Pyrénées-Atlantiques. A summer of escape games (3/7): the beautiful Laàs castle with its many puzzles

Dear gentleman burglars, your mission: sneak into the Château de Laàs to try to steal the precious diamond from the former owner, Oscar Ledage. This is one of the scenarios offered by the magnificent residence in the Pays des Gaves.

We had barely arrived when a "professional burglar" introduced himself to us: "I have been looking for several weeks for a diamond that belonged to Mr. Oscar Delage, who lived in this castle," he told us. "He was a botanist, but also a geologist, and explored the entire world in search of precious stones. There is one in particular that interests me..." Our mission became clearer: we, gentlemen burglars, were to discreetly enter the Château de Laàs to try to steal the precious diamond from the former owner of the place.

We tiptoe into a plush ^19th- century kitchen-dining room. On the staircase leading upstairs, our host points out the places where he's already searched—in vain—for the coveted treasure. Then he opens the door to the bedroom where it's supposedly hidden. A proper search begins!

The escape game "Les Gentlemen Burglars" takes place in the castle of Laàs, a village located in the heart of the Béarn des Gaves region, an hour from Pau, Bayonne, and Dax. Named Escape Castle 64, the venue, nestled in the heart of a 10-hectare wooded park, is open all year round, including on public holidays.

"We offer three escape games, each with varying levels of difficulty," say the young women on the reception team. "Poudlaàs School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is easy to medium. Gentlemen Burglars is a step up. The Godfather's Honor is even higher. The first two can be played from age 8, and the third from age 12, because they cover potentially sensitive topics: murder, alcohol, cigars, etc. It's more like a game of Cluedo: you have to find out who in the mafia family killed the godfather."

This latest scenario appeared a year ago and is working well, as are the other two rooms, all located on the same level. "Each story has its own setting and immerses participants in a special atmosphere," describe the receptionists. "For The Godfather's Honor, we go through the main entrance of the castle, which opens onto a grand staircase, as if we were entering the godfather's home. For Poudlaàs, we created a slightly dark stairwell with fake and real cobwebs, with a little background music."

But by the way, where are our gentleman burglars? After turning over just about everything in the room (bed, cupboards, drawers, etc.), our little team is making progress in its attempt to solve the riddle of the day: Oscar Delage may not be who we think he is... We're not going to lie: after an hour of intensive, often fruitful research, and despite the help of a game master who is careful not to leave the players struggling too much, we haven't had time to find the diamond. "Less than a third of groups succeed," we learn. That consoles us a little. And we had a great time: here's the real treasure!

Good to know: Laàs' escape games are part of a wider range of activities offered within the Château des énigmes. A three-hour outdoor game trail offers a magical family adventure in the lush green park. Zip lines, treetop nets, and a bamboo maze await the most intrepid (ages four and up). Another experience is alongside young Willy, an apprentice magician, whose secret mission is to find the magical spellbook Picatrix, protected by the dragon Iragor.

"You can also visit the castle museum," the entertainment team reminds us. "For a real journey through time, discovering a bourgeois residence as it was in the 18th century, with its unique collection of decorative art."

And why not indulge in an unusual night in a treehouse? Five accommodations nestled in the trees offer an unusual stay for two to ten people, where you can enjoy breakfast delivered in a basket, to be hoisted up to the treehouse. Finally, the castle's bistro, the estate's snack bar, and the estate's many shaded picnic areas allow visitors to enjoy a meal on site in a friendly atmosphere.