| The
spectacular mountains of the Pyrenees stretch west
east for 480km from the Atlantic coast across to the
Mediterranean forming an impressive natural frontier
between France and Spain. |
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| features we see here today - hanging valleys,
vast cirques, sharp peaks and rugged crests.
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The backbone of the range,
the frontier ridge, is a chaotic jigsaw of wild rock
formations and crags, which reach for the sky with many
soaring effortlessly above 3000m. A little lower down
a majestic mountain landscape unfolds with a heady mix
of lush green meadows, abyss-like canyons, awe-inspiring
cirques, azure blue lakes, u-shaped valleys, pristine
woodlands, sparkling tarns and cascading streams. |
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| They
rose from beneath a shallow sea millions of years ago
when the European and African continental plates collided.
Since then the gigantic glaciers that covered most of
Europe during the last great ice age have shaped the
magical natural features we see here today - hanging
valleys, vast cirques, |
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| Stopping for lunch on a high trail
above Panticosa. |
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Walking in the
the Néouvielle Nature Reserve.
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| the
pyrenees |
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| and the Spanish side, it can at times be hard
to believe you are in the same mountain range. |
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On both sides of the border we will
help you explore one of the most scenically beautiful
and diverse regions of the Pyrenees - in and around
the great glacial ‘cirques’, including
Gavarnie (a world heritage site with Europe’s
longest waterfall), Troumouse and Lescun, the awesome
canyons of Ordesa, and the mighty peaks of Balaïtous,
Vignemale and Monte Perdido, all of which fall within
two of the three national parks within the range.
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| Not
surprisingly, walkers have been coming to the Pyrenees
for years, venturing into this magnificent terrain
from picturesque mountain villages. We are based in
two such villages, a French one and a Spanish one.
Luz-St-Sauveur is in the Haute Pyrénées
department of France and Panticosa is in the Alto
Aragón region of Spain. And how the scenery
changes in the comparatively short distance between
the two. Indeed, such is the dramatic difference between
the French
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Walking
above Panticosa in the Spanish Pyrenees. |
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| collett's
in the pyrenees |
| days a week in both villages our friendly
and hospitable staff organise a moderate walk
and a hard walk. You can join them as often
or as little as you like at no extra cost. |
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| If you prefer to do your
own thing, our ‘Ideas & Information
Files’ document many walks and other ways
of enjoying the area - scenic drives, places
of interest, other activities etc. And the intimate
local knowledge of our staff is always at hand. |
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| Our hospitality is relaxed
and informal, but never at the expense of efficiency
and we will look after you well, right from
your initial enquiry through to the end of a
memorable holiday. |
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| We
offer a unique holiday approach, which allows you
to be as independent and as flexible as you wish,
whilst ensuring you get just what you want from your
time here.
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You choose how
you travel, what day you arrive and what day you depart.
We offer two enchanting mountain villages, one French,
the other Spanish. Both are set amidst breathtaking
scenery and represent an ideal springboard for walks
and numerous places of interest. |
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| Our holidays here are primarily designed
for walkers and five |
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| The
Pic du Midi d’Ossau in the distance. |
Cirque
de Troumouse, French Pyrenees |
Relaxing
at Hotel Sabocos, Panticosa. |
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