The little mountain village of Gavarnie is 20 km away from the Airotel Pyrénées campsite, 35 minutes away by car. In summer you can easily access the famous Cirque de Gavarnie, a superb natural and cultural site that is listed as part of World Heritage by UNESCO. The Cirque de Gavarnie, at the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, also features such prestigious mountains as the Marboré, the Casque and the Taillon, while not forgetting the famous Brèche de Roland. If you are staying in the campsite in Hautes-Pyrénées during the Festival de Gavarnie, we strongly recommend going along to see top-quality theatre festival during your holiday in Occitania.
An unforgettable hike in the Cirque de Gavarnie
From the village of Gavarnie, it is easy to get to the path on foot, on horseback or even on a donkey and go up to the not-to-be-missed Cirque de Gavarnie. This is a vast natural arena where you can contemplate a wonderful mountain landscape in Hautes-Pyrénées, as well as the wide range of animals living there, inlcuding marmots, eagles and other mountain animals. Venture up to the Gavarnie waterfall, the highest in mainland France (423 metres) and take a closer look at the Brèche de Roland, a mountain pass marking the boundary between France and Spain. Legend has it that Charlemagne's nephew, Roland, tried to break his own sword in vain here after a battle, so that it would not be captured by the Saracen enemies. The result is a delight to contemplate from near or far during your camping holiday in the Pyrenees. In winter, Gavarnie is transformed into a charming family ski resort. Here you can enjoy snowshoe trips and ski down the long slopes at top speed on your skis or snowboard or admire the magnificent ice waterfalls.
