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Visit Cirque de Gavarnie: our comprehensive guide

Are you planning a trip to the Pyrenees to take a large bowl of fresh air? So don't miss visiting Cirque de Gavarnie!

Cirque de Gavarnie is one of the most impressive and beautiful places in the French Pyrenees. Located in the Pyrenees National Park, it was even registered in 1997 at the UNESCO World Heritage site in the Pyrenees-Mont Perdu. Imagine: you stand at the Franco-Spanish border, surrounded by the Mont-Perdu high, which exceeds 3000 m of altitude. In front of you then stands the majestic Cirque de Gavarnie and its impressive Grande Cascade. In the vicinity, other extraordinary natural places await you, breathtaking landscapes that will mark you forever. You can then discover them through beautiful walks in the middle of nature. In short, visiting Cirque de Gavarnie will leave you without a voice!

Would you like to visit Cirque de Gavarnie during your next holiday? In this article, you will find all the necessary information to discover it in the best conditions. Tips, history and practical information through rates and schedules, we provide you with the essentials to plan your visit and make the most of it!

History of Cirque de Gavarnie

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Photo credit: Shutterstock / Dzmitry Melnikau

Gavarnie, in the Upper Pyrenees, is the most famous of the great pyrenean limestone circus. They owe their existence to the work of immense glaciers that are now missing. The circus has a glacial origin. Throughout the ages, quaternary glaciers have dug up grey, ochre or rosy limestone fields, which were raised up to 3,000 metres of altitude in this region.

Near the circus stands the village Gavarnie The highest in the department. Less than 150 inhabitants still live in this hamlet. The latter has existed since the 10th century. At that time it could then be a step in the pilgrimage to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle .

At the end of the 18th century and during the 19th century, Cirque de Gavarnie is the object of numerous botanical, geological and topographical research. Writers like Victor Hugo painters and photographers also show their beauty to the general public. For a long time, Gavarnie has aroused astonishment and curiosity. His fame was built by the various explorations he was able to generate, which offers him the tourist exhibition he knows today.

Our tips for visiting Cirque de Gavarnie

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Photo credit: Shutterstock / Sergey Dzyuba

To visit the Cirque de Gavarnie in the best conditions, here are some tips and practical information.

Best times to visit Cirque de Gavarnie

  • Good news! It is possible to visit the Cirque de Gavarnie almost all year.
  • Winter: the road to the end of the village and thus to have a superb panorama of the circus is open. The latter is snowed because of the ski resort that is higher. However, it is difficult, sometimes impossible, to get to the heart of Gavarnie's circus because of avalanches. You can still discover it with snowshoes or hiking skis, if possible with an experienced local guide.
  • Summer: Temperatures and climate are obviously ideal for visiting Cirque de Gavarnie. Unfortunately, it is also during this period that the site becomes extremely crowded in visitors. Every day, hundreds of people walk from the village of Gavarnie to the circus thanks to this easy path for all hikers. With its international reputation and its presence on every Pyrenees advertisement, one can really not be surprised at this wide audience. If you come summer, plan to leave early in the morning to avoid crowds ! You will thus have the chance to enjoy this natural site without the overwhelming mass of visitors. Over the course of the day, you can take a few paths to the heights or other places around, less frequented.
  • So we recommend visiting Cirque de Gavarnie spring or fall. The contrast between these periods and the summer season is striking: very few hikers and a site almost for yourself! Nevertheless, the weather conditions and temperatures at these two periods are very high.

What to take in his bag?

  • First of all, we recommend that you win a lot of water, especially during the summer! We also advise you to take your picnic with you. You can then enjoy your meal in an enchanting setting.
  • Then we advise you to plan good hiking shoes, especially if you plan an arduous walk. Even for easy hiking, it is necessary to have suitable equipment.
  • Finally, you should also plan a light jacket, see a sweater in your bag. It can be quite cold in height, even near or in the heart of summer.

What you can do or not do at Cirque de Gavarnie

Visiting the Cirque de Gavarnie finally involves folding to a few rules. Indeed, you will evolve in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park. You must therefore respect the regulations.

  • Take your waste with you, pick nothing and leave nothing behind you.
  • It is thus completely forbidden to interact or harm fauna and flora.
  • We also recommend that you stick to marked paths.
  • Dogs are also banned in the National Park. However, they are tolerated on the main path between the village and the circus.
  • Finally, make sure you respect the tranquility of the place. Despite the special animation in the summer, it should be borne in mind that Cirque de Gavarnie is a place protected by law.

What to see and what to do at Cirque de Gavarnie?

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Photo credit: Shutterstock – PHILIPIMAGE

The various hikes to visit the Cirque de Gavarnie will allow you to admire throughout the journey of beautiful mountain landscapes. Faced with you, you will find a prodigious wall of rocks of 1700 meters high and 14 kilometers of circumference. These sublime concentric grams of striking symmetry are framed by several gigantic and impressive mountains. You can admire the following mountains:

  • Lost Mount: 3352 meters
  • Pic du Marboré : 3248 metres
  • Taillon: 3144 metres
  • Brèche de Roland

Once you arrive at Cirque de Gavarnie, you can also see the extraordinary Grande Cascade . This is one of the highest waterfalls of Europe with 413 meters of free fall! Don't miss joining her. A path allows you to approach and pass at the foot of the waterfall!

What hikes to visit Cirque de Gavarnie?

From the village of Gavarnie, many hikes are available, not only to go to the circus, but also to admire it from beautiful viewpoints around. Two famous hikes will lead you to the foot of the great waterfall.

  • First hike: it passes in particular by the Hôtellerie. It is an easy ride, ideal for families, and therefore the most frequented of all the hikes in the region. You will reach the heart of the circus in only one and a half hour walk with this path.
  • Second hike: also very busy as the first trail, is the one to access the famous and unmissable Brèche de Roland. This hike also allows you to visit Cirque de Gavarnie. Careful, however, this path is quite rough. Six hundred meters of denial await you there, with a rough terrain. She asks for a good physical condition and is not accessible to all hikers! However, the effort will be well rewarded. Because you'll enjoy great views of the circus and the surrounding summits.
  • Another beautiful hike from the Gavarnie circus: there is a climbing path to the Espuguettes refuge. He then continues to climb to the top of the Piméné. This summit of less than 3000 meters offers a breathtaking view of the peaks of the circus. However, it is quite arduous and also requires a good physical condition. This hike is much less frequented than the two hikes mentioned above, since it does not go to Cirque de Gavarnie.

How much is a visit from Cirque de Gavarnie?

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Photo credit: Shutterstock / Ander Dylan

Cirque de Gavarnie is located in the Pyrenees National Park, with access free . It takes 1 hour drive from the start Lourdes to reach the village of Gavarnie. From there you can start the charming hike to Cirque de Gavarnie.

If you do not have a vehicle to access Gavarnie. You can still appeal to one tour service car from Lourdes.

  • For a trip of a half day, count then 21,10€ per person if you pass by My City Bus. The latter is the urban network of Lourdes. For this option, you can contact the Tourist Office of Lourdes. Note that with this type of trip, you will usually be accompanied by a professional guide.
  • There are obviously many other excursions. Do not hesitate to consult different websites and organizations. It is quite rare to be able directly book online. You will first need to contact the organization by telephone or email. Some impose a minimum of people.

How to get to Cirque de Gavarnie?

Do you have a vehicle to get to Gavarnie? So this adventure will probably be easier. From Lourdes to the village of Gavarnie, the journey in car lasts on average 1 hour .

  • You will first have to reach D821. Take it direction of Argelès/Gavarnie/Luz St Savior/Cauterets to Argelès-Gazost
  • You'll reach the end 10 kilometers on a roundabout. Then take the third exit on the D100 road. The village of Gavarnie is normally indicated on the exit panel. You will then have to continue slightly to the right and continue on D913.
  • After 6 kilometers of road, you will arrive at a new roundabout. Take the second exit on the Route de Luz/D921. The road follows Gave de Gavarnie. The village should be indicated throughout by panels. Thus, after crossing the bridge overlooking Luz-Saint-Sauveur, you will have to take right on the right the Route de Gavarnie/D12.
  • A few kilometers further, you will also arrive on a bridge. Then turn left in the direction of the heights. The road will take you to the hamlet of Pragnères and then to the village Gèdres. The Cirque de Gavarnie will then be shown to you. Less than a dozen kilometers will separate you from the village of Gavarnie, where you can leave your vehicle.

Attention: roads leading to Gavarnie can be narrow and very dangerous exceedances. So be extremely vigilant, regardless of the season.

Note also: parking is charged from May 1 to October 31. The rate is 5€ by vehicle. For motorhomes, you will have to pay 8€ for 24h . Staying at night is allowed only on the Holle area.

Where to stay near Cirque de Gavarnie?

The village of Gavarnie is obviously the best place to stay near Cirque. In the village you will find many holiday homes, hotels , campsites and Airbnb Where to stay. You can also start beautiful other hikes from Gavarnie. You will not have the time to be bored during your stay in the Pyrenees.

In addition, it is possible to take advantage of many activities supervised by professionals: canyoning , via ferrata, ATV , climbing or paragliding ! These are generally lower in the Pyrenees, especially near the Pyrenees. Luz-Saint-Sauveur . This charming village is also an excellent option to stay near Cirque de Gavarnie. It is located at the crossroads of the Luz, Barèges and Gavarnie valleys. By car, Barèges is 20 minutes away and Gavarnie is about 30 minutes away. . Many hikes are also available not far from the village of Luz-Saint-Sauveur: those to Lake Bastampe, the peak of Viscos, the lakes of Ardiden or the peak of Ardiden.

Madison Baker

Madison Baker

I'm Madison Baker, an adventurer with a zest for the unknown. Life is a mosaic of breathtaking moments, from wandering through ancient ruins to savoring exotic flavors. Every journey holds a unique story, and I'm here to share those stories with you. Through my tales, I hope to kindle your wanderlust, providing insights, tips, and the sheer joy of exploration. Let's embark on this incredible journey together, unlocking the world's hidden gems and creating cherished memories along the way.

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