Cirque de Gavarnie
One of Europe's highest waterfalls
The waterfall at the head of the cirque drops about 420 metres. From the village of Gavarnie it's an easy walk of a couple of hours to the Hôtellerie du Cirque at the foot of the rock wall. Part of the Pyrénées–Mont Perdu World Heritage Site. Finish town for the TdF stage on 9 July 2026.
Day hike
- Starting point
- Gavarnie village
- Distance
- approx. 10 km return
- Elevation gain
- 400 hm
- Time
- 3–4 h
- Level
- Easy
- Season
- May–October
From the village along the river to the Hôtellerie du Cirque and on to the foot of the Grande Cascade, Europe's highest waterfall (approx. 420 m). Horses and donkeys can be hired for the first stretch.
UNESCO World Heritage
Pyrénées – Mont Perdu
- World Heritage since
- 1997 (extended 1999)
- This site
- Cirque de Gavarnie
A cross-border World Heritage site around the summit of Monte Perdido (3,355 m): on the French side the gigantic cirques of Gavarnie, Estaubé and Troumouse, on the Spanish side some of Europe's deepest canyons, Ordesa and Añisclo. It is protected both for its nature and for its ancient pastoral landscape.
Visit: The Cirque de Gavarnie and the Ordesa valley are reached on hiking trails from the villages of Gavarnie and Torla. In summer buses run to Ordesa from Torla – private cars are not allowed then.
42.7050° N, 0.0080° W
Trails passing here
Road trips passing here
Nearby
Brèche de Roland2 km · The gateway in the mountain wall above Gavarnie- Gavarnie-Gèdre (Les Espécières)3 km · Vallée de Gavarnie, Hautes-Pyrénées
Taillón4 km · One of the easiest 3,000-metre peaks, 3 144 m
Monte Perdido5 km · Europe's highest limestone massif, 3 355 m
Cirque de Troumouse8 km · Gavarnie's quieter big brother
Ordesa y Monte Perdido12 km · The Spanish side's magnificent canyon
Vignemale14 km · The highest peak on the border and Russell's mountain, 3 298 m
Pic Long14 km · The highest peak entirely in France, 3 192 m