LUZ ST SAUVEUR is historically identified with the Barèges Valley, of which it later became the county town.
The name of this valley is given the etymology of "Hidden Valley".
For a long time, it was effectively enclosed in the heart of the highest Pyrenean massifs, with no other possible communication with the rest of the country than via the Tourmalet pass (2,122 m in altitude), which was impassable during the winter months.
Thus abandoned, this population only manifested itself until the 12th century by its battles against the invaders, Moors or Miquelets, who willingly overflowed onto these lands.
As their suzerain was of no help to them in these critical moments, they got into the habit of doing without him.
Relations between them became increasingly rare and tense.
The "Toys", whose motto said that they feared only "God, Lightning and the Avalanche", were often disrespectful of the authorities, whom they even molested.
Around 1319, the then Count of Bigorre, Centulle III, no doubt tired of these difficult people who were more trouble than good, decided to emancipate them.
He gave them all the land in the valley, which he judged to be barren, asking them simply to defend the border and to pay a few extra tithes in return.
These semi-knights, who owed it to their resistance to have conquered their freedom at a time when their peers were still weaned, probably took some pride in this.
It still remains, along with a strong sense of independence, one of the dominant traits of their race.
