Gavarnie
Gavarnie is a glacial amphitheater in the central Pyrenees, defined by a massive limestone crest forming the southern border with Spain. Its topography is dominated by the Cirque de Gavarnie, a semicircular rock wall rising 1,500 meters, anchored by the 3,000-meter Mont Perdu to the southeast. Geologically, the area sits on a Variscan crystalline base with sedimentary layers uplifted by the collision of the Iberian and European plates. Glacial erosion during the Quaternary period carved the sheer U-shaped valley, resulting in the massive southern ramparts that feed the region’s prominent waterfall.
Historically a medieval transit point for pilgrims heading south to the Port de Boucharo, Gavarnie later became a 19th-century hub for scientific exploration. For cyclists, the layout consists of a terminal mountain route ascending from the north through Gèdre, extending past the village toward the Col de Tentes to the west. While the Tour de France has traditionally utilized the Col du Tourmalet to the northeast, the 2026 edition features Stage 6 finishing at Gavarnie-Gèdre, marking the primary inclusion of this specific ascent in Grand Tour history.
Region: Occitanie
City: Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Distance: 16.93 km
Elevation Gain: 627 m
Elevation Loss: 9 m
Difficulty: 347 (Easy)
FIETS Index: 2.26 FIETS
Avg Grade: 3.65 %
Max cat climb: 2
Min elevation: 769 m
Max elevation: 1386 m
Ride Category: Climb