Pyrenees

The Pyrenees is one of several major mountain ranges in Europe, which is the natural border between Spain and France, and also contains the small country of Andorra as a whole. The main natural feature of the Pyrenees is the large number of mountain torrents, which form beautiful cascading waterfalls, including the Gavarnie Falls, the highest in France. In Spain, the range is mostly famous thanks to Monte Perdido, a UNESCO geological site located next door with its own waterfall, Cascada del Cinca. The main cultural feature of the range is the Basque people, with a unique language, culture, and traditions unlike anything else in Europe, which lives in both countries. There are 19465 named mountains in the Pyrenees. The highest and most prominent mountain is Pico de Aneto (3,404 m / 11,167 ft).

Name

According to the popular version, the name Pyrenees comes from the ancient Greek goddess Pyrene, whose coronet "πῦρ" (pŷːr), in turn, means "fire".

The name of the mountains in other languages is similar to the English version, but has its own characteristics: Pyrénées in French and Pirineos in Spanish. Other interesting languages you may here in the mountain range include Occitan (Pirenèus) in France and Aragonese (Pirineus), Catalan (Pirineus), and Basque (Pirinioak) in Spain.

Geography and Landscape

The Pyrenees stretch from northwest to southeast (or vice versa) on the eastern borders of the Iberian Peninsula, one of the three largest in Europe along with the Apennine (Italy as a whole) and the Balkans (Greece and other countries).

The mountains are also the natural boundary between Spain and France, and also include the small state of Andorra, which is the sixth-smallest in Europe and 16th smallest in the world with an area of 468 sq km (sq mi). However, thanks to its location in the Pyrenees, this small country is one of the 10 most mountainous countries by average height above sea level with 1,996 m (6,550 ft). In other words, when you come to Andorra you will see high mountains literally everywhere.

Most of the highest mountains in the Pyrenees are also concentrated in the eastern part of the Pyrenees, where they extend all the way to the Mediterranean coast near the city of Barcelona. On the western tip, the Pyrenees are mostly hills of about 1,500–2,000 m (4,921–6,561 ft), which also almost touch the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Ocean near the French town of Biarritz and San Sebastian in Spain. Here they also merge with the Basque Country mountains, the eastern part of the greater Cantabrian Mountains stretching almost all along the northern coast of Spain.

The total length of the Pyrenees is almost 500 km (310 mi), making it also one of the longest mountain ranges in Europe and the world. However, ahead of them are nearly 100 other ranges with a length of 1,000 km (621 mi) and more.

The main features of the Pyrenees landscape are:

• Their highest mountain, Pico de Aneto, located on the Spanish side near the border with France and Andorra, whose elevation—for comparison—is slightly higher than the highest and most famous mountain of the Dolomites in the Italian Alps, Marmolada (3,342 m / 10,964 ft)
• A large number of mountain rivers, torrents and streams (called "gaves" in French) and the waterfalls that they form, which I mentioned earlier, including the Gavarnie Falls (Grande Cascade de Gavarnie) in France at 422 m (1,384 ft)—the highest waterfall in the country, located in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées
• Fewer high-altitude passes than in the Alps, which is explained by the fact that most often the upper end of the local valleys ends in a semicircle of rocks, called a "cirque", which makes it difficult to "build" passes, but the main one is Pas de la Casa or Port d’Envalira (2,408 m / 7,900 ft)—a car pass between France and Andorra

Returning to the political map, so you can get to these mountains, the Pyrenees include the following Spanish provinces and French departments in their respective regions:

• Spain: Girona, Barcelona, and Lleida in Catalonia; Huesca in Aragon; and Navarre.
• France: Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, and Hautes-Pyrénées in Occitania; and Pyrénées-Atlantiques in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Small Andorra is also not a unified whole, but is divided into seven cities-regions called "parishes": Andorra la Vella (capital), Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, and Sant Julià de Lòria, some of which are divided into even smaller ones.

Geology

The Pyrenees arose in the Paleozoic (538 to 251 million years ago) and Mesozoic (252 to 66 million years ago) eras, as a result of the collision of the Iberian and European tectonic plates, which “moved” the modern Spanish land closer to the territory of France. The age of the Pyrenees makes it 100–150 million years older than the Alps, which means that it is geologically more interesting as its deeper rock layers can be traced.

The Pyrenees consist mainly of granite and gneiss-like rocks, which have not been subjected to fusion erosion due to their dense composition. But this is 100% true only of the eastern part of the mountains. In the western part of the Pyrenees, there are also softer and more weathering limestones, which equals those of the Dolomites, for example.

The low altitude of the mountains, up to 3,500 m (11,482 ft), also accounts for the lack of large glaciers, as well as large lakes like Como and Garda in the foothills of the Alps in Italy. However, in the eastern Pyrenees, there are tens of small mountain lakes concentrated in a small area to the north of the highest peak of the range, Pico de Aneto.

Ranges and Summits

The internal division of the Pyrenees is quite complicated and confusing, but I will try to make sense of it by highlighting a few major ranges and individual peaks, leaving you space to explore them further on your own.

Major Pyrenees Ranges

The Pyrenees is divided into three main parts: the Western, Central, and Eastern, of which the first and last are more accessible to travel by car and on foot.

The central part is mostly accessible only on foot. Here are concentrated the highest peaks of the range: Pico de Aneto (3,404 m / 11,168 ft) in the Maladeta sub-ridge, Pico de Posets (3,375 m / 11,073 ft), Monte Perdido (3,355 m / 11,007 ft), and others.

Then, there is a separate part of the range, the so-called Pre-Pyrenees or hills, united in sub-chains totaling more than five dozen, stretching from the Spanish Navarre region, across the northern Aragon region, and into the Catalonia region, almost reaching the Mediterranean Sea coast with summits of up to 2,600 m (8,500 ft). So in total there are three main chains: Navarre Pre-Pyrenees, Aragon Pre-Pyrenees, and Catalonia Pre-Pyrenees.

However, the only true foothill of the Pyrenees is considered Corbières Massif, located on the north side of the range with the highest point of Pic de Bugarach (1,230 m / 4,040 ft).

The main sub-ranges or groups on the southern side of the range are twice as high. Here are some examples and their respective highest peaks: Serra del Cadí in Catalonia—Vulturó (2,648 m / 8,688 ft), El Turbón in Aragon—El Turbón (2,492 m / 8,176 ft), Sierra de Leyre in Navarre—Arangoiti (1,353 m / ft).

The easternmost part of the southern slope of the Pre-Pyrenees in the Catalonia region is also distinguished in a separate chain called the Sub-Pyrenees.

In a broader sense, the Pyrenees also include the Catalan Mediterranean System, located north and northeast of Barcelona. It is also known as the Mediterranean System, the Transversal Ibero-Pyrenaean System, and the Catalan System. It in turn includes several more sub-chains: the Catalan Transversal Range, the Catalan Coastal Range, and the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range, as well as the Catalan Central Depression, and the Catalan Coastal Depression.

Last but not least, based on political geography, you may also find yourself in the French Pyrénées, the Spanish Pyrénées, or the Pyrénées of Andorra, but most probably in their Spanish part, which is the largest and most associated with these mountains. In other words, the Pyrenees are more Spanish mountains than the French, where the Alps are more popular, or Andorra, which you may not even have known existed before.

Top Pyrenees Summits

In addition to the highest peak of the Pyrenees, Pico de Aneto, among the individual major mountains are the following several:

• Pico de Posets (3,375 m / 11,072 ft), the second highest mountain in the Pyrenees, which remain in the shadow of the first, but now you meet it
• Massif de Vignemale (3,298 m / 10,820 ft)—the highest peak in the French Pyrénées, which is popular among climbers because of several difficult ascent routes on the northern face of the peak which require a high level of skill, but there is a refuge des Oulettes de Gaube at the bottom you can hike to
• Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m / 9,439 ft) in the same French Pyrenees, famous for the Pic du Midi Observatory with its huge telescope, and simply a great viewing platform
• Monte Perdido (3,352 m / 10,997 ft)—a UNESCO World Heritage Site mountain called Pyrénées — Mont Perdu, which was inscribed on the list thanks to the two deepest canyons in Europe (on the Spanish side) and three glacial cirques (in France)
• Cilindro de Marboré (3,325 m / 10,908 ft) and 125 more peaks from the Pyrenean three-thousanders (3000 pyrénéens) list — a life-long-rather-impossible-dream challenge for a peak bagger
• Punta Alta de Comalesbienes (3,014 m / 9,888 ft), Pic de Subenuix (2,950 m / 9,678 ft), Pic de Peguera (2,982 m / 9,783 ft), Pic Tort (2,886 m / 9,468 ft), and many other peaks in the area of a big cluster of more than a dozen small lakes in the Eastern Pyrenees, which are also of great interest to hikers
• Coma Pedrosa or Alt de Comapedrosa (2,944 m / 9,658 ft), is the highest peak in Andorra near the town of Arinsal in the northwest of the country

Among other important massifs and mountains in both countries, Balaïtous, Néouvielle Massif, Montcalm Massif, Gran Encantat, Punta Alta de Comalesbienes, Puigmal, Pic du Canigou, Montseny Massif, and others should also be mentioned.

Best Hikes in the Pyrenees

In the Pyrenees, which is almost 500 km (310 mi) long, you will find a large number of natural areas for hiking, as well as several well-known long hiking trails. Next I will tell you briefly about the most important ones.

Hiking Areas

In total, there are at least 20 large natural areas in the Pyrenees. Among all this diversity, we can first distinguish three national parks (the first two in Spain and one in France):

• Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park (Parque nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido)
• Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park (Parc nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici)
• Pyrénées National Park (Parc national des Pyrénées)

Then there are many large regional nature parks in each of the countries along the entire border of the mountain range, namely (from northwest to southeast):

Nature Parks in Spanish Pyrenees

• Valles Occidentales Nature Park (Parque natural Valles Occidentales)
• Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Nature Park (Parque natural de la Sierra y los Cañones de Guara)
• Alt Pirineu Nature Park (Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu)
• Cadí-Moixeró Nature Park (Parc natural del Cadí-Moixeró)
• Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Nature Park (Parc natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa)
• Posets Maladeta Nature Park (Parque natural Posets Maladeta)
• Guilleries-Savassona Nature Park (Espai Natural de les Guilleries-Savassona)

If we add mountains of the Catalan Mediterranean System in the Barcelona area to the Pyrenees main range, there are several other natural parks, the first of which is located directly north of the city and can be reached on foot from its main streets:

• Serra de Collserola Nature Park (Parc natural de la Serra de Collserola)
• Muntanya de Montserrat Nature Park (Parc natural de la Muntanya de Montserrat)
• Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Nature Park (Parc natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac)
• Montnegre i el Corredor Park (Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor)

Nature Parks in French Pyrenees

• Catalan Pyrénées Regional Nature Park (Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées catalanes)
• Ariégeoises Pyrénées Regional Nature Park (Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées Ariégeoises)
• Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Regional Nature Park (Parc naturel régional de la Narbonnaise en Méditerranée)

The French Pyrenees is also home to three major nature reserves, the first of which is part of the aforementioned Pyrénées National Park:

• Néouvielle National Nature Reserve (Réserve naturelle nationale du Néouvielle)
• Prats de Molló Nature Reserve (Réserve naturelle de Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste)
• Mentet Nature Reserve (Réserve naturelle de Mantet)

Follow the links to learn more about each park if a guide has already been written about it, if not, save the link to your bookmarks, it will appear soon from one of PekVisor’s local writers and hikers.

Short and Long Hiking Trails

The Pyrenees is also known for endless short and several long hiking trails.

The first are popular among locals and travelers from Europe, and take up to 30 km (mi) with an elevation gain of up to 1,500 m (4,921 ft), which would take you 1–2 days with an overnight stay in a mountain shelter. Here are a few examples:

• Hike to Monte Perdido. 22 km (13.6 mi) hike from the Pradera bus stop of moderate difficulty, however due to its length it would be best suited to intermediate to advanced hikers. With canyons, valleys and majestic peaks heavily featured, it is a fantastic hiking destination. Est. time: 9 hours.
• Hike to Pedró de Fontalba. 20 km (12.4 mi) loop starting from Querabs at the end of the El Freser Valley. There is a total of 1,030 m (3,379 ft) of elevation gain, and the peak itself (2,102 m / 6,896 ft). This hike is recommended for intermediate hikers looking for a challenge, provided by the rocky terrain and length. Est. time: 8 hours.
• Hike to Plo del Naou. 6.2 km (3.8 mi) hike starting from the parking at the summit of the Col d’Aspin is ideal for beginners. There is 320 m (1,049 ft) of vertical elevation along the ridge taking you to the summit at 1,754 m (5,754 ft). From the peak you will have access to 360 panoramic views across the surrounding valleys. Est. time: 2 hours.

The second usually attracts travelers from distant countries such as the United States and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, South Korea and Japan, and others, and can be more than 30 km (mi) long up to several hundred. Among all the long routes, I will distinguish three main ones: to the north and south of the mountain range, as well as across the Pyrenees. So here they are:

• The St James Way (Camino de Santiago). It is the main pilgrimage route in Europe and in the world, which begins in the town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees in the French Basque Country and runs to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. To hike the Pyrenees you need only the first section of about 24 km (14.9 mi) long, which will take around six hours to complete. Its total length is 214 km (132.9 mi).
• Portbou to Cadaqués Trek. It goes between the two Spanish cities in Catalonia on the Mediterranean coast, which are given in the title. From here the whole route runs along its scenic sea coast with cliffs, cypresses, bays and so on. It is 35 km (21.7 mi) long and can be covered in two days with an overnight stay in the towns of Llançà or Port de la Selva. If you think this is not enough, it can be extended as part of the GR92 route that runs along Catalonia’s Costa Brava (“Wild Coast”) region.
• The Pyrenees High Route (Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne). It runs through the entire mountain range from northwest to southeast and is about 800 km (500 mi) with a total space-like-altitude gain of 52,000 m (171,000 ft). To be precise, it is equal to the Mesosphere, the third layer of the atmosphere between 50 km (164,000 ft) and 80 km (262,000 ft) that meteors reach from space.

Skiing in Pyrenees

The Pyrenees is home to a variety of ski resorts of varying levels: from small local areas with a couple of low slopes to the world-famous ski complexes.

• For example, the largest ski resorts on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees are Baqueira / Beret (160 km / 99.4 mi of slopes, 36 lifts), La Molina / Masella-Alp2500 (145 km / 90 mi of slopes, 33 lifts), and Formigal (143 km / 88.8 mi of slopes, 21 lifts).
• The largest ski resorts in the French Pyrenees, where they are generally more than in the Spanish part, are Saint-Lary-Soulan (105 km / 65.2 mi of slopes, 26 lifts), Grand Tourmalet / Pic du Midi-La Mongie / Barèges (100 km / 62.1 mi of slopes, 29 lifts), Ax 3 Domaines-Ax-les-Thermes (80 km / 49.7 mi of slopes, 19 lifts), Peyragudes (60 km / 37.2 mi of slopes, 18 lifts), Les Angles (55 km / 34.1 mi of slopes, 22 lifts).
• Andorra has four ski resorts in total, the largest of which is Grandvalira-Pas de la Casa / Grau Roig / Soldeu / El Tarter / Canillo / Encamp (210 km / 130.4 mi of slopes, 74 lifts), surpassing the largest resorts in France and Spain.

Find the open and closed slopes and lifts at these and other ski resorts on the France and Andorra (Spain is coming soon, if not already) pages in the World Mountain Lifts section of PeakVisor.

Tourist Information

Before or during your hike, visit the official tourist sites of the three Pyrenees countries to learn more:

Us.france.fr/en/pyrenees

Spain.info/en/discover-spain/pyrenees

Visitandorra.com

Accommodation

As elsewhere in Europe, for newcomers at high altitude in the Pyrenees, the most basic type of lodging is the mountain hut (refuge). There are many of them in this mountain range and they come in three basic types: open and free, with overnight accommodation and full board (space in a common or private room, breakfast, and dinner). As a general rule: the closer the huts are to civilization, the more various amenities and services will be available (including 5G and wi-fi, which, from my experience, stops working after about 1,500 m (4,921 ft)).

Let’s take the refuge des Oulettes de Gaube, closest to the Massif de Vignemale (3,298 m / 10,820 ft), the highest point in the French Pyrenees, which I mentioned earlier, as an example:

• It is located at the bottom of the Gaude Valley in the Pyrenees National Park and easily accessible by a marked trail.
• It is managed by the French Alpine Club (Fédération Française des clubs alpins et de montagne, FFCAM) but other huts may be private.
• Inside, you will find 95 beds in 5 dormitories (20 beds per room on average) in a completely renovated granite two-story building, which looks very natural in the surrounding environment—like another rock. It also has a restaurant, showers, etc., but no internet and does not accept credit cards, so bring cash with you.
• The cost of accommodation is 26 € for adults, together with food—56 €. There are many discounts for FFCAM members, families, groups of travelers, and so on.
• The refuge des Oulettes de Gaube is open from March 18 to May 8 inclusive, and from May 23 to October 16.

Also in the Pyrenees, you can pitch a tent near one of the refuges, but only for one night somewhere between 7 pm and 7 am. It is forbidden to camp for several days in the mountains. The entire Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne can theoretically be hikes in a hut-to-hut format, but experienced hikers recommend carrying a light tent in case you don't make it to the shelter in time.

Nearby Cities and Resorts

You can start and end your hike through the Pyrenees (although it would be difficult to do—so magnificent are these mountains) in one of several major cities, towns and resorts.

The largest city on the French side is Toulouse, closer to the east. The center of life in the Western Pyrenees is Pau, also quite a big city. The main resorts on the coast of the Bay of Biscay are Biarritz, Bayonne, and Anglet. An example of a typical Basque village nearby, where you can go to explore the region is Helette. On the opposite side, on the Mediterranean coast, the main city is Perpignan.

In Spain, the largest cities near the Pyrenees are Barcelona in the south, Zaragoza in the center of the east of the country, and Bilbao in the north. An alternative to the latter is Donostia / San Sebastian. Although it belongs to the Basque Mountains, it is very close to the Pyrenees, so it could be a base for hiking, too. An alternative to Barcelona is Girona, as well as many smaller places.

Towns inside the Pyrenees are mostly small villages and ski resorts. You can easily find them on the map and reach them from larger settlements.

The capital of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, is also a ski resort and the country’s only major city.