The 5 most beautiful hikes to do in Gavarnie

What are the best paths to discover the emblematic Gavarnie circus? They tell you everything in this article!

“It is a mountain and a wall all at once;
This is the most mysterious building of architects;
It is the colosseum of nature;
It’s Gavarnie.”

Difficult to pay a better tribute to this iconic landscape Pyrenees National Park Victor Hugo through these verses.

Gavarnie's circus is one of the most spectacular natural sites in France. He sits in the heart of Occitania, just a step away from Spain , and many are those who want to discover it through the hike!

But what is the best path to discover it? In this article, we present you the best hikes to do in Gavarnie, to choose according to your desires and your level!

1. The great Gavarnie waterfall

This hike in Gavarnie allows you to escape the crowd that usually occupies the site. Throughout the trail, the views are breathtaking.

Finally, you arrive at the Gavarnie waterfall, the point of the hike. With her 423 meters high , it is the highest waterfall in all metropolitan France!

The climb is steep enough, but you will have understood it: the game is worth the candle. Plan good walking shoes and What you're unaltering .

2. Gavarnie's circus

Go to Gavarnie’s circus to live a real time of escape. Here nature is preserved and wild.

The rock forms spectacular walls, especially in the Mont-Perdu massif which culminates in more than 3,000 meters altitude . While in the hollow of the gorges of Ordesa, Aniscle or Pineta, the rivers flow peacefully.

During this hike in Gavarnie, you have the opportunity to admire this wonder of the Pyrenees from all angles. And this, without encountering great difficulties on the course.

3. The circus of Gavarnie by the plateau of Bellevue

Go to Gavarnie commune to start this adventure. It is a real mountain village, perched to 1,400 meters above sea level .

Think about stopping at the pretty Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Port church on the way. Then cross the plateau of Bellevue, which despite its great beauty is very little attended. Once at the top, you find the crowd, but the panorama of the circus and its cascade is breathtaking.

A very beautiful alternative for lonely walkers looking for a hike in Gavarnie.

4. Gavarnie and Mont Perdu, passing through Roland's breach

This hike also starts with the village of Gavarnie, but it then leads you to the breach of Roland. It is a long and steep path, which presents real difficulties .

At the level of the breach, some climbing passages are technical. Therefore, it is reserved for hikers experienced . Be aware of the weather before you start!

Despite its difficulty, this hike in Gavarnie is definitely worth a look at its breathtaking landscapes! You cross the cave of the Isards, the col de la Cascade, the piton du Cylindre and finally the Mont Perdu, located on horseback between France and Spain. A real mess...

5. The circus of Gavarnie, the refuge of Sarradets and the Brèche de Roland

In the same spirit as the previous hike, this hike in Gavarnie makes you discover the circus and the breach of Roland. This allows you to pass from the bucolic landscapes of Gavarnie to the lunar decors of the summits of the Hautes-Pyrénées... But you'll have to deserve it!

If the crowd rushes on the paths around Gavarnie’s circus, only the most athletic adventures on the breach. Indeed, to reach it, it will be necessary cross steep and crispy paths and climbing vertical rocks .

On the way, you can stop at the Sarradets hut (or refuge of the Roland breach), located at 2,589 meters above sea level. From May to September, it is possible to recover.