Trails in the Hautes-Pyrénées

From the Pic du Midi to secret valleys, a cinematic setting

Imagine yourself running on the ridges with the Pic du Midi observatory as a backdrop, this spacecraft perched atop a summit where scientists explore the stars while you scrutinize your laces 🔭. The mountain climate here is unpredictable: blazing sun that scalds your hide or a summer storm that drenches you in two minutes, so never forget your waterproof jacket ⛈️. As you traverse the Pyrénées National Park, you might be lucky enough to spot an agile chamois or a whistling marmot mocking your heavy stride 🐿️. If you listen closely, you may even hear some locals speaking Gascon and cheerfully offering an "Adishatz" to encourage you in your slog. This is an ideal ground for a nature run or mountain run, far from urban stress, where you can feel like an explorer discovering hidden emerald lakes like Gaube 💧.

An athletic and spiritual pilgrimage

You cannot come here without thinking of Lourdes, the Marian city known worldwide. Even if you don't believe in miracles, finishing an ultra here is often one, and you can always go light a candle for your menisci after the finish line 🕯️. Tarbes, the prefecture, is famous for its stud farms and its connection with the hussars, those daring horsemen whose zeal you'll need to tackle the positive elevation awaiting you 🐎. Did you know that part of the film "The Brotherhood of the Wolf" was filmed in these mountains? The mystical atmosphere of the baronial forests will likely remind you of those iconic scenes, especially if you run with a headlamp and your imagination runs wild at the slightest crack of a branch 🐺. This is also the territory conquered by the Tour de France with the Tourmalet pass, where cyclists suffer on the asphalt while we trail runners cut through the wilderness 🚴.

Bigourdan gastronomy: the fuel of the brave

After depleting your glycogen stores, the Bigorre will refill you, and not with green salad. Here, we get robust with Black Bigorre Pig, a noble pig that spent its life running in the meadows (kind of a colleague) resulting in an incredible ham 🐷. You must absolutely try the Tarbes Bean, melt-in-your-mouth delicious, which will (possibly) give you the propulsion for the next climb 🚀. And for dessert, the spit cake, baked over wood fire and resembling a medieval weapon, will be your ultimate culinary trophy 🔥. Don't forget a glass of Madiran to wash it all down, as tannins are good for the heart (or so we tell ourselves for comfort) 🍷.

The legendary challenges of 65

This region has forged steadfast characters and exceptional athletes like Jocelyne Pauly, the queen of the Pyrénées, who has tamed these trails more than once. The local trail calendar is a true invitation to self-surpassing. You can't ignore the Grand Raid des Pyrénées (GRP), the sacred monster attracting warriors from around the world for a tour de force around the circuses and lakes, a test that changes a man (or a woman) forever 🛡️. For a more urban but historically rich vibe, the classic Lourdes-Tarbes is a must-do that links these two iconic cities on a popular rolling route 👟. If you love vertiginous challenges, the Vignemale Race takes you to the roof of the French Pyrenees with glacier passages, reserved for seasoned mountaineers ❄️. The Trail of the Pact of the Wolves in Esparros offers a wild immersion in the Baronnies, while the Trail of Hautacam offers a different discovery of this legendary station beyond cycling 🎿.

It’s time to stop dreaming in front of your screen and come feel the rock for real. Choose your trail in the Hautes-Pyrénées, train seriously, and reserve a bib to live the adventure of your life in the land of chamois and miracles ✨.