Are you planning to spend your next holiday in the Hautes-Pyrénées? Here is all you need to know to organise your stay and enjoy all the riches the Hautes-Pyrénées have to offer.
The southernmost mountain in France
Located in the south-west of France, the Hautes-Pyrénées (65) is part of the Occitanie region, formerly known as Midi-Pyrénées. The territory shares borders with the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the Gers, the Haute-Garonne and the province of Huesca in Spain. It is an ideal destination for skiing in the winter and for thermal baths and green tourism in the summer.
In the south, the mountains cover almost half of the department. The Pyrenees massif forms a natural border between France and Spain. This is where you will find the most famous winter sports resorts in France: Barèges, La Mongie, Saint-Lary-Soulan, Luz-Ardiden or Piau-Engaly.
Further north, the plains and plateaus offer gentler landscapes, ideal for green tourism and outdoor activities in summer: hiking, cycling, mountain biking, canyoning, white-water rafting, trout fishing, but also thermal baths, cultural visits and discovery of the Pyrenean heritage.
For all these reasons and whatever the season, holidays in the Pyrenees are always synonymous with relaxation and well-being, combining outdoor activities, nature discovery and breathtaking landscapes. The Great Sites of the Pyrenees come to mind in particular, unique places known throughout the world!
Discovering the Great Sites of the Pyrenees
Nature lovers, hikers, cyclists and other sports enthusiasts will tell you: the Pyrenees National Park is an inexhaustible source of wonder. This natural jewel, with its many lakes, valleys and granite peaks at an altitude of over 3000 metres, stretches along the Spanish border for almost 100 km.
During your stay in the Pyrenees, you should definitely discover some of the great listed sites for which the region is famous. Starting with the Pic du Midi, the Cirque de Gavarnie (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Col du Tourmalet, Cauterets-Pont d'Espagne, Lourdes and the Néouvielle Nature Reserve.
Tourism in the Hautes-Pyrénées also means discovering typical mountain towns and villages such as Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Argelès-Gazost, Tarbes, Barèges, Betpouey, Grust, Viscos, Aragnouet and Saint-Savin, to name but a few. In terms of heritage, the Hautes-Pyrénées is known for its rich historical and architectural heritage. The Mauvezin castle, the Lourdes sanctuary, the Escaladieu abbey, the Massey international hussar museum, the Esparros chasm and the Médous caves are just a few examples.
Your rental in the Hautes-Pyrénées
In the Hautes-Pyrénées, the accommodation possibilities are numerous and varied: chalet to rent, mobile home in the mountains, snow caravan equipped at the foot of a ski resort... Would you like to set down your bags in a totally unspoilt natural setting, with a view of the Pyrenees mountains? Head for the small village of Sassis, near Luz-Saint-Sauveur. This is where our 3-star campsite Le Hounta is located, in the heart of the Valley of the Great Sites.
What to see and do during your holiday in the Pyrenees? In the setting of the highest Pyrenean massifs, conquer the Pic du Midi, the Cirque de Gavarnie and Troumouse, Barèges and the Col du Tourmalet. Take the time to stroll around Lourdes, Argelès-Gazost, Pierrefitte-Nestalas and Cauterets. On the programme: mountain walks, outdoor activities, discovery of the fauna and flora, thermal cures, cultural visits, tourist pilgrimage... The Hautes-Pyrénées can adapt to all your desires!
