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.

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.

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.

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!

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.