 24,197 −3.5% 1901 26,055 +7.7%	Year Pop. ±% 1906 25,869 −0.7% 1911 28,615 +10.6% 1921 26,535 −7.3% 1926 29,856 +12.5% 1931 32,374 +8.4% 1936 34,749 +7.3% 1946 44,854 +29.1% 1954 40,242 −10.3% 1962 46,600 +15.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1968 55,375 +18.8% 1975 54,897 −0.9% 1982 51,422 −6.3% 1990 47,566 −7.5% 1999 46,275 −2.7% 2006 45,433 −1.8% 2012 41,664 −8.3%
From 1962 to 1999: Population without double counting; for the years following: municipal population. Source: Ldh/EHESS/Cassini until 1999 then INSEE from 2004

The population of the commune of Tarbes (legal municipal population 2010) established on 1 January 2013, at 43,034 inhabitants, thus placing the commune as fourth of the Midi-Pyrénées region after Toulouse (441,802 inhabitants), Montauban (56,271 inhab.) and Albi (48,916 inhabitants). In 1995, the Communauté d'agglomération of Grand Tarbes (12 communes, 78,493 inhabitants) was created which, regionally, ranks third behind the Grand Toulouse (37 communes, 705,000 inhab.), Castres-Mazamet (16 communes, 85,000 inhab.), Grand Albigeois (17 communes, 82,181 inhab.) and before Montauban (7 communes of Montauban-Trois rivières, 64,489 inhab.). The urban centre has 95,029 inhabitants. It includes the more urbanised communes and those nearest to Tarbes, whether or not in the Communauté d'agglomération of Grand Tarbes. We can include the communes of Juillan (4,078 inhabitants), Ossun (2,383 inhabitants), Azereix (1,019 inhabitants, Louey (1,018 inhabitants), Lanne (585 inhabitants), Barbazan-Debat (3,571 inhabitants), Bazet (1 674 inhabitants), Oursbelille (1,243 inhabitants), Momères (676 inhabitants) and Horgues (1,115 inhabitants). In addition, it should be noted that the perimeter of the Grand Tarbes is three times less than that of the urban area which, with 115,857 inhabitants (2009), is the second of the Pyrenees behind Toulouse (1,102,882 inhab.) and ahead of Albi (92,927 inhab.) and Montauban (82,193 inhab.).

Communes of the Tarbes urban centre	Census date
	2011	Community of communes or agglomeration	Political affiliation of the mayor
Tarbes	42,888	CA Grand Tarbes	UMP
Aureilhan	7,941	CA Grand Tarbes	PS
Séméac	4,669	CA Grand Tarbes	PS
Bordères-sur-l'Échez	4,338	CA Grand Tarbes	DVD
Juillan	4,020	CC Canton d'Ossun	DVD
Barbazan-Debat	3,453	CA Grand Tarbes	PRG
Odos	3,220	CA Grand Tarbes	DVG
Soues	3,004	CA Grand Tarbes	PS
Ibos	2,780	CA Grand Tarbes	PS
Ossun	2,319	CC Canton d'Ossun	PS
Laloubère	1,943	CA Grand Tarbes	UMP
Orleix	1,904	CA Grand Tarbes	PS
Bazet	1,664	None	PCF
Oursbelille	1,220	None	PCF
Horgues	1,093	CC Gespe Adour Alaric	UMP
Azereix	1,017	CC Canton d'Ossun	SE
Louey	989	CC Canton d'Ossun	SE
Bours	783	CA Grand Tarbes	SE
Momères	665	CC Gespe Adour Alaric	SE
Sarrouilles	550	CA Grand Tarbes	PS
Salles-Adour	476	CA Grand Tarbes	PCF
Allier	383	CC Gespe Adour Alaric	SE
Chis	299	CA Grand Tarbes	SE

Culture

Musical culture

The city of Tarbes is to the delight of audiophiles, with the last independent record store of the south-west, which moved premises from Pau. Located in the city centre, at 43 Rue Maréchal-Foch, it is reserved for vinyl collectors with numerous musical genres. This place attracts French and foreign travellers as they pass through the Bigorre city.

Theatres

In addition to the exhibition halls, the various stages and theatres of the city, including that of La Gespe devoted to contemporary music. La Pari, the performing arts stage, is still a place for contemporary creativity. The main theatre remains that of the Nouveautés but Le Parvis, a multidisciplinary cultural institution combining music, dance and cinema on the outskirts in the heart of the Le Meridien commercial centre, sees many pieces played within.

A cinema with eleven rooms "all-digital and 3D" opened its doors in 2010 in a former GIAT industrial building, renovated for the occasion.

Local media

Newspapers

The group of La Dépêche du Midi has a local daily edition as well as a comparable second edition branded as the La Nouvelle République des Pyrénées (the latter does not appear on Sunday unlike the first which is published every day).

The fr Group publishes the weekly La semaine des Pyrénées.

A version of the weekly Le Petit Journal is also available in the department.

Radio

FM channels include several local radio stations with their premises in the urban area: Pic FM, fr, Atomic, etc.

Other radio stations in the region broadcast local information bulletins such as fr.

Some national radio stations still have studios in the city such as Fun Radio and NRJ.

Internet

Several web portals of local influence are based in Tarbes, such as Bigorre.org and Le65.com.

There are still several information websites (webzines), sometimes having their own web TV broadcasts such as Tarbesinfo.fr.

Gastronomy

Markets

• The "Grand Market" takes place on Thursday morning, in Place Marcadieu; Marcadieu is the name which designates the special space of the "Grand Market", which has a regional dimension and its own personality: A covered grain market in the Baltard style (1883), a fountain called des 4 vallées [the four valleys] and a second, more modest, called fontaine des sources de l'amour [fountain of the sources of love], fountains erected by local sculptors at the beginning of the 20th century.

• The food market is held every morning at the Brauhauban covered market, this is a traditional market.

• The flower market takes place on Thursday morning at the Place du Foirail, formerly a centre of livestock markets.

• The flea market is also held on Thursday morning under the Marcadieu covered market.

Sport

Clubs

• Tarbes Gespe Bigorre, the main sporting team of the town, is a female basketball team which participates in the French League (LFB) and European competitions (FIBA EuroLeague Women, Ronchetti Cup – won in 1996 – and FIBA EuroCup Women).
• The city also has a rugby union team – Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby.

Events

2006 Tour de France stage held in Tarbes with a large turn out

• During the 20th century, Tarbes was on the route of the Tour de France in 1933, 1934, 1951, 1975, 1978, 1987, 1993 and 1995.
• Stage 14 of the 2001 Tour de France departed from Tarbes.
• Stage 11 of the 2006 Tour de France departed from Tarbes.
• Stage 9 of the 2009 Tour de France finished in Tarbes. The stage winner was Pierrick Fédrigo, with Rinaldo Nocentini being the holder of the yellow jersey after the stage finish.
• The 2015 Tour de France is scheduled to have Tarbes as the departure point for Stage 10, heading to the Col de la Pierre St Martin, on 14 July.
• The Tarbes-based Petits As Tournament is a major international tennis competition for 12–14 year old juniors. It is an unofficial world championship which has been held since 1982, and is the most important tournament in this age category. The tournament has been won by then-future global stars including Rafael Nadal, Martina Hingis, and Kim Clijsters.

Personalities linked to the commune

Political figures

• fr, born May 22, 1960 in Tarbes, is a senior official and French politician. He was Mayor of Versailles since 2008.
• Bertrand Barère, revolutionary, Deputy of the Third Estate in 1789, member of the Committee of Public safety during the terror, member of the French National Convention
• fr, Mayor of Tarbes since 2001, member of the Radical Party, former President of the fr
• Jean Glavany, Socialist member of Hautes-Pyrénées, President of Grand Tarbes until April 2008, former Secretary of State and Minister of Agriculture
• fr, fr
• fr, "moderate" Mayor of Tarbes from 1935 to 1944, prisoner of war, he enlisted in the Resistance and died when deported
• fr, former prefect and member of the Hautes-Pyrénées.

Sportspeople

• Olivier Azam, rugby union player
• Lionel Beauxis, rugby union player
• Céline Dumerc, basketball player
• Bernard Lapasset, International Rugby Board chairman
• Nicolas Lopez, sabre fencer
• Adrien Théaux, alpine skier

Writers

• Maurice Audebert, philosopher, novelist and dramatist, born at Tarbes in 1921
• Charles Dantzig, writer and editor, Jean Freustié and Roger Nimier Prize in 2003, December prize and Elle in 2006.
• Isidore Ducasse, Comte de Lautréamont, born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1846 enrolled at Lycée Théophile Gautier, died in 1870
• fr, writer born in Tarbes (1907-1986)
• fr, writer
• Véronique Poivre-d'Arvor French writer born in Tarbes on 23 April 1942
• Laurent Tailhade, writer, polemicist
• Christine de Rivoyre, born in Tarbes on 29 November 1921, is a journalist and French writer
• Théophile Gautier, writer born in Tarbes in 1811 died in 1872
• Jules Laforgue, born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1860, enrolled at Tarbes and died in 1887.

Military

Birthplace of Ferdinand Foch

• fr (1808-1882), Belgian general (naturalised in 1844);
• Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929) Marshal of France (1918), commander-in-chief of Allied forces in World War I including Great Britain and Poland. Academician; a museum was opened at his birthplace in 1951.
• fr, born in Tarbes 3 July 1747, general of division of Napoleon I, from a noble family

Musicians and singers

• fr Dominican friar, painter and cartoonist, songwriter, writer and Traveler, born at Tarbes in 1924
• François Deguelt, singer, songwriter was born in Tarbes on 4 December 1932 and died on 22 January 2014
• fr, concert pianist and international teacher (creator of the k method), Tarbais since 1966
• David Fray, piano virtuoso, born 24 May 1981 in Tarbes.
• Henri Génès, actor and singer
• fr, musician, accordionist
• Victor Mirecki, cellist and music teacher, born 21 July 1847 in Tarbes and died 7 April 1921 in Madrid
• Cécile Ousset, born 1936, pianist
• Gilles Servat, singer and musician, born in Tarbes on 1 February 1945
• The famous trio of the fr group of festive music born in Tarbes in 1998
• fr, born in Tarbes in 1899, organist, choirmaster and teacher in Paris, died in 1986.
• Marianne Dissard, born 20 May 1969 in Tarbes, singer, songwriter and French filmmaker.
• DJ Neesty, born in Tarbes in 1960, composer arranger, remixing. He worked for various artists and music labels and two times for the Eurovision Song Contest.
• The fr group was born in the Lycée Marie Curie in Tarbes.
• fr, 1927-2012, French humourist, born in Sarrouilles but who was often in the Tarbes area before going to Paris.
• fr, Tarbes vocal ensemble dedicated to polyphonic singing.
• ENZ, rapper, Parisian of adoption since 2003 was born in Tarbes in the 1980s.

Painters and sculptors

• fr, painter, died at Tarbes in 1958;
• fr, artist painter, born in 1846 in Tarbes, died in Paris in 1915
• fr, artist, born in 1945 in Tarbes
• fr, sculptor, born in Tarbes in 1875, died in 1951
• fr, artist, painter, born in 1883 in Tarbes, died in Tarbes in 1959

Filmmakers and actors

• Michel Dieuzaide, born in Tarbes in 1951, photographer and film director
• fr, filmmaker, born in Tarbes in 1940
• Henri Génès, actor and singer
• fr, comedienne
• Marianne Dissard, singer and film-maker

Industrialists, traders and benefactors

• fr, pharmacist and botanist, great benefactor of the city of Tarbes (1777-1853)
• fr, military and business leader, originator of the Kennedy Centre (1909-2005)

Others

• Pierre Koffmann, chef

Tarbes in the arts, literature and media

• Jean Paulhan, Les Fleurs de Tarbes ou La Terreur dans les Lettres [The Flowers of Tarbes or Terror in the Letters] (1936, 1941)
• Maurice Utrillo, Tarbes or Winter street scene in Tarbes (1935)
• Unlike the historical D'Artagnan, from Gers, the character of D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas, comes from Tarbes.
• The city of Tarbes is mentioned in the manga The Familiar of Zero, Chapter 28, page 8. It is the city where the hero goes to find a former war machine.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Tarbes is twinned with:

• Huesca, Spain, from 7 May 1964
• Altenkirchen, Germany, from 24 June 1972

• 
  Blason of Huesca
• 
  Blason of Altenkirchen

See also

• Hautes-Pyrénées
• Bigorre
• Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department
• fr
• DAHER-SOCATA
• Haras Nationaux
• 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment
• Grand Tarbes, fr

References

• INSEE commune file

External links

• Guide of Tarbes
• Tourism office website (in French)
• Le Parvis national scene of Tarbes Pyrénées (in French)
• Official site of the Grand Tarbes (in French)