Mountain wilderness

The landscape of the Pyrenees combines jagged mountains and lush valleys, glaciers, forests and pastureland. The water elements are splendid, including waterfalls and hundreds of gorgeous lakes. Over 200 peaks in the Pyrenees are well above 9,500 feet; dramatic Mount Perdu is the third highest in the range, rising on one side in France and the other in Spain. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its geological interest and astounding beauty.

The animals living in this striking landscape are many: chamois, otters, royal eagles, bearded vultures, and Pyrenees bears, to name a few. They and the flora of the central part of the Pyrenees are protected in three National Parks: The National Parks of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici and Ordesa y Monte Perdido, both in Spain, and the National Park of the Pyrenees in France.


Playing in the Pyrenees

The principle winter activities all involve snow and ice, of course: downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing and dog sledding. In summertime, go canoeing and kayaking, parasail, raft, ride bikes, or go for trail rides. Try a variation on rock climbing on the Via Ferrata (iron roads). These are rock climbing areas permanently equipped in such a way that even beginners can climb in safety.

Probably the most popular way to discover the beauty of the Pyrenees is to take a hike. Trails known as Grand Randonnées (GRs) simplify your planning: For example, GR 11 travels the entire length of the Spanish Pyrenees for 528 miles from the Mediterranean coast all the way to Catabrie. GR 10, in France, links Hendaye to Banyuls sur mer, on trails of similar length.

Sightseeing and sighing

The other attractions in the Pyrenees are its rich culture: traditional villages clinging to mountains or nestled in valleys, Romanesque churches, forts, monasteries, and ancient hospices. The pilgrims who followed the Camino de Santiago (St. James of Compostela) also travelled through the Pyrenees; the Roncevaux Pass leads to Camino Navarro, and the Camino Aragones crosses the Pyrenees into Aragon. The Camino Frances is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And how to recover from taking in all these sites and hiking up hill and down dale? Relax with sighs of pleasure in one of the natural spas that abound in the Pyrenees.