From the route to Lourdes to the loop along the old post road, Pierrefitte-Nestalas offers a choice of different trail profiles. There are also two historic landmarks at the churches of Saint-Pierre de Nestalas and Saint-Pierre de Pierrefitte. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the route type, preferred way of getting around, and cultural focus separately.

Trails for Different Plans

The Voie verte des Gaves runs for 18 kilometres between Pierrefitte-Nestalas and Lourdes. It is intended for pedestrians, cyclists, and roller skaters, and is also accessible to people with reduced mobility and to pushchairs. It thus connects two named places and can be used in different ways. When choosing a route, the endpoints, distance, and intended user groups are all relevant. If you would like to include a connection between two places in your stay, you can compare these details with your own plans. The Voie verte is therefore quite different from the Ancien chemin des facteurs, a moderately difficult circular hike with a different route format.

The Loop via Uz

The Ancien chemin des facteurs is a moderately difficult circular hike covering 5.5 kilometres. It follows the old post road to discover the small village of Uz and passes through oak groves. The loop therefore combines a clear route format with a historic connection and a named destination. It is considerably shorter than the Voie verte: 5.5 kilometres compared with 18 kilometres. When choosing, consider the route format, moderate difficulty, and Uz as a destination. If you are looking for a circular hike rather than a route connecting two places, you can weigh up these features together.

Cycling to Cauterets

Choosing a bicycle is a practical consideration for the route from Pierrefitte-Nestalas to Cauterets. Mountain bikes, trekking bikes, or gravel bikes are the preferred options; road bikes are not suitable. The Voie verte des Gaves, in turn, is intended for cyclists as well as pedestrians and roller skaters. The two routes therefore offer different options for cyclists: certain bicycle types are recommended for the ride to Cauterets, while the Voie verte is intended for several user groups. Which option suits your plans also depends on whether you are looking for a route with a specific bicycle recommendation or one intended for several types of use.

Churches and Romanesque Heritage

The Église Saint-Pierre de Nestalas dates from the 12th century. The Église Saint-Pierre de Pierrefitte houses the former Romanesque holy water stoup from Nestalas. These similarly named churches can be distinguished by these two details: the date refers to the church in Nestalas; the stoup from Nestalas is housed at Saint-Pierre de Pierrefitte. The age of a church building and a Romanesque object associated with Nestalas thus stand as separate cultural and historical points of interest.

Plan Your Stay

Discover more destinations: Rabastens-De-Bigorre, Vielle-Louron, Betbèze, Castelnau-Magnoac, Avezac-Prat-Lahitte, Lourdes, Pouzac, Argelès-Gazost

For the main travel overview: Hautes-Pyrénées.