Page 456 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

1
PARC NATIONAL

DES PYRÉNÉES

EXPERIENCE The Pyrénées for the high passes n Cauterets; www.pyrenees-parcnational.fr/en
! C7 ⌂ Hautes-Pyrénées & Pyrénées-Atlantiques # Year-round, except
With peaks rising to over 3,000 m (9,850 ft), 230 high-altitude lakes
and the Cirque du Gavarnie – the colossus of the Pyrénées – this
national park is a stunning collection of natural wonders.

The Pyrénées National Park, designated in
1967, extends 100 km (62 miles) along the
Franco-Spanish border. It boasts some of the
The 866-km (538-mile)
most spectacular scenery in Europe, ranging THE GR1O TRAIL
GR10 walking trail runs
from meadows glimmering with butterflies along the length of the
to high peaks snowcapped even in summer. Pyrénées, connecting
Alongside the Cirque du Gavarnie, unmissable Hendaye on the shores
sights include the jagged peaks of the Vallée of the Atlantic ocean to
d’Aspe, the formidable Pic du Midi d’Ossau Banyuls-sur-Mer on the
and the Pic d’Anie, which soars over meadows Mediterranean coast.
ablaze in spring with Pyrenean varieties of One of the toughest GR
gentian and columbine found nowhere else. (Grande Randonnée)
Variations in altitude and climate make the park routes, it takes around
rich in flora and fauna, and one of the most 52 days to walk and
enjoyable ways to explore it is on foot, along showcases some mag-
its 350 km (217 miles) of well-marked trails. nificent land scapes,
including dry garrigue,
lush meadows and
glacial valleys. If lucky,
hikers may even spot a
Pyrenean brown bear.

The Brèche de Roland, the
famous breach in Gavarnie’s
crest, forming a gateway
between France and Spain

Pyrenean brown bear,
close to extinction but
still found in this park,
especially in the west
456

456-457_EW_France.indd 456 29/01/2019 17:02

EW Must-see template v2.1 – 18th October 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224