With peaks that exceed 3,000 m in altitude, lakes, waterfalls and natural cirques of stunning beauty, the Pyrenees National Park offers more than 350 kilometres of signposted paths, greenways and marked trails. Camping*** Le Hounta offers you some ideas for hiking around the Luz valley in the Hautes-Pyrénées.
The GR10, from Luz Saint-Sauveur to Barèges
To see: the House of the National Park and the Valley, the Templar church of Luz, the mountain pastures and the Couret d'Ousset ridge, the valley and the Gué de Bolou (1460 m), the fauna of the Pyrenean massif (isards and marmots)
-Distance: 11.6 km, duration: 5 hours, level: difficult
The Sainte Marie Castle
To see: the remains of the Château Sainte Marie, built in the 11th century by the Count of Montblanc, the panoramic view of Luz Saint Sauveur, the churches of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Nicolas in Esquièze-Sère.
-Departure point: Luz Saint-Sauveur Tourist Office, duration of the loop: 1 hour, level: easy
The Cascades circuit
To see: the chapel of Solférino (one of the most beautiful views of the villages in the valley), the Mensongé waterfalls, the Hountalade thermal baths (built in 1900) and the spring known as the fairy fountain.
-Departure point: church of Saint-Sauveur, duration of the loop: 1h30, level: easy
The Napoleon circuit
To see: the Templars' church (fortified church surrounded by ramparts), the thermal district of Saint-Sauveur, the imperial chapel, the Napoleon bridge which spans the Gave de Gavarnie (built by Napoleon III between 1859 and 1863).
-Departure point: Templar church in Luz Saint-Sauveur, duration: 45 min, level: easy
The three villages circuit (Sazos, Grust, Viscos)
To see: the church of Saint Julien de Sazos (12th century), the mill district, the Ferme des Cascades (visit and tasting), the washhouse and the lookout point of Grust (orientation table), the church of Saint-Pierre de Viscos (13th century).
-Departure point : Sazos town hall, duration : 3h, level : average
CAMPING ADVICE :
For the hikes, plan to leave early in the morning in order to return in the early afternoon (around 4 pm). Do not go off the marked routes. Never go alone and always tell someone where you are going to walk.
During your stay, the Hounta campsite offers you a map of walks in the Pays Toys (1 €). A topoguide of walks and hikes in the Hautes-Pyrénées is on sale in the Tourist Information Points of the Valleys of Gavarnie.
Hiking with a mountain guide: in Luz Saint Sauveur, Bernard Josué offers snowshoeing, themed walks (fauna, flora, sunrise, photo safari), sporty and family hikes in the cirque of Gavarnie, Estaubé and Troumouse, the bridge of Spain and the lake of Gaubes, le pic de Néouvielle, le Petit Vignemale...+ info : tel. 05.62.92.84.05 / 06 83 08 45 06, website
