Campground near the Cirque de Gavarnie
Just 30 minutes from our campground near Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the Cirque de Gavarnie is part of the Franco-Spanish site “Pyrenees-Mont Perdu,” designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 as both a natural and cultural heritage site.
This limestone amphitheater of staggering proportions is one of France’s most spectacular natural wonders—a site that Victor Hugo himself described as “Nature’s Colosseum” during his visit in 1843. Hikers, families, and lovers of the Pyrenees: get ready to be amazed.
A true wonder of nature
This natural amphitheater features 1,500 m of cliff faces stretching over a 6 km circumference, crowned by peaks exceeding 3,000 m in altitude, including the Pic du Marboré (3,248 m) and the Pic du Taillon (3,144 m). Chamois, griffon vultures, and bearded vultures inhabit these unspoiled heights in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park. Beyond hiking, the Gavarnie-Gèdre Valley offers a wide rangeof outdoor activities: cycling, mountain biking, canyoning, via ferrata, rock climbing, mountaineering, and ski touring. In winter, Gavarnie-Gèdre transforms into a popular ski resort, notably featuring the longest green run in the Pyrenees, “Les Marmottes,” stretching 5.5 km.
Waterfalls
A must-do hike in the Pyrenees
Starting from the village of Gavarnie, perched at an altitude of 1,570 m, this hike—suitable for everyone—takes you to the heart of the cirque along the Gave de Gavarnie. This 7.9-km hike takes you to the Hôtel du Cirque at the foot of cliffs 1,500 meters high, spread across three successive levels, for a round trip of about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Whether on foot, on horseback, or on a donkey’s back, the trail is very popular in the summer.
Tip from the campground: Arrive early in the morning to enjoy the site at its best, before the crowds arrive during peak season.
The Great Falls, the highest in Europe
In the heart of the Cirque de Gavarnie, the Grande Cascade plunges 423 meters, making it the highest waterfall in metropolitan France and one of the highest in Europe. It is the source of the Gave de Gavarnie, which later becomes the Gave de Pau. Its spectacular flow varies with the seasons, reaching its peak in the spring during the snowmelt. To reach it from the Hôtel du Cirque, allow another 45 minutes on a rocky, steep trail—a visual reward that is absolutely unforgettable at the end of the hike.
La Brèche de Roland, one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the Pyrenees
Nestled at an altitude of 2,807 meters, the Brèche de Roland is an impressive natural gap 40 meters wide and 70 meters high, forming a natural passageway on the French-Spanish border. According to medieval legend, the knight Roland, Charlemagne’s nephew, split the mountain with a single stroke of his sword Durandal to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Saracens. From the Col des Tentes, the trail leads to the Sarradets refuge (2,587 m) and then to the Brèche: an 11-km round trip, 644 m of elevation gain, about 6 hours of walking—a technical hike reserved for experienced and well-equipped hikers, offering a 360° panorama of the French and Spanish Pyrenees.
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