Explore the Prodigious Cirque De Gavarnie: Crucial Facts You Should Know (Including a Map!)
In the heart of the French Pyrenees lies the awe-inspiring Cirque de Gavarnie, a natural semi-circle in the mountains, approximately 3000m wide at the top and around 1500m high. This stunning location is easily accessible by foot, with only one road leading to it.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities within the Cirque, starting with the popular hiking trails. There are easy to moderate hiking trails of around 8 km loops starting from the village of Gavarnie, which take about 2.5 hours. These trails pass serene streams and offer multiple viewpoints of the Cirque and its famous waterfall.
One of the most notable features of the Cirque de Gavarnie is the Gavarnie Falls, the second highest waterfall in Europe, standing at an impressive 422m high. The falls can be seen from miles away and are visible during Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, picnics by the river or a meal at the Hotel du Cirque are enjoyable options. The hotel also offers parking for motorhomes and cars, and there's a good picnic spot marked on the map available.
However, wild camping with a tent in the National Park at Cirque de Gavarnie is forbidden. Dogs are not allowed into the National Park, but they can accompany visitors on a lead due to safety concerns and other visitors.
The Cirque de Gavarnie is not accessible by car; it is a walk-only area. Wheelchair/pushchair users and young children may find the steep and pebbled nature of the hike challenging. Bicycles are also prohibited on the hike.
For those who wish to explore the area on horseback, horses and donkeys can be hired at the beginning of the hike, although the cost is unknown. A campsite can be found at nearby Argeles-Gazost.
The Cirque de Gavarnie is not the only attraction in the area. Pont d'Espagne and Lake Gaube, with their beautiful waterfalls and mountain scenery, are popular nearby sites. Visitors can take hikes or a chairlift to Lake Gaube, surrounded by rich flora and fauna in the Pyrenees National Park.
The historic thermal town of Cauterets, with its local candy factory producing traditional berlingots, makes for an interesting lunch break stop. For the adventurous, mountain karting at Lac de Fabregas offers a non-hiking option.
These attractions are often combined in day trips from Lourdes or nearby locations, providing a comprehensive exploration of the scenic mountain environment of the French Pyrenees. The Cirque de Gavarnie, with its UNESCO World Heritage status and natural grandeur, remains a highlight for all visitors in the region.
If you're seeking a tranquil picnic spot during your visit, the Hotel du Cirque offers parking for motorhomes and cars, with a good picnic spot marked on the map available. On the other hand, if you'd prefer a guided tour of the area, horses and donkeys can be hired at the beginning of the hike to Cirque de Gavarnie, although the cost is unknown.
){kind=link}