France is a place that needs no introduction. A country full of world-famous monuments, beautiful landscapes, excellent cuisine and the best wine. You can fly to France for a weekend getaway and a wonderful holiday by the sea. Sightseeing tours with planned places to visit are also a great idea.
What else attracts tourists? ……… Pyrenees!
The mountain ranges have unique views and hiking into them is an amazing experience. Just because someone walks slower or longer doesn’t mean they are worse. Everyone has the right to their own pace and to experience the route individually.
The Pyrenees are a vast mountain range located in Europe, in the north-eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, which separates France from Spain. They belong to the Western Alps and are the third largest mountain range in Europe, after the Alps and the Beryc Mountains.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees: stretch between the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Mediterranean Sea in the east, reaching a length of 450 km. In most of the Pyrenees, the ridge of the range forms the French-Spanish border, also passing through Andorra. The exception is Val d’Aran, which belongs to Spain, even though it is located on the northern side of the range. Other minor orographic anomalies include, for example, Cerdanya and the Spanish exclave of Llívia. The width of the band in the north-south direction ranges from 50 to 150 km.
The Pyrenees region is the largest administrative region in France and also one of the most culturally diverse. It was created in the 1970s by combining the areas of several historical lands, including: Languedoc and Gascony. A large part of the inhabitants still uses the Occitan (Provençal) language. The main city of the region is Toulouse, where the headquarters of the Airbus concern is located. The city is also an important center for aviation and space research.
Lourdes in the Pyrenees
The city of Lourdes is located at the foot of the Pyrenees and attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. Both believers and atheists come here to see the beautiful basilicas, as well as pilgrims. Amazing buildings make it possible to walk the streets of Lourdes, every day from morning to evening.
Chateau Fort et son Musee Pyreneen Visible from every place in Lordes, from the fortress itself there is a beautiful panorama of the town of Lourdes itself, as well as a vast panorama including the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees.
Valleys of Gavarnie
The Gavarnie Valley, registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is the most famous natural structure. It is surrounded by mineral walls reaching in places 1,500 meters high and sixteen peaks rising to 3,000 meters, which makes this Valley truly spectacular.
Pont d’Espagne
The Bridge Pon’t d’Espange which is the starting point of this energizing tour, provides access to the unspoilt nature preserved intact within the Pyrenees National Park. Green and lush forests compete with babbling streams and seething waterfalls, while the shining surfaces of lakes and majestic peaks will capture every tourist’s attention.
Louron Valley
Exploring the Louron Valley, one of the best-preserved valleys of the Pyrenees, is amazing. Here, in a small town, there are several attractions around Lake Loudenvielle. For those tired of sightseeing, hiking in the mountains or cycling, there are the Balnéa thermal baths, which are the first SPA center in the French Pyrenees.
The Pyrenees have a subtropical climate, partly a maritime climate, and the climate is also influenced by the Mediterranean Sea.
In fact, you can visit this region all year round. Spring and summer are the best times to relax in numerous health resorts or go trekking. In winter you can ski and snowboard here.
Not only winter sports are available, but also mountain expeditions, you can ride horses, go on bicycle trips, try your hand at water sports, and go fishing. There are also ice rinks and golf courses here.
