Touring the Hautes-Pyrénées region

Lourdes and surrounds

The Château, built high on a rocky bluff, dominates the town of Lourdes and the site has been fortified since Roman times. Sitting on the Gave de Pau river, and dominating access to the seven valleys of Lavedan, the Château houses a Pyrenean museum and offers wonderful views towards the high mountains.

Lourdes is best known today as a Catholic pilgrimage destination, and each year several million pilgrims and volunteers visit the famous Grotte and the imposing Basiliques. 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Bernadette Soubirous, and the jubilee celebrations will feature a papal visit.

There are a number of attractions around Lourdes, including the Pic du Jer lookout served by its own funicular, the vast Grotte de Betharram caves and the well-tended zoo featuring bears, wolves & marmottes. The Natural Reserve of Pibeste is a haven for vultures and other birds of prey.

Gavarnie

Near the Spanish frontier is the Cirque de Gavarnie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sheer semi-circular face of limestone and granite is 1,400m high, and features several waterfalls. Adventurous walkers can tackle the Brèche de Roland – a landmark gap at the top of the cirque – and cross into Spain.

Cauterets

Above this bustling mountain spa town, lies the Pont D’Espagne – an old stone bridge over the cascading Gave du Gaube. A number of excellent walking routes depart from this point, and take in the beautiful Lac de Gaube. To the west of Cauterets, the Cirque de Lys, accessed by road or on the new 8-person gondola, offers further good walking and cycling routes, and 360 degree views.

Hautacam

The Col made famous by the Tour de France, is a year-round departure point for walkers, mountain-bikers and skiers. The views from the top are exceptional. We recommend the gentle walk to the Lac D’Isaby, followed by a hearty local lunch in one of the restaurants on the descent.

Bagneres-de-Bigorre and surrounds

The original Roman settlement of Vicus Aquensis is situated astride the Adour river, in the shadow of the steep-sided Pic du Midi. This charming spa town has enjoyed a spirited revival in recent years, with the installation of a first-class modern spa and the opening of a number of new restaurants and facilities.

Further south lies the Valleé du Campan, whose picturesque villages feature slate-roofed houses and baroque churches. The valley is known for its craft tradition of mounaques: the observant will spot these giant rag dolls perched in all sorts of unusual places.

To the west is the Valleé de Lesponne, departure point for the hikes to Lac Bleu and the Pic du Montaigú.

Pic du Midi de Bigorre

Completed in 1880, with all the building materials carried on muleback, the observatory sits astride the Pic du Midi at 2,872m and serves as a reference point for the whole Bigorre region. Until recent years the observatory was exclusively reserved for scientists, but it has now opened to sightseers, skiers and even cyclists. Access is via a dramatic cable car journey, or a winding track, and visitors are rewarded with a spectacular view of the Pyrenean chain.