guide
A spa town since Roman times, a ski resort in winter and the gateway to the Pyrenees National Park in summer, Cauterets is one of the most complete mountain destinations in the Hautes-Pyrénées. Its jewel, the Pont d’Espagne, draws hikers every year who come to admire its waterfalls and the Lac de Gaube.
Things to do in Cauterets, how to plan your visit to the Pont d’Espagne, where to relax and where to stay: here is our guide to a successful stay, in summer or winter.
| Information | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Where? | Hautes-Pyrénées, about 30 minutes from Argelès-Gazost and an hour from Lourdes |
| Highlight | The Pont d’Espagne, its waterfalls and the Lac de Gaube |
| Pont d’Espagne cable cars | From mid-May to the end of September |
| Relaxation | Thermal baths and the Bains du Rocher spa |
| Speciality | The berlingots of Cauterets |
| Winter | Skiing at the Cirque du Lys and cross-country skiing at the Pont d’Espagne |
About ten kilometres above the village, the Pont d’Espagne is a protected site at the heart of the Pyrenees National Park. The Gave tumbles down a series of spectacular waterfalls beneath an old stone bridge that once served as a crossing into Spain. Easy paths follow the falls through the mountain pines.
The site is open all year round. You can drive up to the paid car park at Puntas, or take the shuttle from Cauterets. The cable cars run from mid-May to the end of September and save time on the way to the Lac de Gaube, with a pass that includes parking.
Above the Pont d’Espagne, the Lac de Gaube mirrors the north face of the Vignemale, the highest peak in the French Pyrenees. It takes just over an hour on foot from the Pont d’Espagne, or less with the cable car and chairlift. It is one of the most famous walks in the Pyrenees: set off early in the morning to enjoy the lake in peace.
Cauterets is a paradise for walkers. Among the great classics:
Check the weather before you set off: in the mountains, summer storms come on fast.
The warm, sulphurous waters of Cauterets have been renowned since Roman times. The village has kept its beautiful Belle Époque spa buildings, and the Bains du Rocher spa offers indoor and outdoor pools, a jacuzzi and a hammam: the perfect complement to a day of hiking or skiing.
You cannot leave the village without tasting the berlingots, small boiled-sugar sweets stretched by hand, a local speciality since the 19th century. Several confectioners in the centre still make them in front of visitors.
In winter, the Cirque du Lys ski area, reached by cable car from the village, welcomes skiers and snowboarders, while the Pont d’Espagne becomes one of the most beautiful cross-country skiing and snowshoeing spots in the Pyrenees. In summer, the Lys cable car reopens in July and August for walkers.
The Argelès-Gazost valley is the ideal base for exploring Cauterets, Gavarnie and Lourdes. At Lau-Balagnas, half an hour from Cauterets, the camping du Lavedan offers a setting at the foot of the mountains, with a water area, for exploring a new valley every day. Discover our other luxury campsites in the Hautes-Pyrénées and our ideas for visiting the Hautes-Pyrénées.
Cauterets has everything you expect from a mountain stay: an exceptional natural site with the Pont d’Espagne and the Lac de Gaube, walks for every level, the spa to recharge and a village full of charm. Come in June or September to enjoy the trails in peace, and plan at least two days on site.
