These two small towns share a municipality dedicated to forestry. In Athas in the 18th century, the civil and hydraulic Engineer Leroy built a port in which to put together firwood rafts for transport. These trunks of fir were later destined to become ships’ masts. The forest of Issaux was the main provider of trees for this period of Mâture (rigging) in the Aspe Valley. New tracks were made to transport the wood to the Gave d’Aspe.

Secondary road no. 441, which links the Aspe valley with La Pierre Saint-Martin was originally one of these Mâture tracks. Lées still conserves its sawmill and log rafts still float downriver in May, on the day of the Forest Festival. As you enter the village of Lées from the south, you must not miss something which is difficult to see in villages nowadays – a farrier shoeing cattle and horses. Many animals were shod here so that they could work without damaging their hooves. The wash-house in the upper part of the village is also worth mentioning and amateur mineralogistis will enjoy the magnificent ashlars carved from Griotte limestone in the church’s portico.