3 days hiking in the French Pyrénées

A week after coming back from the Alps we decided to visit another French mountain: the Pyrénées

20, 21 and 22 August, 2013

Lourdes and Cauterets Pont d’Espagne are among the 4 major Resorts of the Hautes-Pyrénées

Picture dated June 21, 2013

Lourdes the very famous commune of the 

Catholic pilgrimage site has been left devastated in June 18, 2013 by the river Gave de Pau, which has burst its banks

La basilique Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire today, after less than 2 months works rehabilitation

The Massabielle cave where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to 

Bernadette Soubirous was partially flooded 

Before (left) and after (right) the flood

One of the few still apparent damage

Cauterets Pont d’Espagne

 The Pont d’Espagne (1496 m) is a protected place 

         of Pyrenees National Park 

        

The most beautiful waterfalls that can be seen in the Hautes-Pyrénées







That place gives access to the Gaube valley, with its lake ...


... the Lac de Gaube which is approximately 1hr and 30 minutes walk from Cauterets 

or can be accessed by a chair-lift from the Pont d'Espagne

The top end of the valley leading to the lake is closed off by the north face of the Vignemale, the culminating point of the mountain range on the border with Spain

The Cirque de Lys is accessible by cable car from where there are panoramic views over the Pyrenees

The crests of the Cirque du Lys with the lakes and high surrounding peaks

Faraway the Ilhéou lake