IT'S WORTH THE DETOUR
We continue our summer hikes. After the GR70 in the Cévennes and the Sainte-Victoire mountain in Provence, we go around the Vignemale, the highest point of the French Pyrenees, on the French-Spanish border. 3.298 meters above sea level, for mountaineers it is a mythical summit. It is located at the edge of the natural reserve Ordessa Vignemale and above all, it is on the route of the GR10, the hiking trail that crosses all the Pyrenees, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean.
Almost 5,000 meters of elevation gain
The tour of Vignemale is a six-day walk. It is a loop, starting for example from Pont d'Espagne in the Hautes-Pyrénées. We are close to the Cirque de Gavarnie, a natural rock circus. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the perimeter, there is the famous "breach of Roland". The legend says that this breach was opened by Roland, the nephew of Charlemagne, while he was trying to destroy his sword Durandal by striking against the rock.
© Maud Descamps / AFP
Let's be honest, this hike is for sports people. Over six days we have more than 4,800 meters of elevation gain. Translation: it climbs severely. But we come across families with young teens. So, finally, it's quite public, provided you respect all the rules of mountain safety, of course.
Beautiful and varied landscapes
During the walk, we crossed twice the Spanish border. This is one of the many points of interest of this hike. So we spend two nights, in refuge, on the Spanish side, with landscapes that change constantly as we climb. We cross small streams, we walk in the shade of fir trees, we also pay attention when we pass on snowfields, piles of snow that persist even in August. And then it's a marmots festival!
© Maud Descamps / AFP
But the point is based on the turn of Vignemale, it remains the climb between the bridge of Spain and the refuge of Bayssellance: it is the highest refuge kept in the Pyrenees. It is 2,650 meters above sea level. And from there, we have a breathtaking view of the circus of Gavarnie. We advise you to finish this step.