Camping Hautes-Pyrenees

Things to do when camping in Hautes-Pyrénées

There is so much to do in Hautes-Pyrénées, making it an ideal camping destination for family trips with young children or groups of friends. Couples will also find an intimacy to enjoy in the department, and no shortage of excellent places to visit.

The main reason that holidaymakers stay in Hautes-Pyrénées is to make the most of the department’s stunning and ruggedly beautiful landscapes. A variety of al fresco pursuits can be enjoyed here, from walking, hiking and biking days out to adventure sports such as parasailing, canyoning and white-water rafting.

In the gorgeous sprawls of the Néouvielle Nature Reserve, hiking and walking enthusiasts will savour strolling through a wild terrain marked by high-altitude lakes of dazzling blue waters, crashing rivers and waterfalls, as well as forests with waymarked routes. Another excellent place for walking trips, the Pyrenees National Park proves popular with locals and visitors alike, while those who like to get their heads in the clouds should head to the Troumouse Cirque and Gavarnie Cirque natural heritage sites.

A dramatic lake of turquoise blue waters, Lake Gaube is surrounded by mountain slopes with dense woodland. The shores of the lake provide an excellent place to take a walk. They can be reached by car, cable car or by taking a hike from the Bridge of Spain.

While a vast amount of natural heritage lies in plain sight, there is much to discover in the underground realms of the department. Featuring an extensive network of underground caverns decorated by stalagmites and stalactites, as well as a meandering underground river, the Médous Cave is one such subterranean spectacle.

A camping holiday in Hautes-Pyrénées affords visitors with the chance to discover the department’s rich culture, history and traditions. The best place to experience this, as well as many places of religious significance, is in the medieval town of Lourdes. A day trip to the town is well spent if holidaymakers take time to wander the quaint streets and visit a selection of Lourdes’ top attractions such as Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes, Basilica of Our Lady of the Bernadette, Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Museo de Cera wax museum.

With so much to do in the department, time should always be set aside for relaxation and reflection. The spa towns of Hautes-Pyrénées are a great place to visit, and the best among them include Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Saint-Lary-Soulan and Cauterets.