The second Catholic pilgrimage site in the world after Rome, the town of Lourdes became famous after the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous at various times between 11 February and 16 July 1858. Today, the sanctuaries of Lourdes located on the banks of the Gave de Pau river attract millions of visitors and pilgrims each year. The key sites of the Religious Town (Cité Religieuse) are the Rosary Esplanade (Esplanade du Rosaire) – dominated by the neo-Byzantine Our Lady's Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame), the Crypt and the Immaculate Conception Basilica (Basilique de l'Immaculée Conception) – the famous miraculous grotto where the Virgin appeared on 18 occasions, the underground St Pius X Basilica (Basilique Saint-Pie X), the Espace Sainte-Bernadette pilgrimage centre and the Way of the Cross (Chemin de Croix) and its 15 stations. The entire place is imbued with a very special spiritual and mystical atmosphere.

Also worth a visit in Lourdes is the fortified castle overlooking the town. Inside, the Pyrenean Museum (Musée Pyrénéen) houses collections of objects and art relating to the history of the Pyrenees mountains. The castle ramparts offer a beautiful view over the sanctuaries and the Pyrenees.

The village of Luz-Saint-Sauveur boasts an architectural gem: Saint-André church, built in the 12th century then fortified in the 14th century by the Knights Hospitallers of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. This beautiful fortress-style building is flanked by two towers and has a crenellated polygonal surrounding wall. The magnificent interior contains 18th-century woodwork.

The spa resort of Cauterets, which is renowned for its beneficial water, is surrounded by high mountains and retains many typical examples of 19th-century architecture. As you stroll around town, you come across beautiful belle-époque buildings like the Grand Hôtel d'Angleterre and the Grand Hôtel Continental.

Specialising in treating respiratory and rheumatic conditions, Cauterets thermal baths also offer fitness breaks and beauty treatments.

For culture fans, the Musée 1900, housed in the sumptuous surroundings of the former Grand Hôtel d'Angleterre, contains collections of folk art and traditions as well as a permanent exhibition on skiing and mountaineering from 1850 to today.

Meanwhile, nature lovers can take advantage of the spa town's exceptional mountain location close to outstanding natural sites such as the Bridge of Spain (Pont d'Espagne) and Gaube lake. The Pyrenees National Park visitor centre (La Maison du Parc National des Pyrénées) in Cauterets regularly organises mountain-related screenings and exhibitions.

A speciality of Cauterets is the berlingot – the famous colourful boiled sweet that spa patients used to eat to mask the taste of sulphur in the water – is still hand-made in the traditional way and continues to be a favourite with children and adults alike! Several factories in the spa town offer tastings and demonstrations of the 19th-century production process.

The Bridge of Spain (Pont d'Espagne) located above the spa resort of Cauterets is a very striking natural site where the turbulent water of a number of waterfalls meet and gush under the arch of a picturesque little stone bridge. A waymarked footpath with several viewpoints provides a great way of admiring the beauty of the place.

At the edge of the Béarn and Bigorre, not far from Lourdes, you'll find the beautiful caves of Bétharram. By train, by boat on the underground lake, and then on foot, discover five floors of galleries dug at different times, containing impressive geological formations alternating between stalagmites, stalactites, draperies and columns. A fairyland of concretions in many amazing shapes!

A land of miracles and a Marian pilgrimage site, the village of Lestelle-Bétharram also owes its reputation to its famous Baroque sanctuary built in the 17th century. The Chapel of Our Lady with lavish interior decorations, the Chapel of St Michael Garicoits, the Fountain of St Roch, and the various stations of the cross dotted along the verdant hill are wonderful places for meditation and silence...

Turquoise-blue Gaube Lake is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty surrounded by Pyrenean peaks over 2,000 metres above sea level. This awe-inspiring place, accessible by cable car or, even better, in an hour by foot from the Bridge of Spain (Pont d'Espagne) near Cauterets, is very popular with walkers and hikers.

Located in the heart of the Pyrenees, at an altitude of 1709 m, near the ski resort of Gourette, the Aubisque Pass is open from June to October. It's a must for all cycling fans, as well as for lovers of beautiful scenery, as the pass road offers stunning views of the Pyrenees...

Located at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains on the banks of the Adour river, the welcoming spa resort of Bagnères-de-Bigorre is a top destination for many reasons: the lively old quarter with beautiful old houses dominated by the Flamboyant Gothic Tour des Jacobins tower, the thermal baths with curative properties, the spa and well-being centre Aquensis, the casino and the lovely Parc Thermal spa garden which is a great place for a stroll.

Not to be missed: the Street Arts Weekend festival (Week-end des Arts de la Rue) that takes place every beginning of August in the town's streets, squares and gardens – the atmosphere is fantastic!

Tarbes, the chief town of the Hautes-Pyrénées département and capital of the Bigorre area, is known for its beautiful garden, the Jardin Massey, which figures on France's official list of Jardins Remarquables. This wonderful landscape park created in the 19th century by the naturalist Placide Massey features a network of footpaths and a large number of rare tree species. A Moorish-inspired mansion topped with an observation tower stands in the middle of the park. It houses the Massey museum which has a collection of fine art and one based on the history of the hussars.

Also worth visiting is the Haras National de Tarbes (national stud farm) founded by Napoleon in 1806, and today a listed building. A guided tour of this Empire-style group of buildings shows you the stables, stallions of different breeds and a collection of horse-drawn vehicles. The Maison du Cheval there is a museum in a former indoor school dedicated to the world of horses and in particular images of the horse in the Midi-Pyrénées region. Every year, the European equestrian show festival, Equestria, is held at the Haras National de Tarbes in late July / early August: a festive event in which the worlds of horses and the arts come together.

Fine food fans should make a point of visiting Halle Marcadieu covered market for its fresh produce market every Thursday morning.

The Médous cave located in Asté, not far from Bagnères-de-Bigorre, was discovered in 1948 by three potholers and is noteworthy for its large number of concretions. The wealth of stalactites, stalagmites and draperies make this a truly stunning visit. A section of the tour takes place on board a boat on an underground river.

In the heart of the Pyrenees, within a majestic mountain ridge, lies the ski resort of Gourette. Featuring a remarkable natural environment, its ski area, which extends over 90 hectares, offers no less than 30 km of slopes between 1,350 and 2,450 metres in altitude.

In the summer, Gourette delights sports fans who love mountainous landscapes, offering various outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking and climbing.

Located at an altitude of 2,115 metres, Tourmalet pass is a legendary section of the Tour de France. Cycling fans, hikers and motorists crossing it enjoy beautiful views over the Pyrenees mountains. On the way back down to the resort of Barèges, you can visit Tourmalet botanical garden, open from mid-May to mid-September, where no fewer than 2,500 Pyrenean plant species grow. An excellent introduction to the local flora!

One of Midi-Pyrénées "Great Regional Sites", the famous Gavarnie Cirque is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Described by the writer Victor Hugo as the "colossus of nature", this remarkable natural heritage is only accessible on foot, by horse or by donkey from the village of Gavarnie. An hour's walk along a lovely footpath takes you to the hotel area at the foot of the cirque and its fantastic view over the entire vast rocky amphitheatre. The panoramic view of the high limestone walls covered in countless waterfalls is really stunning! Hiking fans can continue up to the foot of the Grande Cascade, a striking 423-metre high waterfall that is one of the highest in Europe!

Reaching an altitude of 2,877 metres at its peak, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre is famous for its astronomical observatory and stunning panoramic view of the Pyrenees mountains. To get to the summit, you can either take the cable car leaving from La Mongie or walk up a footpath. With either option, the moment of arrival is fantastic and the view takes your breath away! As well as the superb 360° view, there's a museum dedicated to astronomy and the history of the Pic du Midi.

Located in the Pyrenees National Park at an altitude of around 2,100 metres, the glacial cirque of Troumouse is surrounded by high mountain walls and measures 4 km in diameter! This outstanding place is accessible by car from the hamlet of Héas, in the commune of Gèdre, via a road with a tollgate. From the final car park, a great 1-hour return walk takes visitors up to a viewpoint where a statue of the Virgin Mary is located. From this central point in the cirque, the panoramic view of the whole site is exceptional and the colours magnificent!

The medieval castle of Mauvezin, which dominates the Les Baronnies area, is home to a history and folk museum in six of its rooms. Visitors can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding scenery from the top of its keep.

At the heart of Béarn, in the French Pyrenees, lies the peaceful and verdant Ossau Valley. An ideal destination to recharge your batteries while making the most of the joys of nature...

In the heights of the town of Laruns nestles the charming little spa resort of Eaux-Bonnes, an unmissable place for anyone wishing to enjoy a rest and take advantage of the aqua-relaxation centre and the beauty and well-being treatments at the thermal spa.

The Ossau Valley is also full of natural wonders that you can admire in peace on a walking path or hiking trail.

Top spots in this unspoilt area include Lake Bious-Artigues, inhabited by brown and rainbow trout, a fisherman's delight; the museum area at the Vultures' Cliff (Falaise aux Vautours) in Aste-Béon, to learn about the life of the big Pyrenean birds of prey; the Ayous lakes, which you can admire on a day out hiking; the Pic du Midi in Ossau, popular with sporty types who enjoy walking and climbing; and the ski resort of Artouste, with its Lake Fabrèges and the highest tourist train in Europe!

Religious heritage lovers, take advantage of your stay in Béarn to explore the Romanesque Church of St Faith in Morlaàs.

Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, this Historic Monument retains a splendid doorway adorned with fine sculptures depicting Christ in Majesty, the Massacre of the Innocents, the Flight into Egypt, the 12 apostles and the 24 elders of the Apocalypse!

Built in the 14th century at the request of Gaston Phoebus to protect the borders of Béarn, Montaner Castle, today a listed Historic Monument, retains an imposing square keep as a reminder of its glorious past. Perched atop a hill, this red brick tower stands forty feet high, and offers a stunning 360° view over the Adour plain and the Pyrenees from its terrace! There is also an interactive tour that takes us back to medieval days and the times of its famous builder Gaston Phoebus, a legendary Pyrenean prince...

The charming church of St Michael, nestled below the walled enclosure, is also worth a visit, if only for its beautiful frescoes dating from the 15th and 16th centuries!

Every year in July, the village of Montaner and its castle host the Médiévales, a two-day festival with street entertainment, a craft market, falconry and riding displays, and fire eaters...

Ideally located halfway between the sea and the mountains, at the heart of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the historic capital of Béarn invites you to discover its many treasures!

An emblematic monument of the city, Pau Castle was in turn a fortress of the Viscounts of Béarn, a castle fort under Gaston Phoebus and a royal residence in the Renaissance. It is famous for being the birthplace of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre, in 1553. Now converted into a national museum, this majestic building is a listed Historic Monument and houses an impressive collection of Flanders and Gobelins tapestries from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries! The prestigious "room of a hundred covers" and its immense oak table, the King's chamber and his tortoiseshell crib, and the apartment of the Empress Eugenie, with its delicate Sèvres porcelain, turn a visit here into an unforgettable journey through time. Pau Castle also has a landscaped park with wonderful Renaissance gardens, ideal for a leisurely stroll... A haven of tranquillity where you can enjoy a short break before continuing with your exploration of the medieval side streets in the historic city centre.

Then head to the lovely Beaumont Park with its beautiful trees, and be sure to go via the unmissable Boulevard des Pyrénées. A real panoramic balcony, this 1,800 metre-long walk offers wonderful views of the Pyrenees mountaintops in fine weather...Splendid!

Located between Arreau and Bagnères-de-Bigorre and reaching an altitude of 1,489 metres at its peak, Aspin pass is a firm favourite with cycling fans and offers stunning 360° views of the surrounding mountains.

A popular pasture area in Ossau situated at 860 metres in altitude above Bilhères, the Bénou Plateau enchants lovers of the countryside with its green meadows surrounded by mountains, many barns, and herds of cattle, sheep and horses roaming freely. A wonderful place that is particularly suited to hiking, horse-riding and mountain biking.

At the edge of the plateau, be sure to stop at the charming chapel of Houndas...

Exceptionally rich in flora and fauna, the Pyrenees National Park, with a surface area of ​​45,707 hectares in the "heart" area and 206,352 hectares in the "optimum area of adhesion", extends to the south-west of Hautes-Pyrénées and to the south-east of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. A paradise for walking fans, the Pyrenees National Park features a vast network of hiking trails. This wild and unspoiled area is home to the highest summits of the French Pyrenees and no fewer than 230 high-altitude lakes!

To find out more about this protected natural area, the Park's visitor centres (Maisons du Parc) located in Arrens-Marsous, Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Gavarnie, Saint-Lary-Soulan in the Hautes-Pyrénées, and Etsaut and Laruns in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, have a wealth of information available for visitors and organise permanent and temporary exhibitions relating to the mountains throughout the year.

In Pyrénées-Atlantiques, discover the heritage of the Béarn mountains. The upper parts of the Aspe and Ossau valleys are home to a magnificent natural environment inhabited by marmots, chamois, golden eagles and peregrine falcons... An ideal destination for walking along the many trails, or fishing in the abundant waters of the lakes and streams of Upper Béam. Two sites located on the French-Spanish border are particularly worth visiting: the Somport Pass with its panoramic view of the Pyrenean peaks; and the Pourtalet Pass with its superb views of the iconic Pic du Midi d'Ossau!

The small town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, located at the edge of the Aspe and Ossau valleys in Béarn, has a remarkable architectural heritage. This is evidenced by the Cathedral of St Mary, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Way of St James, and its beautiful carved Romanesque doorway dating from the 12th century. The treasure, consisting of gold objects, woodwork and liturgical vestments, and the Baroque organ case also feature among the attractions of the building.

Also worth a look is the medieval district of Sainte-Croix with picturesque old houses and the charming Promenade Bellevue: as the name meaning "beautiful view" suggests, this walk offers a lovely panoramic view of the town skyline and the Pyrenees!

Perched atop a promontory, the Béarn town of Lescar is famous for its Cathedral of Our Lady. The necropolis of the Kings of Navarre, this great monument of the 12th century retains a remarkable Romanesque chevet that you can admire from the cemetery.

Inside the building, beautiful carved capitals, a splendid 12th-century Romanesque mosaic illustrated with hunting scenes, and a 17th-century mural depicting the Coronation of the Virgin, are all artistic treasures to discover during your visit...

Located in the Béarn Pyrenees, not far from the Spanish border, the magnificent Aspe Valley enchants all nature-lovers and hiking fans as well as rural heritage enthusiasts.

Surrounded by high peaks, this verdant valley is dotted with villages like Lourdios-Ichère, Borce, Sarrance and Lescun. The latter, perched above the Aspe Valley, definitely deserves a visit, if only for its exceptional natural environment: a cirque of magnificent mountains where the outlines of majestic dolomitic peaks loom in the distance...

An unmissable destination for anyone wishing to learn about the history and traditions of the valley, the Aspe Valley eco-museum has four visitor attractions: "A village tells its story" in Lourdios-Ichère; "Our Lady of the Stone" in Sarrance; "Farmhouse cheese" in Accous and "A stop on the Way of St James" in Borce.

Nestling in the heart of the Bigorre area between Col d'Aspin and Col Peyresourde mountain passes at the confluence of the Neste d'Aure and Neste du Louron rivers, the pleasant village of Arreau forms a beautiful group of buildings: period homes like the Maison des Lys and Château des Nestes, the covered market and pretty old slate-roofed houses.

Not to be missed: the local farmers' market that takes places every Thursday morning in the covered market.

Located at the heart of the Pyrenees mountains, the lovely village of Saint-Lary-Soulan is both a spa and a ski resort – a dream destination for all those wishing to combine health treatments and outdoor sports. Among the activities on offer are downhill and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter, and hiking, mountain-biking and horse-riding in summer.

The unspoiled and lush Louron valley also boasts a rich architectural heritage with a string of picturesque villages and Romanesque churches, particularly those in Cazaux-Fréchet, Mont and Vielle-Louron, which contain magnificent wall paintings.

In the heart of this high Pyrenean valley surrounded by mountains stands Génos-Loudenvielle lake, a huge expanse of water offering various leisure activities, including walking around the footpath that encircles the lake.

Only accessible by hikers, Néouvielle Nature Reserve is a wild and protected area adjoining the Pyrenees National Park. Its highest point is Pic Long peak, located 3,192 metres above sea level. Dotted with around 100 high-altitude lakes, this granite mountain area is sheer heaven for fans of walking and unspoiled scenery. Sites worth seeing on a hike include Pic de Néouvielle peak and Orédon, Oule, Aumar and Aubert lakes.