THE RACE LIVE

Departure town

Mourenx, au cœur du Béarn (Photo : Mairie de Mourenx)

Mourenx

The discovery in the 1950’s of huge subterranean gas reserves in the Lacq area transformed the Béarn countryside into an industrial basin. In this context was created the town of Mourenx, built to accommodate the thousands of employees drawn towards this new industrial complex. Today, Mourenx is a city of 8,000 inhabitants. It is the centre of the Lacq District Council consisting of 16 towns and villages working actively towards attracting new industrial partners ensuring a harmonious conversion of the basin after the gas resources run out in 2014. The town of Mourenx has also launched an urban renovation project in order to confirm its place as a hub of the area. A new water sports complex will be inaugurated in 2006. The town is a natural site for the promotion of sporting activities with the "Eddy Merckx" velodrome and a women’s basket ball team which plays at National level, coached by Valery Demory, ex-professional basket ball player at the famous Élan Béarnais team Pau/Orthez.

www.ville-de-mourenx.fr