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Places to Visit - The Pyrenees
The Pyrenees
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The Perfect Pyrenees
The Pyrenean mountain range stretches for 450kms between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and forms the frontier between France and Spain. In the ‘Haute Pyrenees’ the high peaks often reach 3,000meters and this natural barrier divided the dry baked landscape of the north of Spain from the green and lush hillsides of the south of France. In some cases villages to the north and south of the Pyrenees share common language and culture, while there is rivalry between valleys on the same side of the mountains.
During the Second World War, the Pyrenees were a natural escape route for allies. Escape routes were operated by Spanish farmers and shepherds who had fled from their homes during the Spanish civil war.
Smuggling has been a way of life for centuries together with the farming. Things have changed radically, jobs in the industry attracted most young people in the 60s and 70s, leaving away the rural economy. Nowadays farming is still a way of life but tourism is now a major earner. As well as the terrain being vastly different one side of the border from the other the weather, flora and fauna also differs immensely. Although the Pyrenees are a much crossed mountain range by drivers travelling from northern Europe into Spain or by passing over the tops by aeroplane in many ways it is an unexploited area in terms of industry but is currently growing as a tourist destination. The beauty of this range is that accessibility is easy and there are rare wild flowers, elusive birds and timid animals all easy to find. Apart from this there are permanent glaciers on both sides of the border. The mountains criss-cross with seldom travelled paths which lead to hidden lakes and to the highest peaks.
Amongst the animals to be found are the Pyrenean Chamois, the elusive Brown Bear and the Alpine Marmot. The Brown Bear is hovering on the verge of extinction as by the 1980’s they had been vastly wiped out by hunters. It is thought that around five or six bears are thought to exist in the west of the range and a programme is currently in operation to re-introduce more. The Alpine Marmot has been re-introduced since being wiped out in the last glacial era. You may also see the red squirrel, wild boar, red foxes, badgers, otters, stoats and weasels amongst many others. Amphibians include the black and yellow Salamander and the Natter-Jack toad. There are several different types of reptile including the common lizard, asp and viper.
Amongst the bird life living in the Pyrenees you may find vultures, the rare and majestic lammergeyer, the Griffon, Red and Black Kites and Eagles. Insects include a wonderful display of butterflies and the hummingbird Hawk Moth who thrive in the spectacular festival of wild flowers especially in June and July. This is when the pastures and mountain sides are carpeted with irises, wild blue aquilegia, indigo blue and giant yellow gentians, pink orchids, white buttercups, scented narcissi and pink saxifrage and thyme.
There are towns of special interest to visit in the Pyrenees and one such place is Lourdes which is situated in the Southwest of the Haute Pyrenees department. It has just over 15,000 inhabitants and stands at an altitude of 420 meters. Lourdes was just a small market town on the 11th February 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous, along with her sister and friend met the ‘Lady’ which made the town so famous. The Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette and revealed the whereabouts of the healing spring, whose waters are still eagerly sought after. Lourdes attracts over five million visitors from all over the world every year to visit the shrine. Today the town has the second greatest number of hotels in France and with its geographical position at the foot of the mountains makes it an ideal starting point of excursions to the Pyrenees.
Another popular place to visit is the tiny principality of Andorra in the eastern part of the range, with it cold winters and mild sunny summers adding to the attractions found here. A popular ski resort during the winter months and popular for walking in the mountains during the summer, Andorra has spectacular scenery looking more like the Swiss Alps. Around six million people visit each year to not only take part in the winter ski activities and the summer walking, but also to take advantage of the duty free goods on sale. Around 50,000 people live in this small state where Political parties are not recognised and women have only had the right to vote since 1970.
Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper
The Pyrenean mountain range stretches for 450kms between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and forms the frontier between France and Spain. In the ‘Haute Pyrenees’ the high peaks often reach 3,000meters and this natural barrier divided the dry baked landscape of the north of Spain from the green and lush hillsides of the south of France. In some cases villages to the north and south of the Pyrenees share common language and culture, while there is rivalry between valleys on the same side of the mountains.
During the Second World War, the Pyrenees were a natural escape route for allies. Escape routes were operated by Spanish farmers and shepherds who had fled from their homes during the Spanish civil war.
Smuggling has been a way of life for centuries together with the farming. Things have changed radically, jobs in the industry attracted most young people in the 60s and 70s, leaving away the rural economy. Nowadays farming is still a way of life but tourism is now a major earner. As well as the terrain being vastly different one side of the border from the other the weather, flora and fauna also differs immensely. Although the Pyrenees are a much crossed mountain range by drivers travelling from northern Europe into Spain or by passing over the tops by aeroplane in many ways it is an unexploited area in terms of industry but is currently growing as a tourist destination. The beauty of this range is that accessibility is easy and there are rare wild flowers, elusive birds and timid animals all easy to find. Apart from this there are permanent glaciers on both sides of the border. The mountains criss-cross with seldom travelled paths which lead to hidden lakes and to the highest peaks.
Amongst the animals to be found are the Pyrenean Chamois, the elusive Brown Bear and the Alpine Marmot. The Brown Bear is hovering on the verge of extinction as by the 1980’s they had been vastly wiped out by hunters. It is thought that around five or six bears are thought to exist in the west of the range and a programme is currently in operation to re-introduce more. The Alpine Marmot has been re-introduced since being wiped out in the last glacial era. You may also see the red squirrel, wild boar, red foxes, badgers, otters, stoats and weasels amongst many others. Amphibians include the black and yellow Salamander and the Natter-Jack toad. There are several different types of reptile including the common lizard, asp and viper.
Amongst the bird life living in the Pyrenees you may find vultures, the rare and majestic lammergeyer, the Griffon, Red and Black Kites and Eagles. Insects include a wonderful display of butterflies and the hummingbird Hawk Moth who thrive in the spectacular festival of wild flowers especially in June and July. This is when the pastures and mountain sides are carpeted with irises, wild blue aquilegia, indigo blue and giant yellow gentians, pink orchids, white buttercups, scented narcissi and pink saxifrage and thyme.
There are towns of special interest to visit in the Pyrenees and one such place is Lourdes which is situated in the Southwest of the Haute Pyrenees department. It has just over 15,000 inhabitants and stands at an altitude of 420 meters. Lourdes was just a small market town on the 11th February 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous, along with her sister and friend met the ‘Lady’ which made the town so famous. The Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette and revealed the whereabouts of the healing spring, whose waters are still eagerly sought after. Lourdes attracts over five million visitors from all over the world every year to visit the shrine. Today the town has the second greatest number of hotels in France and with its geographical position at the foot of the mountains makes it an ideal starting point of excursions to the Pyrenees.
Another popular place to visit is the tiny principality of Andorra in the eastern part of the range, with it cold winters and mild sunny summers adding to the attractions found here. A popular ski resort during the winter months and popular for walking in the mountains during the summer, Andorra has spectacular scenery looking more like the Swiss Alps. Around six million people visit each year to not only take part in the winter ski activities and the summer walking, but also to take advantage of the duty free goods on sale. Around 50,000 people live in this small state where Political parties are not recognised and women have only had the right to vote since 1970.
Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper
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