Hautes-Pyrénées: Cirques, Lourdes and regional cuisine

Explore the Hautes-Pyrénées through the many facets of the Pyrenean region: striking glacial cirques, high-mountain lakes, pilgrimage history and regional food culture. The French side of the Pyrénées - Mont Perdu UNESCO World Heritage Site is characterised by its distinctive glacial cirques. In Lourdes, the sanctuary and museum offer insights into religious history and Pyrenean cultures. Depending on whether you want to focus on nature, culture, outdoor activities or regional cuisine, you can choose different priorities for your stay.

Landscapes of lakes, forests and peaks

The Réserve nationale du Néouvielle includes at least 70 lakes. In its present form, it was established in 1968 and is one of France’s earliest nature reserves. It is also home to Europe’s highest-altitude forests of mountain pine. The lakes and distinctive forest landscapes thus represent two different aspects of this protected area.

The Parc National des Pyrénées encompasses diverse mountain ecosystems, including forests, meadows, glaciers and lakes. In the Hautes-Pyrénées, it extends into the Aure, Barèges, Cauterets and Azun valleys. The national park includes seven Maisons du Parc and five mountain refuges, where overnight stays in the mountains are possible. The Refuge des Espuguettes offers panoramic views of the cross-border peaks of the Cirque de Gavarnie, including the Brèche de Roland and Pic du Vignemale.

Elevation figures and viewpoints also give the landscape a distinct profile: the Col du Tourmalet reaches 2,115 metres and offers views of the Bastan and Gripp valleys. Alongside the lakes and forests of Néouvielle, these landmarks provide other, clearly distinct landscape experiences.

Lourdes and the cultural history of the Pyrenees

Within the sanctuary of Lourdes, the Grotte des apparitions is the central place of worship. It contains the spring and the statue of Notre-Dame de Lourdes. The torchlight procession was introduced in Lourdes in 1863. The Eucharistic procession runs from the sanctuary meadow to the Basilica of Saint-Pie X and dates back to 1874.

The Musée pyrénéen is located in the Château fort de Lourdes and brings together medieval heritage, panoramic views and Pyrenean cultures. Founded in 1921, its collections explore the societies and traditions of the French and Spanish Pyrenean valleys. The Pont d’Espagne in Cauterets offers a different historical connection: the bridge dates from 1886 and formerly served as a shepherds’ route for trade with Spain.

Trails, cycling routes and high-altitude views

A visit to the Pic du Midi begins with a 15-minute cable-car ride to the summit. Visitors can also step onto a 12-metre-long sky bridge. The V81 provides a cycling route across the département, following low-traffic roads through Lourdes, Tarbes and Lannemezan. It differs in purpose from the Géotrek system, which helps you find official forest walks, cycling climbs and bike routes in the Hautes-Pyrénées.

There are also different ways to get around: the PDIPR supports routes for walking, cycling, running or horse riding. This information helps you distinguish between a specific cycling route, a search for different walking and cycling options, and other supported types of routes, without limiting your trip to a single activity.

Regional cuisine and getting there

The cuisine of the Hautes-Pyrénées includes mountain cheeses, Noir de Bigorre charcuterie, mountain honey and garbure. Gâteau à la broche is considered an emblematic regional cake and is still made by hand in some households. Almost every valley also has a craft brewery that uses mountain water. The Madiran and Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh wine-growing areas also extend into the Hautes-Pyrénées, as well as Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Gers.

Travellers can reach the Hautes-Pyrénées by train via the Lourdes and Tarbes railway stations. Check current train timetables before travelling. This allows you to include train travel in your plans and then decide whether to focus on landscapes, culture, routes or regional specialities during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Barèges, Aureilhan, Vielle-Aure, Argelès-Gazost, Séméac, Odos, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Germ, Gerde, Gavarnie, Capvern, Ayzac-Ost, Aspin-En-Lavedan, Créchets, Aveux, Cazarilh, Bonnefont, Fréchède, Gèdre, Bonnemazon, Aucun, Viscos, Ozon, Nouilhan, Orleix, Saint-Sever-De-Rustan, Agos-Vidalos, Asté, Cadéac, Madiran, Campan, Lanne, Soublecause, Uz, Montgaillard, Montignac, Mauléon-Barousse, Ancizan, Puydarrieux, Buzon, Antist, Trie-Sur-Baïse, Lombrès, Juillan, Esbareich, Arbéost, Loures-Barousse, Loubajac, Poueyferré, Thuy, Maubourguet, Peyrouse, Villelongue, Castelnau-Magnoac, Pouzac, La Barthe-De-Neste, Bartrès, Guchen, Génos, Bettes, Asque, Chis, Libaros, Bordes, Fontrailles, Rabastens-De-Bigorre, Arcizans-Avant, Gaillagos, Pinas, Bazet, Galan, Labastide, Seich, Nistos, Vielle-Adour, Sazos, Clarens, Estaing, Adé, Pierrefitte-Nestalas, Marsac, Orincles, Aragnouet, Vignec, Arrens-Marsous, Vic-En-Bigorre, Saint-Laurent-De-Neste, Mascaras, Siradan, Loucrup, Hèches, Luby-Betmont, Thermes-Magnoac, Vidouze, Sacoué, Bernadets-Debat, Préchac, Tarbes, Vieuzos, Ilheu, Anères, Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre, Molère, Boulin, Sère-Lanso, Bordères-Louron, Lascazères, Escoubès-Pouts, Ossen, Escaunets, Hibarette, Betbèze, Bazordan, Saléchan, Tuzaguet, Saint-Lary-Soulan, Peyresourde-Balestas, Artagnan, Bagnères-De-Bigorre, Lies, Laborde, Sers, Sombrun, Sailhan, Lannemezan, Castelnau-Rivière-Basse, Vielle-Louron, Avezac-Prat-Lahitte, Sarrancolin, Cadeilhan-Trachère, Cauterets, Eup, Fronsac, Les Angles, Loudenvielle, Lourdes, Arreau, Fréchou-Fréchet, Camparan, Beaucens, Sariac-Magnoac, Barbazan-Debat, Arrayou-Lahitte, Saint-Pastous, Lahitte-Toupière, Labatut-Rivière, Azet, Nestier, Hourc, Lortet, Larreule, Bourg-de-Bigorre, Auriébat, Ibos, Saint-Savin, Gembrie, Lamarque-Pontacq, Burg

For the broader travel overview: Midi Pyrenees.