Holidays in the Pyrenees

Although its summits are not generally as high as the Alps, there are still some majestic peaks like the Pic d’Aneto on the Spanish side (3,400m) and Le Vignemale on the French side (3,200m) as well as magnificent breathtaking scenery such as the 422m Grande Cascade waterfall in the Massif du Mont-Perdu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The vast area and the huge diversity of its landscape make the Pyrenees a great destination for traditional mountain activities, with more than 50 winter sports resorts along its length. In addition, there are numerous spa resorts and GR hiking paths like the GR10 which crosses the Pyrenees lengthways over a distance of 810km passing through Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a town where three of the four routes to Santiago de Compostela meet.

The natural beauty and diverse wildlife of the Pyrenees are fiercely protected on both sides of the border by the French Parc National de Pyrénées and two Spanish national parks which are home to many different species of conifer and numerous birds of prey, ruled over by the majestic golden eagle. After almost disappearing in the 1990s, the brown bear has been reintroduced to the region over the past few years.

In addition to its beautiful natural heritage, the Pyrenees is also a land of culture and traditions with a profusion of  castles, abbeys and monasteries, evidence of human activity since Antiquity, offering visitors a range of varied sporting, meditative and cultural experiences.