Gavarnie
Gavarnie - Mont Perdido, a UNESCO World Heritage site
The National Park of Ordesa-Mont Perdido in Spain, the Cirques of Gavarnie, Estaubé, and Troumouse and Héas are the jewels of the Mont Perdido region, which is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site for its scenery and cultural significance.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The exceptional mountain scenery which straddles the frontier between France and Spain is centred on Mont Perdido at 3352 m and is Europe’s premier limestone massif. The area covers 30,639 hectares and includes the two biggest and deepest canyons in Europe on the Spanish side and three spectacular Cirques on the more abrupt French side - classical geological forms. It possesses an exceptional variety of scenery - prairies, caves, mountains and forests.
The region is also an area shaped by man, the agricultural practices found here were once common to many of Europe’s mountain ranges. The area remained unchanged until the C20th and offers a glimpse into a way of life through its settlements, villages, farms, fields, high mountain pastures and the construction of roads. The area also had a huge significance for its particular Pyrenean flora and fauna. The Gavarnie - Mont Perdido area offers a unique opportunity to admire both the beauty of the landscape and to understand a socio-economic structure with its roots in the past, it gives us an insight into a way of life in the mountains that has become rare in Europe.
Practical information:
Leave your vehicle in the village of Gavarnie (parking available). The path leaves the village and joins the Hôtellerie du Cirque (45 min. walk). Make the journey on foot, by horse or on the back of a donkey. You will approach the « wall » of the cirque and the great waterfall.
To have another panorama, to be closer to nature, take the Pailha footpath to go back to the village. From the Hôtellerie du Cirque at Gavarnie, this path offers you a magnificent view of the valley and the peaks. Take time to look at the flora and do not miss the famous Ramondia !
Do not miss:
Other cirques are part of this UNESCO world heritage site. Close to Gavarnie, have a look at them.
Cirque de Troumouse : After the village of Gèdre, fork left to Héas until the end of the road. There are beautiful walks in the cirque.
Cirque d’Estaubé : After the village of Gèdre, fork left to Héas and then fork right to the Gloriettes dam. One hour walking to reach the heart of the cirque. Unique view to the Mont Perdu and the Brèche de Tuquerouye. This is an exceptional site to observe the marmots!