| Page Views: 1,086 Last Visit to Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales: August, 2008 I Visit Here Frequently | Somewhere between heaven and earth by kokoryko - last update: Aug 31, 2008 |
A love story which resumes. . . resumes. . . . res The Pyrénées are not appearing as a separate destination in VT, and so, this page appears in Parc National des Pyrénées occidentales, but it is about the Western Pyrénées in general, not only the National Park.
These beautiful mountains are an elongated range, separating (Or binding? As Basque Land is straddling over the mountains at the Western end and Cataluña does the same at the Eastern end) France from Spain and culminate at the Pico de Aneto with 3404m elevation. These mountains are a climatic barrier, separating the North humid and steep slopes from the more dry, rugged areas of the south; the Pyrénées are a mountain chain, but the variety of landscapes is unending, the vegetation, wildlife (and rocks!) very diversified from one place to another, each valley is inhabited by different people. . . . Wandering around, here, is a never ending discovery. I discovered the Pyrénées at the age of 8-10, visited many places over the years, but it is during the last 4-5 years that I really re-discover these mountains, and specially the places where the air is thin.
Of course, this VT page will give only a very small glimpse at the Pyrénées, a few information, a little bit of what I know and experienced (and I have a digital camera since only 5 years!), which is a microscopic part of what could be known and written about people and nature here.
|
|  | A really preserved area ! The National Park of Western Pyrénées which has been created in 1967 spans from the high Aspe Valley in the West to the high Aure valley in the East, and its central area covers 45700 ha; it is bordered to the South by the Spanish Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park.
This central area is surrounded by a “peripheral zone” of about 206000 ha, the purpose of which is mainly to “protect” the central area.
The central area is home to tens of endemic flora species, many endangered or disappearing birds, like vultures, royal eagles, home of the last French bears, and the status of this area is rather special and a bit strong rules apply for the visitors, and the first one (about I am quite happy!), is that no vehicles are admitted in the central zone, no “foreign” animals can enter, it is not allowed to fly above (except for jets at more than 9000 m), etc. . . . These restrictions and a few others contribute to keep this place in real natural state; I will write a bit more about in the general tips.
The peripheral area is an inhabited area, with mainly small villages, where also restrictions about architecture, agriculture or industrial activities apply; that helps to keep some “authentic charm” and locals have very well adapted, mainly developing touristic infrastructure.
The tips which follow are about summer activities, hikes and treks ; I practise some skiing in winter, but of course the resorts are not in the National Park, so for other things to do or winter sports, you may find some info in my other pages (Pau, . . . . . . )
|
| The Isard, a symbol of the Pyrénées |
| | Kama Sutra Kama Sutra? Well, it is not this acrobatic activity of which you are thinking now, it is just the philosophy of that education book, the way to apprehend the partner (the mountain in this case!), the way to get to know and respect the mountain, to travel slowly, to walk at your pace, to be enchanted at every minute, to try to feel the spirit of the mountain; there can be a sensual relation to the mountain, not only looking at her, but feeling her, feel and see her beauty, try to receive what she offers, but also learn to get used to her, to her wraths, changing temper, hot sun and ice, thunderstorms and hail. . . . Walking up, looking at flowers, birds, trees, rocks, the changing landscapes, the clouds (the sky is rarely totally cloud free on the northern side), breathing deeply, and on the pass, or the peak, at the lakeshore, in the spray of the waterfall, the mountain rewards you thousand times what you may have “endured”. Kama Sutra also, because it is me, only me and the mountain, we get acquainted to each other, may be one day she will want to keep me there for the rest of time, to fertilize her, or feed her vultures, and that will be good! But we will take our time!
Out on the high trails, if the weather changes quite often, the hiker’s mood sometimes follows the weather, songs are coming to the lips . . . I love to walk, and my mood is a bit like the wolf’s mood in this song: ”Partir” (leaving) from Robert Charlebois. This page is about the National Park, mainly, but there will also be lines and pictures about the peripheral area, what can be done and seen there, and we will make a few excursions in Spain here or there (Parque National Ordesa y Monte Perdido), and visit a few villages in the valleys. We will walk to visit these little villages which are in the “peripheral area”; most of them, beside their simple rural beauty, have some history, and for the tourist, they offer many possibilities of accommodation, small restaurants (I will insert weblinks for most of the villages). They are very good starting points for foreign tourists, for a Pyrénées discovery; there are also the famous resorts of Cauterets or Gavarnie, but it is in the villages where you will find a bit of the real spirit of the Pyrénées.
Note1: there are tens of names in my tips which follow; valleys, peaks, ridges, villages, etc. . . writing the names helps me for accuracy (and keeping the souvenirs), don’t be “afraid” by all these locality names, they are on the 1/25.000 maps, and some of the local names are like singing in my ears. . . . Note2: I use a number of local geographic names, like Gave (river), serre (mountain, like sierra) or pene (like the Spanish Peña), pic (peak) etc, in my descriptions . . . . forgive me, please, I feel the local name is the real nameMy photographs are not works of art, my writings are not literature.
Be kind, I posted them here, and I would appreciate you ask if you intend to use them elsewhere! |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Real nature" | | Cons: | "Almost nothing" | | In A Nutshell: | "Walk above the couds" |
kokoryko's Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales Travel Tips
 Comments for kokoryko about Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales | | | | |
trvlrtom Thu Oct 2, 2008 22:28 UTC
Enjoyed your photos & tips from Pyrenees. I was fortunate to have a week on the Spanish side back in my pre-VT days. Stunningly beautiful area. | JLBG Sun Sep 28, 2008 04:13 UTC
Superbe page sur une chaine de montagnes que je connais peu. J'aime surtout la photo avec les arbres qui modifient leur verticalité avec le terrain jusqu'à ce qu'ils soient profondément enracinés! Mais toutes tes photos sont remarquables! | cachaseiro Wed Sep 17, 2008 21:27 UTC
really good photos from a part of the world i hope to explore more in the near future. | Kuznetsov_Sergey Tue Sep 9, 2008 17:35 UTC
Outstanding page with brilliant photos and very detailed tips! I'm impressed by wonderful mountain landscapes which reminded me the Caucasus. Thanks Hermann for this virtual tour! |
|
|
email me
add as friend
