De Lourdes À Gavarnie
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VALLÉES DES GAVES de Lourdes à Gavarnie www.pyrenissime.com GAVES VALLEYS EDITO FACT SHEET : From the valley’s foothills to the highest summits over 3 000 m Th e seasons, landscapes, mountains, st reams and even villages are adorned with unique and diff erent appearances. Th e light is ever ch anging and the ch arming atmosphere seems almost HIGHEST PEAK : UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE : sus pended out of time ... whilst everything else happens Vignemale 3 298 m Gavarnie elsewhere at full speed. FIVE UNIQUE VALLEYS : THREE CONSERVED NATURAL Allow yourself to be transported into the pyrenean universe of Pays de Lourdes, Valley of SPACES : the Gaves Valleys: the rhythm of the summer sun, the sound of Argelès-Gazost , Pays Toy, Pyrenees National the cowbells and the sweet smell of the fl owers or even the mild Cauterets, Val d’Azun Park, Pibest e- Aoulhet Regional Natural Reserve, winter weather and its hus hed atmosphere, both delicate and Néouvielle Natural Reserve magical. Dis cover the blooming of the mountain in the spring, the footst eps of men and their herds climbing to their summer past ures or the rich es of a traditional autumn where encounters are as intense as the purity of the air atop the peaks. CONTENTS Th e Gaves Valleys are undoubtedly the jewel of the Pyrenees since THE MOUNTAINS IN THEIR PUREST STATE! . p.3 they are home to both some of the most prest igious sites such as International dark sky reserve Natural heritage: biodiversity Gavarnie, Lourdes, Cauterets and the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, but LIVE THE MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE . p.8 also some more intimate places where a rich , preserved nature The Joy of the Air Slightly more down to earth is proposed to all who vis it. Of course men st ill live in these My favourite mounta in hikes ! incredible mountains. So what are you waiting for? Why not dive Thermal Spa ALTAMONTA . p.14 into the world of the Pyrenees? Prestigious Pyrenees on two wheels Events Zoom Mountain bike THE JOY OF WINTER . p.18 Winter moments Ski resorts DISCOVER UNCHARTED TERRITORY . p.23 Pastoralism Local specialities Bistrots de Pays Markets FESTIVAL IN THE GRANDS SITES OF THE GAVES VALLEYS . p.26 Lourdes Gavarnie Cauterets Pont-d’Espagne Pic du Midi Moving around IN PRACTICE . p.30 MAP . p.41 Photo de couverture : plateau du Clot, Pont d’Espagne (Cauterets) photo Parc national des Pyrénées — Etienne Florence. Direction de la publication : Crédits photos : Syndicat Mixte du Pays Vallées E. Bielle ; JN Herrantz ; HPTE ; des Gaves Nikopel ; Luzéa ; G. Noël ; 65 400 AGOS-VIDALOS J. Nogrady ; les Offi ces de Tourisme ; Pic du Midi ; Graphisme : Sanctuaires ND Lourdes ; David Toiser / N. Strippe ; B.Valcke ; C. Ringeval ; O.Raveleau ; E.Farand ; Impression : Ch. Ringeval; L.Nedelec ; M.Cadu ; Leonce Deprez C. Clienin; D.R; M.Ségalou ; N. Bourgeois, H.Aurignac, Photos PNP/ Y.Bielle; L.Nédélec; E.Farand; 2 E.Florence THE MOUNTAIN IN ITS PUREST STATE! Th e Gaves Valleys have the privilege of enjoying rich and sometimes unique biodiversity, including many diff erent animal species and endemic plants. Each valley off ers unique landscapes and st ands apart from the others like singular is lands in a fabulous ocean. Th e life of man is intimately linked to the mountain environment and has, for many years now, conserved that which makes the whole landscape so rich . You can dive into this world of natural, protect ed spaces within the Pyrenees National Park or nature reserves like the Pibest e or Neouvielle Massifs where vis itors need only lend an ear and open their eyes in order to capture the natural essence of the Pyrenees. 3 Th e mountain in its purest state! INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY RESERVE En 2014, le Pic du Midi de Bigorre et les Vallées des Gaves deviennent la première réserve internationale de ciel étoilé en Europe et la 6e au niveau mondial, aux côtés d’autres réserves telles que le désert de l’Atacama ou encore le Mont Mégantic the Aoraki Mack enzie Reserve in New Zealand, the Exmoor National Park in South West England. International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR) Even without walking ... Th e IDSR aims to protect the Make the most of your st ay in Some sites are accessible st arry sky so that we might st ill the Gaves Valleys by experien- by car to watch the sunset, have the opportunity to see it at cing the night, discovering the the sky and the night in the night free from light pollution. purity of our sky and the fee- mountains: Th e link between man and the ling of infi nity, just by looking - Cirque de Troumouse sky has been revived; the night up. Opportunities are not lac- (Gèdre) reborn from our imagination king, here are a few little ideas - Col des Tentes (Gavarnie) where our gaze may once again for your return to the night and - Lac du Tech (Val d’Azun) get lost in the sky. Th e species the st ars. - Hautacam (Tramassel) and the entire noct urnal envi- ronment are conserved, the biological rhythms of animals and humans are no longer ne- glect ed through our perpetual quest for light. 4 Promenade by night under the st ars Walking at night awakens our senses and changes our references in time and space, in short, an experience worth living and it’s easy to do! Immerse yourself in a setting where the falling darkness and silence wrap around you with caring gentleness. Th e st ars appear one after the other, noc- turnal wildlife begins to unfurl; a barn owl, a greater mouse-eared bat or even a common midwife toad ... By using a headlamp, you will be able to move around Keep away from sources of light from cities or villages, easily, but remember to turn it off in order to appre- get yourself a good headlamp, some warm clothes and ciate the sky and experience the feeling of infi nity... let yourself be swept away by the noct urnal world. In pract ice : many mountain guides off er promenades by night for the whole family throughout the summer RENSEIGNEMENTS season. Mountain professional contact details can be ET INSCRIPTION l’Offi ce de Tourisme found on page 34. 05-62-41-88-10 www.saintpedebigorre-tourisme.com Événements EXPERIENCE OF SPENDING A NIGHT IN A GUARDED REFUGE EXPERIENCE OF CYCLING BY NIGHT INFOS Th e Gaves Valleys are home to many guarded moun- Enjoy this unique and enjoyable time: Contact information for tain refuges with diff erent features and exceptional climbing a legendary mountain by night. refuges is on page 36 views. Th e life of the people who guard these refuges is Th e climb is done at your own pace in a CONTACT punct uated by the comings and goings of climbers, hi- friendly atmosphere to the rhythm of the Refuge des Oulettes kers and walkers. To spend a night in a refuge is to dive musicians and the cheers of encouraging de Gaube headfi rst into the immeasurable purity of the moun- spect ators. Last year, the climb up Luz Tel : +33 (0)5 62 92 62 97 tain sky, to experience the connect ion between man Ardiden was honoured with the sharing open from mid-June until and the noct urnal universe, with infi nite concepts of a good Garbure at the top. Light meal the end of September (+ 1st weekend of October). and imagination. included, descent supervised, fest ive at- One refuge in particular, thanks to the guardian’s pas- mosphere guaranteed. Dates and places ACCESS sion for the celest ial world, off ers guided ast ronomy coming soon for summer 2014. Vallée de Cauterets-Pont observation in the evenings from the terrace, facing d’Espagne, follow the route towards the Lac de Gaube. the majest ic Vignemale summit. Th ese observations 1.5hours walk up to the are free of charge. refuge. Booking in advance is EVENINGS UP THE PIC DU MIDI advised. At 2,877 metres above sea level, there are THE «STARRY SKY» CONCERTS organised evenings and st arry nights where you can witness the sunset, enjoy a INFOS Outdoor musical concert, in the dark of night, in the gastronomical meal, observe the stars and Summer Dates for 2014: mountains for an audience who are comfortably lying then fi nally, the sunrise. 11/08 in the Mailhet Refuge on deck chairs, facing the celest ial sky and surroun- (Gèdre) ding by a multi-phonic syst em. Catherine Jauniaux & INFOS 13/08 at the Pont d’Espagne Marc Démereau. Tel: 0033 (0)562 56 70 00 (Cauterets). www.picdumidi.com All other dates to be found on See page 33 culture.luz.org 5 LAC DE GAUBE © M.Ségalou CONSERVED NATURAL SPACES Th e Pyrenees National Park To fi nd out more about outings CONTACT : Created in 1967, the Pyrenees National Park extends from West to accompagnied by a ranger or Arrens-Marsous East , from the Aspe Valley to the Aure Valley. On the Spanish side our projection evenings, head Tel: +33(0)5-62-97-43-13 of the mountains, the park is continued on by the Ordesa National to one of the National Park Cauterets Maisons : Park and the Mont Perdu (Lost Mountain). Th e National Park is full Tel: +33(0)5-62-92-52-56 of fabulous landscapes as well as exceptional plant and wildlife. In Gavarnie addition to priding itself on its protect ion missions, its knowledge ACCESS Tel: +33(0)5-62-92-42-48 and monitering of the natural and cultural heritage, the Natio- Entrance to the Pyrenees Luz-Saint-Sauveur nal Park has made welcoming all members of the public one of its National Park (see map).