The Tourmalet section is considered one of the most difficult sections of theTour de France And at the same time, it is also one of its most beautiful sections. As such, it is a great tourist destination in all seasons, with or without the famous bicycle race.
Recommended places in the Turmela section
Pic du Midi Bigorre
This is one of the highest peaks in the range – 2877 m. and one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, views of the entire area.
One of the popular options is a circuit, starting from the Turmela pass itself. 13 km walk one way (about 800 m climb), about 4.30 to 5 hours from the parking lot. You can choose to only go up or only go down or do both directions by cable car. The two walking routes are similar in time and difficulty of the trip.
Attached here is the map (the cable car line, marked with a straight, red dotted line, from the summit of the pass). The exit point at the pass is very prominent in the area. There is also a tourist shop there. On the map you can also see several dining and entertainment venues in the area.
LOURDES
This is the city of miracles and pilgrimage, to the healing springs (6 million pilgrims every year!) Pilgrims from all corners of the world, in their colorful uniforms and costumes, which characterize the monasteries of origin and the countries from which they come. Very moving and impressive ceremonies are held every evening in the city cathedral.
Stalactite Cave Grottes de Medous
The cave is named after the stalactites that resemble jellyfish tentacles. Here is a map to get to the place:
The Bridge of Spain
The bridge in the Parc National des Pyrénées reserve is not to be missed! A wonderful route, along a rushing stream, full of noisy and splashing waterfalls, in a forest, wonderful for refreshing on the hot days of the Tour. (The route is inside a reserve, which is supposed to be in bloom this season). There is a parking lot near the bridge. From the bridge, the recommended route is to Lake Gov (short but from this direction it is uphill - round trip about 3 hours of wonderful walking).
Anyone who wants to can split the trip into light and pleasant walks, almost to their heart's content, according to their size and the time they want to allocate for this mandatory trip. If using the cable car for the first time, go beyond the first ascent and thus cut out the bulk of the ascent with effort. A second time, for the disabled, the elderly and/or simply "lazy" people, you can continue on the second cable car (cable car tickets are supposed to include free parking in the parking lot, I don't know how that will work during the tour). The cable car station to the lake is a few minutes' walk from the lake itself. (This entire journey, if done entirely by cable car, should take, with the connecting sections, about fifteen minutes).
It is highly recommended, to fully experience the beauty of the place, to reach the other side of the lake, where the stream sends out numerous floating arms, until it spills into the lake. “The mountains are higher on the way back,” not in this case. Back to the bridge, the road is downhill…
Lake Gaube
The lake is located about 2.5 km south of the bridge. A beautiful lake, with a picturesque inn on its shore. Google Map (note the photos from the route on the side):
Napoleon Bridge
Napoleon Bridge (named after Napoleon III, who initiated the construction of this bridge, following his stay in the area). With a little luck and perhaps thanks to the Tour celebrations, when you get there you will get to do or watch bungee jumping, which is customary to do from this bridge (42m high). This bridge is built over a narrow and deep canyon at the bottom of which “white water” flows.
Cirque de Gavarnie
It is a place I tried to reach twice (once on a car trip with my wife, the second time with my eldest son, on our hiking trip across the Pyrenees), and I failed twice, due to extremely heavy fog on the way there.
Another of the most beautiful natural wonders that nature has bestowed upon us in this area - a nature reserve! "Sirk" comes from the word "circus", so called because of the topographical structure that it presents to the traveler's eye: it is a geological depression, the beginning of a valley, whose shape resembles a theater - raised seats, arranged in an arch in front of a centered stage. (What we mistakenly call an "amphitheater"). A geological (actually geomorphological) structure, created as the starting point of a glacial valley, by erosion.
Its slopes are almost as steep as a vertical cliff, over which ice and glacial erosion slide from all directions of the envelope of this arcuate cliff, converging at the bottom of the slope. The bottom of the glacial cirque is shaped like a bowl. In this area, all this erosion coalesces into a glacier, pushing forward the rocks that hinder its progress and erosion. In the summer, these ice falls, from the sides of the envelope of the cliffs, become masses of waterfalls, falling from heights - a very impressive picture!
The walk is easy, about 2-3 km from the village – walking on a well-maintained path and with a spectacular view on a slight upward trend – children can rent a donkey, which will carry them on its back. There is also a restaurant on site. The most impressive view of this wonderful natural phenomenon is a little further along, further along the road (those who did not stop to dine at the restaurant can have a picnic in this impressive place – on the natural grass, which grows on this plain). You can continue walking (uphill) to the bottom of the large waterfall.