The Gavarnie valley

Sheltered by the giant

What more can be said about Gavarnie and its valley?
Now recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, the Gavarnie Cirque is an absolutely unique natural curiosity. From the great Pyrenean mountaineers to famous authors and writers, the towering giant has been, is and always will be a unique source of happiness and a challenge for each visitor.

The 16 summits of the cirque, the highest 3000m peaks in the whole range, form the frontier ridge with Spain. You can cross over through the Brèche de Roland cut in the mountains. From these summits pours the great waterfall, the source of the Gave de Pau river.

From Gavarnie, the small Ossoue valley will lead you year-round to the small and large Vignemale.

The Gavarnie valley also stands for canyons and dramatically changing landscapes. It feels like the end of the earth, in any case it’s a place to unwind and revitalise.

Not to be missed each summer: at the Gavarnie festival the decor is the Courade plateau with the Cirque as a backdrop. Return from the evening performances by the light of flaming torches.

Special features

History of interest in the Pyrenees
Tasty food
Sport
Relaxation
Away from it all
Vitality
Mountain and very high mountain sports.

Discover

Gavarnie Cirque, its great waterfall and piercing summits
Troumouse cirque, its flora and fauna
Estaubé cirque
The Gloriettes reservoir-lake
The high pastures and pastoral traditions
Héas chapel
The Saugué pastures
Vignemale, Pique Longue and its glacier
The village of Gèdre
Pragnères power station (visits possible)
Saintiago de Compostella trail
The Héas and Ossoue canyon
Local producers
Award-winning Barèges Gavarnie lamb
Good restaurants
Traditional mountain singing

Get moving / Year-round opportunities

Mountain sports: hiking, skiing, paragliding, horseback riding, adventure sports, fishing, motorbiking, canyoneering and white water sports
Unforgettable moments: Crossing into Spain through the Brèche de Roland

Don’t miss

The Pyrenees National Park
The Brèche de Roland
The Cirque’s summits: Taillon, Casque, the Astazous, Marboré, l’Epaule...
The canyons

Ski resorts

Gavarnie-Gèdre, Les Espécières

Nearby

The Luz-Saint-Sauveur valley
The Barèges valley with its little suspended villages
The Ordesa Natural Park (Spain)

A little further away

The Pic de Midi de Bigorre and its observatory
The legendary Tourmalet pass
Argelès-Gazost health resort and its great weekly market
The Val d'Azun
Cauterets - Pont d'Espagne
Lourdes
Tarbes, the Massey Gardens and the National Stud
Toulouse, its history, the Space City