The Pyrenees Travel Guide
Travel to The Pyrenees - Walking and Trekking in the Pyrenees
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Within the Pyrenees National Park, the mountains stretch for about 100km from west to east, has six main valleys: Aspe, Ossau, Azun, Arrens, Balaitous and Cauterets, and encompasses a large part of the central Pyrenees region along the border with Spain. The park’s landscape is a stunning mix of mountains, idyllic countryside, lakes and forests, but the Pyrenees stretch way beyond the park boundaries with scenery and outdoor activity opportunities in abundance!
Popular for walking and trekking the Pyrenees are criss-crossed with trails for walkers and mountain biking. Two of the most challenging are the Haute Randonee Pyrenee, and the GR10 from Hendaye to Banyuls.
The largest ski area in the Pyrenees stretches from La Mongie to Bareges and offers those who love winter-sports many opportunities for skiing and snow boarding. Both Cauterets and La Pierre Saint Martin have Nordic ski runs for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing. Alternatively you could go to Issarbe, where you can enjoy dog sledding.
Below the mountains lie Cathar castles and wonderful towns such as Carcassonne, Perpignan and Biarritz..
Created in 1963, the Pyrenees National Park is one of the seven French National Parks. Its protected central zone, which is almost uninhabited, covers 457 km2 whilst its peripheral zone covers 2063 km2 and contains 86 villages and 40,000 inhabitants.
Attractions in The Pyrenees
The renowned Cirque de Gavarnie is an immense circular wall of cliff which can be reached by an easy walk from Gavarnie. Bigger and perhaps even more impressive, is the Cirque de Troumouse. 75 different species of mammals live in the Pyrenees, including ermine, stoat, bear, desman, pine marten, wild boar and fox.
Mont Perdu is the third highest mountain (3,352m) in the Pyrenees and is located in an inaccessible region deep in the Hautes-Pyrenees department. A different way of seeing the stunning views is to take the little train of Artouste. From the peak of La Sagette, the train takes you on a 10km ride at an altitude of 2000m to the shores of Lake Artouste.
The Neouvielle Nature Reserve in the Aure valley contains 70 lakes in which 550 species of algae have been found. There are bivouac areas near the lakes of Aubert and Orédon so that you can spend the night there if you wish.
Activities in The Pyrenees
With towering summits, some up to 3000m and several long distance footpaths, a few days, a week or maybe more can be easily be spent exploring the Pyrenees on foot or by bike during the summer months. Winter offers just as much activity with skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, dog sledding and cross country skiing.
Relaxing
The thermal spa town of Cauterets is an ideal base for exploring and after a walk to the famous Gaube lake where you can admire the mountain of Vignemale (3298m), the highest summit in the French Pyrenees, you can relax and enjoy the hot bubbling water of the thermal spas.
Getting Around
The Pyrenees cannot be fully appreciated exploring by car therefore walking or biking through the mountains is really essential and a much more enjoyable way to appreciate the scenery and magnificence of the region.
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