Cirque du Lys

Mountain cirque Gavarnie-Gèdre, Occitanie, France

What to expect

The Cirque de Gavarnie, also known as Cirque du Lys, is a vast cirque in the central Pyrenees, in southwestern France. It is a natural amphitheater with enormous size and horseshoe shape, surrounded by rock walls up to 1,500 meters above the floor. The cirque features several large meltwater falls, including the Gavarnie Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Europe. The area is home to rare plants and animals, such as martagon lilies, saxifraga, and Pyrenean chamois. The cirque was formed by glacial erosion and is part of the Pyrénées National Park and the Pyrénées – Mont Perdu World Heritage Site. Visitors can enjoy hiking and exploring the cirque and its surroundings, with several accessible paths and stunning views

Plan your family visit to the Cirque du Lys with these blog insights 👇

Cirque du Lys: a family hike

This family's experience:

Activities: We hiked to the Cirque du Lys, also known as Cirque d’Erès Lits, at 1596 m altitude. We followed the river Bat Barrada and saw many isards

Highlights: The kids enjoyed playing by the river while we had a picnic. We appreciated the peaceful and wild landscape ✨

Pyrenees hikes with the family: 14 most beautiful walks

This family's experience:

Activities: We walked towards the cirque du Lys, a less frequented area of the Pyrenees, with a beautiful view of the mountains

Highlights: The family enjoyed the easy walk and the beautiful view, and saw many isards ✨