Where are the Pyrenees located on the world map. Pyrenees, Pyrenees mountains

The average annual rate of precipitation is from 1500-2400 mm per year on the northern slopes, up to 500-750 mm on the southern slopes. In most of the Pyrenees, precipitation falls year-round, in the east a summer drought is typical. This is due to the humid air masses that come from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. After passing the western and central regions of the Pyrenees, the air masses shed moisture in the form of rain or snow and become dry over the eastern Pyrenees. The rivers in the Pyrenees are full-flowing, flowing in narrow deep valleys and often form waterfalls (for example, the Gavarnie waterfall). The rivers of the Mediterranean basin have a low flow in summer, and dry up in places in dry years. Numerous small lakes of the Pyrenees are of glacial, dammed and tectonic origin. In the areas of limestone and karst relief, there are underground lakes and rivers with sections of the underground flow.

On some peaks of the mountain ranges of the Pyrenees there are small glaciers (the total area of ​​glaciers in the Pyrenees is no more than 40 sq. km.) Glaciers are found in the mountains of the western and snowy central Pyrenees, but the eastern Pyrenees do not have permanent glaciers, since there is insufficient rainfall in the form of snow to cause their development. Glaciers are confined to the northern slopes of the central Pyrenees, and do not descend, as in the Alps, far down into the valleys, but have their own greater direction along the direction mountain range. They are formed, in fact, in a narrow zone near the crest of the most high mountains Pyrenees. Here, as in other large mountain ranges of Central Europe, there is substantial evidence of a much wider spread of glaciation during the Ice Age. The snow cover boundary varies in different parts of the Pyrenees from about 2700 to 2800 meters above sea level.

Flora and fauna of the Pyrenees. Flora and fauna in the mountains of the Pyrenees

The mountain system of the Pyrenees (Pyrenees) stretches along the southwestern border of France between the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean Sea. This is one of the most colorful regions of the country - green mountains in the west are replaced by snowy peaks and dry foothills in the east, the population is also heterogeneous - there are Basques, Gascons, Catalans, and representatives of the small peoples of Europe. And at the same time, in comparison with the same Alps, the nature here is clean and untouched, there are extensive protected areas, but there are practically no fashionable and ever seething alpine-type resorts, and those that are are small, cozy and oriented for the most part not only for skiers, but also for fans of other outdoor activities. At the same time, the western slopes of the mountains rest against the seaside resort areas of the Spanish Basque Country and the French Silver Coast, while the eastern slopes face the warm Mediterranean coast. As a result, in the Pyrenees you can find conditions for almost any type of recreation, which attracts many tourists here, primarily the French and Spaniards themselves.

Three northern regions of the ancient Basque Country - Labourd (Labourd, Lapurdi), Basse Navarre (Basse Navarre, or Behe ​​Nafarroa) and Sul (Soule, Zuberoa) - by the will of history ended up on the territory of France. Now located in the Department of the Atlantic Pyrenees (Pyrenees-Atlantiques), these areas are still inhabited by the Basques, who call their native places Euskal-Eri (Euskal-Herri), and the locals widely use both the mysterious Basque language and French. At the same time, unlike their Spanish "relatives", the French Basques do not approve of separatism, so the general atmosphere here is very calm and benevolent.

Attractions

Central Pyrenees

To the east of Bas Navarra, the highest mountainous regions of the Pyrenees begin, almost entirely part of the Pyrenees National Park. At the same time, the cities of the foothills are well provided with transport, which allows you to freely visit these wild and beautiful places as railway(line Bayonne - Toulouse), and by bus (directly to the mountains and through Accus to Spain). In addition to the most picturesque lakes, dense forests, alpine meadows and mountain peaks up to 3000 meters high, the centers of attraction here are the mountain cirques of Leskan, Gavarnie (Joverny) and Trumuz, each with its own characteristic landscape and vegetation.

Pyrenees National Park(Parc National des Pyrenees) was created in 1967 to protect mountain ecocenoses from the impact of the tourism industry. Stretching along the Spanish border for more than 100 km, it covers 14 mountain peaks with heights of more than 2000 meters, about 200 lakes, more than a dozen picturesque valleys and two mountain cirques - Gavarnie (Joverny) and Trumuz. Despite the closed nature of some areas, about 400 km of hiking trails have been laid in the park, but hunting and vehicles are strictly prohibited, since about 140 species of animals live here, most of which are endangered.

The information centers of the park are located in Tarbes(Tarbes) etso(Etsaut) Koteret(Cauterets), Luce-Saint-Sauveur(Luz-Saint-Sauveur), Gavarnie(Gavarnie) laren(Laruns) and Arrense(Arrens) - in them you can get all the necessary information about the reserve, accommodation places (there are about a dozen mountain shelters and many hotels in total) and camping sites, a map and weather forecast (it is strongly not recommended to neglect the latter, since the weather in the Pyrenees is quite unstable in any time of the year). Camping and camping are prohibited in many areas of the park, only at altitudes of more than 2000 meters you can set up temporary bivouacs, which must be dismantled after 9.00.

In the foothills worth a visit ancient capital Bearn and the French part of the kingdom of Navarre - picturesque city OK By(Pau), Betaram caves (www.grottes-de-bethrarram.com), the first capital of Bearn - the town orthosis(Orthez) with a characteristic fortified bridge (XIII century) and numerous ancient mansions, the town Salies de Béarn(Salies-de-Bearn) with its winding lanes and therapeutic thermal baths, a pretty provincial center Sauveterre-de-Béarn(Sauveterre-de-Bearn, in Russian transcription - Sovter) with the church of Saint-Andre of the XIII century and the ruins of the castle and the city of Navarrenx surrounded by medieval walls, lying almost in the Po Valley.

And higher into the mountains begins the realm of dense forests and picturesque valleys, the true pearls of which can be considered the valleys of Aspe and Oso. The most beautiful places are located above " gray city"(45 km west of Lourdes).

Above the city, the modern freeway runs to the tunnel of the Somport Pass, or Sompor, which serves as a source of endless disputes between local residents and the central government. And to the south is one of the information offices of the Pyrenees National Park, the Ecomuseum of the Aspe Valley in Sarrance(Sarrance) and ancient church Notre-Dame-de-la-Pierre with a wonderful simple monastery. 7 km south lies the town Bedus(Bedous) with a miniature castle, a church and a town hall decorated with beautiful arcades. And 6 km southwest you can find a magnificent mountain amphitheater at the foot of the peaks of Le Billard, Trois-Roi and Ansaber, a beautiful beech forest below the "tubular rocks" of Les Orgues de Camplon, rebuilt into an excellent hotel castle d "Arens ( XII century, www.auchateaudarance.com), the formidable Portale Fort (XVI century) and the last village on the French side of the border - Yurdos(Urdos) with best restaurant in the valley.

The Oso Valley is best known for its picturesque Midi peak (Pic du Midi, 2877 m), on top of which there is an observatory, and around - dozens of beautiful lakes and cliffs. Also noteworthy is the town Aryudi(Arudy) with a good museum Maisons d "Oso (a comprehensive collection of history, flora and fauna of the Pyrenees and national park), a tiny chapel at the starting point for many hikes in the mountains - the village Gabas(Gabas), surrounded by lakes, the classic Pyrenean peak Midi d "Oso (Pic du Midi d" Ossau, 2884 m), as well as numerous ski resorts, which are mostly small in size, but are famous for good snow and a low level of complexity of the slopes.

The main point of attraction in the foothills is the ancient (37 km southeast of Po) - one of the most important centers of religious pilgrimage in Western Europe.

Southeast of Lourdes lies the town Saint-Savin(Saint-Savin) with a picturesque abbey church of the 12th century, fortifications of a later period, beautiful Romanesque interiors and a statue of the Black Madonna, brought from Syria according to legend in the 12th century. And further south is the already mentioned Luce-Saint-Sauveur(Luz-Saint-Sauveur), known as the beautiful climatic resort With 19th century. The attraction of the town is the church of Saint-Andre, built at the end of the XII century and fortified in the XIV century by the Knights of St. John. From here opens the most convenient way to the famous mountain amphitheaters of Gavarnie (Joverny) and Trumuz, which Victor Hugo called "Coliseums of Nature". Formed by the influence of glaciers that have flowed down from the surrounding mountain peaks for many thousands of years, they attract thousands of tourists with magnificent landscapes, glaciers, waterfalls and snow that does not melt even in summer. To the east, between the jagged peaks of Astazou and Marbore, lies the main local attraction - the vertical rock wall of Breche de Roland, according to local legends, carved from the mountain range by the sword Durandal (in French This female name) of the legendary Roland.

resort town Bagneres-de-Bigorre(Bagneres-de-Bigorre, 15 km east of Lourdes) is famous for its thermal baths with an original central pool covered by a unique wooden dome. And upstream of the Adour begins the Campan Valley (Vallee de Campan), the architecture of the settlements of which is very different from the valleys in the west. The roofs of local houses are also covered with slate tiles, but the houses and barns themselves are drawn out in a line, forming very characteristic wall houses with the obligatory balcony looking at the sun. The capital of the valley is a tiny town Campan(Campan) is known for interesting covered market(XVI century), numerous old buildings and a fortified church of unusual architecture.

And even to the east, the Comminges valley, which stretches from Bagneres-de-Luchon almost to Toulouse, begins - an ancient feudal county that also covered the upper valley of the Garonne. The hallmark of the area is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Pyrenees - similar to a fortress Cathedral of Saint-Bertrand-de-Commens, built for more than three centuries - from the XIV to the XVII, as well as the adjacent monastery of the XII century. You can also see the graceful Romanesque church of Saint-Jus in Valcabrera(Valcabrere), famous for their cave paintings of the Gargas caves (www.gargas.org), a good Regional Museum in Bagneres de Luchon(Luchon, Bagneres de Luchon) and several ski resorts around it.

Eastern Pyrenees

The eastern regions of the Pyrenees differ quite significantly from the west in their natural and climatic conditions. Moist mountain forests are replaced here by dry transparent groves of the Mediterranean type, mountain meadows - by dry wastelands, and beech and pine - by thyme and rockrose. Spanish influence is also more clearly seen here, since most of the region historically belonged to Catalonia, and was finally included in France only in 1659. Historical attractions, with the exception of beautiful mountain landscapes, caves and castles, are concentrated here along the coast and in the lower parts of the mountain valleys.

Whether you are coming from the western Pyrenees or ascending to Andorra from Toulouse, the Ariege valley is bound to cross your path as the dividing line between the Atlantic regions of the west and the Mediterranean zone. The long Ariège valley, stretching from the high peaks on the border with Andorra and the resort areas of Ax-les-Thermes (Ax-les-Thermes) to the fertile agricultural areas north of Foix, forms the center of the department of the same name. Moving around the valley itself is not the slightest difficulty, since it stretches along a modern highway and a railway line from Toulouse to Spain, but the most scenic spots The region can in most cases only be visited by jeep or motorbike.

The administrative center of the Ariège department and the smallest provincial capital of France, Foix(www.ot-foix.fr) is located 82 km south of Toulouse. It is a pleasant city of narrow lanes and semi-stone buildings of the 16th and 17th centuries, with an attractive old quarter sandwiched between the rivers Ariège and Arget, or Arge. Above all this rise the three towers of the Comte-de-Foy castle (IX-XIV centuries), which now houses a small exhibition and museum complex.

6 km northwest of Foix, you can see the longest navigable underground river in Europe - Labuish(Labouiche), where you can take a guided tour for 7.5 euros (from April to June and in September daily, from 10.00 to 11.15 and from 14.00 to 17.15; in July and August - daily, from 9.30 to 17.15; in October and November - on weekends and holidays, from 10.00 to 11.15 and from 14.00 to 16.30). And 25 km west of the city are prehistoric Mas d'Azil caves with a magnificent natural tunnel 500 meters long. This cave complex, which stretches underground for more than 12 km, was inhabited for over 20 thousand years and was used as a refuge by the Albigensians and Protestants in the XIV-XVI centuries. The most famous galleries can be visited in March, October and November on Sundays from 14.00 to 18.00; in April - May - from Monday to Friday, from 14.00 to 18.00, on Sundays - from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00; in June and September - daily, from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00; in July and August - daily, from 10.00 to 18.00; the entrance ticket costs 6.1 euros (includes entrance to the Prehistoric Museum in the village of Les Mas-d'Azil).

south of town Tarascon(Tarascon) lies the village Nyo(Niaux) with interesting Museum Pyrenees, famous for its unsurpassed collection of tools, interior items and old photographs illustrating the rapidly disappearing traditions of the peoples of this region. But the real reason Go down to this small village is the huge cave complex Grote de Niaux (www.ariege.com/niaux) 2 km north of the outskirts. In addition to 4 km of underground galleries with rock paintings from the megalithic period (approximately 11 thousand years BC), here you can see the riverbed underground river, and also go to another "cave city" Grotte de Vache (www.grotte-de-la-vache.org) near the village Alyat(Alliat). This is a relatively rare example of an inhabited cave, where you can still see hearths, bones and tools not only from more or less later eras, but also from the Paleolithic period. The third cave of the region - Grotto de Bedillac - is located above the village of the same name (5 km from Tarascon) and also contains examples of Paleolithic art, although not in the same quantity as in Nyo, but there are much more stalactites and narrow unexplored manholes.

26 km southeast of Tarascon, in the upper reaches of the Ariège River, there is a well-known resort town surrounded by high wooded mountains. Also around the Ariège valley, the ruins of the Millau castle, the picturesque Port de Lehr pass (1517 m), a remote resort village Holuse-les-Bains(Aulus-les-Bains), famous for its beautiful cathedrals and a beautiful Romanesque monastery (both - XII century) town Saint-Lisier(Saint-Lizier), the magnificent uplands of Co (Pays de Sault) with its "Albigensian strongholds" - the castles of Roquefixade (XII-XVI centuries) and Montsegur (X-XIII centuries), La Fro gorges with their cliffs about a kilometer high , allowing direct sunlight to the bottom only at noon, beautiful arcades of the XIII-XV centuries on the market square in the town mirepo(Mirepoix, lies almost on a plain 24 km northeast of Foix), as well as a fortified Benedictine abbey (XII-XIV centuries) and a castle in the village of Camon.

To the east, the Aude river valley runs down from the mountains, leading to Carcassonne itself. Here are interesting small town Lima(Limoux) with a picturesque old bridge and a historic core, thermal spa Alet-les-Bains(Alet-les-Bains), the canyon system of the gorges of Saint-Georges and l "Aude with the magnificent cave of Grot-de-l" Aguzu, the ruins of the castles of Duson and Donezan (the last refuge of the Albigensians, in which they held on for another 11 years after the fall of Montsegur) .

In general, a lot of historical places are associated with the "Albigensian heresy" in this region - romantic dilapidated medieval fortresses, which are called "Qatari castles" here, crown almost every fifth hill to the west and north of Perpignan. The south of France, especially Roussillon, Languedoc and eastern Ariège, was in the 12th century the main territory for the spread of this current of Christianity. Pope Innocent III in 1208 accused the Albigensians of heresy and persuaded the French king to start a crusade against them, and the "battle for the faith" flared up in these parts with unprecedented ferocity. The Albigensians were defeated, but their castles still attract the attention of thousands of tourists, which is facilitated by the carefully preserved local legends about the supposedly untold riches of the "Kataris" buried somewhere in these mountains.

For the convenience of guests, a special Intersite Pass card (value 4 euros) has been issued, which can be purchased at any of the eighteen participating castles of the department and tourist offices. The card gives adults significant discounts when visiting the fortresses of Carcassonne, Lastours, Sesac, Caunes-Minervois, Saint-Hilaire, Lagrasse, Fontfroide, Puylorens ( Puilaurens), Queribus, Aguilar, Peyrepertuse and other historical sites (children on the Intersite Pass visit these places for free).

Area including eastern edge The Pyrenees, as well as the lowlands around and along the Mediterranean coast, have been known since antiquity as (Roussillon, in honor of the main city of the Sardone tribe - Ruscino, destroyed by the Normans in 859), or "French Catalonia".

In the Pyrenees, there are many hiking and horse trails running from town to town, from castle to resort, through the most picturesque places of the Pyrenees National Park, the Luchon and Cerdany plateaus, as well as along the green foothills. The mountains usually open from mid-June to the end of September, and although thick snow cover is rare here, it is not recommended to travel in winter in these parts - the weather is very changeable, and the places are deserted. Also attractive are the numerous alpine resorts stretching along the border, from which short excursions to the surrounding mountains are constantly organized, as well as trips by jeeps, quad bikes or simple tours for rock climbers.

Lo

The Lot Department is inherently drier than its northern and even some southern neighbors. However, numerous gorges cave drawings and dilapidated castles give it a kind of "wild" charm.

Located in the southern part of the department, the city was the capital historical area Quercy and a stronghold of Catholicism in the religious wars of the Middle Ages. To the west of Cahors, the vine-covered banks of the River Lo hide many colorful settlements, including the ancient town Luzes with the Cathedral of the Chapelle de Notre Dame de l "Isle and fortifications of the XIII century, the village Puy d'Eveque with her old honey-colored houses, picturesque village Saint-Marin-le-Redon with the powerful castle of Bonagul (XV-XVI centuries), the old walled city Pen d'Ajne(Penne-d "Agenais) with the ruins of a castle of the XIII century, as well as the ultra-modern Museum of Wooden Architecture in a pretty ancient town Montflanquin.

In the very east of the department lies the city, widely known for its unusual architecture. To the south you can find a unique archaeological site of the Foisac caves (www.grotte-de-foissac.com) near the village of the same name and the ruins hidden in the dense forest near the village Peyrus-le-Roc medieval citadel, only recently excavated by scientists. But one of the most unusual settlements of Lo is considered to be a village miraculously perched on top of a cliff. Cardiac(Cardaillac), which today is a kind of open-air museum of medieval architecture.

Also worth seeing is the tiny but very beautiful village Espagnac Saint Elalie(18 km west of Figeac) with its picturesque church, romantic Marsillac-sur-Sele with a dilapidated abbey and a war memorial (the village was the site of one of the first performances of the French "maquis" guerrillas during World War II), visit one of the best open museums in France - Plain Aire du Quercy(www.patrimoine-lot.com) and be sure to visit Peche Merle caves(www.pechmerle.com), known not only for their beautiful underground galleries, but also for their unique rock paintings.

In the valley of the river Aveyron (Aveyron, this is already the territory of the department of the same name east of Lo) there are such interesting objects as if sandwiched between limestone cliffs ancient village St. Antonin de Noble Val(St-Antonin-de-Noble-Val), town Villefranche-de-Rouergue(Villefranche-de-Rouergue) with its picturesque old mansions and cobbled streets, the elegant castle of Najac (XV-XVI centuries) above the town of the same name, the half-ruined castle of Pins perched on a high rock, the monastery and the abbey church of Saint, considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture -Pierre (VII-XIII centuries) near the city of Moissac, as well as a picturesque city Montauban(Montauban, capital of the department of Tarn and Garonne) with dozens of well-preserved medieval buildings.

Ski holidays

One of the most interesting and intensively developing centers ski holidays in France are the Pyrenees (www.pyrenees-fr.com/). This is not surprising - stretching for 400 km (with a width of more than 70 km), the mountain system, which has almost a hundred peaks over 2000 meters high, simply could not help but attract the attention of athletes.

Stretching between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees receive noticeably more snow than many parts of the Alps, and although the weather here can hardly be called stable, the variety of conditions is almost fantastic. Even if a snowstorm rages on one side of the ridge, it is often calm and sunny on the other, so you can choose a skiing region right on the spot and for every taste. At the same time, it is noticeably warmer here than in the Alps, which is popular with older people and families with children. Well, although the slopes lose in their complexity to high-mountainous regions, they practically do not lack snow - at altitudes of more than 1400 meters it falls in quantities 2-3 times higher than in the Alps.

The winter tourist season usually starts here in late December - early January, and best time the period from February to April is usually considered to be visited, although it is quite possible to ride on the northern slopes until the end of June. The best ski resorts in the area include Argeles-Gazost, Aspe-Ossau, Aure-Louron, Bareges, Bearn, Capcir-Puymorens, Cerdagne, Couserans, Haute-Ariege, Haute-Bigorre, Luchonnais, Montcalm, Pays Toy and Pays de Sault. In the summer, here you can find a huge amount of entertainment for every taste (