What to do in the Hautes-Pyrénées? Lourdes, Pic du Midi and Gavarnie

The Hautes-Pyrénées are one of the most spectacular departments in France — a land of high peaks, mountain lakes and spiritual sites, home to some of the greatest must-see sites in the Pyrenees: the sanctuary of Lourdes, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, the Cirque de Gavarnie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ski resorts of Saint-Lary-Soulan, the Balnéa spa, the Bétharram Caves and the Pyrenees Animal Park in Argelès-Gazost. Things to do in the Hautes-Pyrénées range from the spiritual contemplation of Lourdes, to the adventure of hiking deep into the Cirque de Gavarnie, to mountain activities at the Col du Tourmalet and holidays amid unspoiled nature on the shores of Lake Génos-Loudenvielle or Lake Payolle. This comprehensive guide to the Hautes-Pyrénées reveals everything — prices, opening hours, insider tips, local secrets — for an unforgettable holiday in the Pyrenees.

Lourdes: The Most Visited Sanctuary in France

Lourdes is the most visited town in France after Paris — this major Catholic pilgrimage site in the Hautes-Pyrénées draws 5 to 6 million pilgrims and tourists from all five continents every year, come for the sanctuary of the Virgin Mary, the Massabielle grotto and the 1858 apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous. The Lourdes sanctuary grounds (free access, open 24/7) include the underground Saint-Pie X Basilica (25,000 people), the Rosary Basilica and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — an architectural ensemble unique in France and the world. The most iconic photo of Lourdes is taken from the processions esplanade in the evening, when thousands of candles light up the basilicas.

Bernadette Soubirous, the young shepherdess born in Lourdes in 1844 who received 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the Massabielle grotto, is at the heart of Lourdes’ history — the Lacade Mill (Bernadette’s birthplace) and the Cachot (where the Soubirous family lived in 1858) are two essential visits for understanding the human story behind the Lourdes sanctuary. The Lourdes museum (€4 for adults) traces the history of the town and the apparitions with faithful recreations of 19th-century Lourdes.

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre: The Pyrenees’ Great Viewpoint

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m) is the most spectacular astronomical observation site in the Pyrenees — its century-old astronomical observatory and cable-car station (departing from La Mongie, the Tourmalet resort) make it one of the most extraordinary destinations in the Hautes-Pyrénées. The cable-car ride up to the Pic du Midi (€28 for adults, €18 for children, 15 minutes) offers a 360° panorama over the Spanish and French Pyrenees on a clear day — from the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, you can make out the Mediterranean Sea and Spain in the distance. The Pic du Midi also offers overnight stargazing experiences (€120-150 per person, book 6 months ahead) — a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe the stars from a professional observatory at 2,877 m in the Pyrenees.

The Col du Tourmalet (2,115 m), 10 km from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, is the highest road pass in the French Pyrenees and one of the most famous climbs of the Tour de France — a photo with the Giant of the Tourmalet statue is a must for cycling enthusiasts. The climb up the Tourmalet from Bagnères-de-Bigorre (from the east) or from Luz-Saint-Sauveur (from the west) is one of the most beautiful mountain roads in the Hautes-Pyrénées — tackle it by bike if you’re feeling brave, or by car to take in the views.

The Cirque de Gavarnie: The Hautes-Pyrénées’ Grand Site

The Cirque de Gavarnie is one of the most magnificent landscapes in Europe and a Grand Site of France listed by UNESCO — this glacial cirque, 14 km in diameter, sits within the Pyrenees National Park on the French-Spanish border and is home to the highest waterfall in France (the Grande Cascade de Gavarnie, 423 m) and rock walls rising to 3,000 m. The Cirque de Gavarnie hike (starting from Gavarnie village, 9 km round trip, 3 hours, easy) is one of the most popular hikes in the Hautes-Pyrénées — accessible to all walkers, even without special equipment. Gavarnie village is 52 km from Lourdes and 20 km from Luz-Saint-Sauveur — allow 45 minutes from most campsites in the Hautes-Pyrénées.

In the Cirque de Gavarnie, the climb to the foot of the Grande Cascade takes 4.5 hours round trip from the village — bring hiking boots and plenty of water (the altitude and mountain sun of the Pyrenees cause rapid dehydration). The Brèche de Roland (2,807 m), reached from the Sarradets refuge (a staffed mountain hut, €35 a night), is the most spectacular excursion in the Cirque de Gavarnie for experienced hikers.

Saint-Lary-Soulan: Skiing and Spas in the Hautes-Pyrénées

Saint-Lary-Soulan is the most comprehensive ski and mountain resort in the Hautes-Pyrénées — its 100 km of slopes (ski area from 2,450 m down to 1,700 m), modern lifts and authentic village make it families’ favourite resort for a holiday in the Pyrenees. The Balnéa spa in Saint-Lary-Soulan is the largest mountain spa in the French Pyrenees (4 hectares of indoor and outdoor pools with mountain views, €28 entry for adults) — an essential stop in the Hautes-Pyrénées to unwind after a day of hiking or skiing. In summer, Saint-Lary turns into an idyllic mountain village for outdoor activities: mountain biking, canyoning in the Rioumajou gorge, and hikes up to the high-altitude lakes of the Pyrenees.

Lake Génos-Loudenvielle (in the town of Loudenvielle, 10 km from Saint-Lary) is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Hautes-Pyrénées — its turquoise waters fringed by pine forests and its landscaped sandy beach make it the most popular swimming and water sports spot in the Louron valley. Lake Génos-Loudenvielle offers pedal boats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboarding and a supervised beach in July and August — a perfect activity for families in the Pyrenees. The Loudenvielle spa rounds out the Louron valley’s wellness offering, just 5 minutes from Lake Génos.

Pont d’Espagne and Lac de Gaube: Cauterets and Its Wonders

Cauterets, 30 km from Lourdes, is the emblematic thermal spa and mountain sports resort of the Hautes-Pyrénées — its spa (thermal treatments, wellness care) and immediate access to the Pyrenees National Park make it an ideal base for mountain activities. Pont d’Espagne (reached from Cauterets by road or chairlift, €5 for adults) is the starting point for the most popular hike in the Hautes-Pyrénées — the trail climbing from Pont d’Espagne to Lac de Gaube (1,750 m, 1.5 hours one way) offers spectacular views over the waterfalls and forests of the Pyrenees National Park. Lac de Gaube itself, with the Vignemale (3,298 m, the highest French peak in the Pyrenees) as a backdrop, is one of the most iconic photos in the Hautes-Pyrénées.

Lake Payolle, 20 km from Bagnères-de-Bigorre on the road to the Tourmalet, is another popular lake in the Hautes-Pyrénées for fishing, hiking and nature-filled holidays — its setting of forests and high-altitude meadows, at 1,100 m, is ideal for a picnic in the Pyrenees with children.

Argelès-Gazost and the Pyrenees Animal Park

The Pyrenees Animal Park in Argelès-Gazost (15 km from Lourdes) is one of the best family activities in the Hautes-Pyrénées — its 600 mountain animals (Pyrenean brown bears, chamois, bearded vultures, wolves, lynx, ibex) roam semi-natural enclosures across 6 hectares. Adult entry €15, children €9.50. The Pyrenees Animal Park in Argelès-Gazost is open from April to November — an essential activity for discovering the wildlife of the Pyrenees with children during a holiday in the Hautes-Pyrénées. Argelès-Gazost is also known for the mountain road climbing towards Luz-Saint-Sauveur and for the Bergons and Lutour waterfalls.

The Bétharram Caves, 12 km from Lourdes on the road to Pau, are among the most beautiful underground cavities in the Pyrenees — 5 levels of galleries stretching 2.5 km (guided tour compulsory, €14.50 for adults, €10.50 for children, 1.5 hours), explored on foot, by boat and by rail through chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. The Bétharram Caves are open year-round and make an ideal rainy-day activity in the Pyrenees.

Bagnères-de-Bigorre and Tarbes: The Towns of the Hautes-Pyrénées

Bagnères-de-Bigorre is the oldest thermal spa town in the Hautes-Pyrénées — its historic baths, casino and 19th-century mansions testify to a past as an aristocratic mountain retreat in the Pyrenees. Bagnères-de-Bigorre is also the starting point for the climb up to the Col du Tourmalet and the Pic du Midi de Bigorre — allow 30 km from Bagnères to the summit of the Tourmalet. The town has a casino, restaurants and a lively weekly market (Tuesday and Saturday mornings) offering local produce from the Hautes-Pyrénées: sheep’s cheese, Bayonne ham and wines from the Pyrenean foothills of France.

Tarbes is the prefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées and the gateway to the department — its Massey museum (weapons collections, French formal garden) and its national stud farm (home of the Tarbais horse breed, with free equestrian shows on summer Sundays) are the town’s main cultural activities. Tarbes is also a convenient base for reaching Lourdes (20 km), the Pic du Midi (60 km) and the Cirque de Gavarnie (80 km) in the Pyrenees. Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport (direct flights from Paris, Toulouse, Grenoble and several European cities) is a convenient entry point for a holiday in the Hautes-Pyrénées without needing a car from the start.

Campsites with Water Parks in the Hautes-Pyrénées

Campsites in the Hautes-Pyrénées offer water parks with heated pools set against a mountain backdrop with views of the Pyrenees peaks — just a few dozen kilometres from all the must-see sites: Lourdes (sanctuary, museum), Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m), Cirque de Gavarnie (UNESCO), Saint-Lary-Soulan and the Balnéa spa, Pont d’Espagne and Cauterets, the Pyrenees Animal Park in Argelès-Gazost and the Bétharram Caves. A camping holiday in the Hautes-Pyrénées is ideal from June to September — the Pyrenees’ mountain weather brings sunny days for hiking, water activities on the lakes and excursions into neighbouring Spain.