Cirque de Gavarnie, Gorges du Ru d'Enfer, Lac Bleu d'Ilhéou... The natural sites of the Pyrenees are countless and spectacular. Here are five of the most beautiful hikes in this mountain range.
On the vertiginous paths of the Carança Gorges
In the natural region of the Conflent, the Carança Gorges are an easy eight-kilometre walk. Between monkey bridges, ladders and suspended footbridges, you hike along paths sometimes dug in the rock. This is particularly the case on the second route of the Carança Gorges which passes along the Corniche path. For those who would like to take the adventure further, the Carança lake can be reached in an average of two days' walking (with a hut as a stopover).
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Mythical Cirque de Gavarnie
An emblematic natural cirque in the Pyrenees, the Cirque de Gavarnie lies on the northern slope of the ridge line marking the border with Spain. Facing this natural site, this hike begins on the Bellevue plateau. Below the Taillon peak, you follow the Pouey Aspé valley. The environment is rocky, and ice is often present at this altitude. Once you've reached the Col de Sarradets, after ten kilometers you'll arrive at the imposing refuge of the same name, which has been renovated in recent months and will welcome new visitors when it reopens in summer 2021.
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Between canyons and waterfalls in the Massif de Perdiguère
A short distance for this 7.5 km loop hike, but with almost 600 metres of ascent all the same. Starting from the Gorges de Bourdolés, you head for the Cascade d'Enfer, the first point on your itinerary, which takes you to several spectacular waterfalls. After the cascade, you head for the Gouffre d'Enfer, which you can admire from a promontory. This is followed by the equally fascinating Gorges du Ru d'Enfer at an altitude of 1,600 metres (your highest point on this hike) and the Houradade torrent. After the Cascade du Coeur, the trail takes you back to your starting point, the Gorges de Bourdolés parking lot.
From the fabulous Gorges de Galamus
Located halfway between the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales departments, the Gorges de Galamus surround the Agly river. Some 40 km west of Perpignan, it's a spectacular starting point for a hike that takes you to the Château de Peyrepertuse. Built in the 13th century, this fortress overlooks the Corbières massif on a limestone ridge almost 800 m above sea level, at the top of a hill that separates Duilhac from the village of Rouffiac-des-Corbières. It's also a well-known climbing spot. Finally, you end your walk below at Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse.
On the GR10 at an altitude of over 2,000 metres
From the Mediterranean to the Atlantic (or in the opposite direction), the GR10 crosses all the Pyrenees and counts among the most popular in France. If you don't have the time and energy to do the whole trail, some stages are worth the detour. Among these, we recommend the 15 kilometres that separate two high altitude lakes, that of Estaing and that of Ilhéou, also called Lac Bleu. On the path, you pass at an altitude of 2,242 metres, at the Ilhéou pass after having swallowed a big difference in altitude of more than 1,000 metres. Once at the top, the path descends to the lake where the Ilhéou mountain refuge allows you to spend the night. It takes about five hours to complete this hike.