HAUTES-PYRéNéES

'Hautes-Pyrénées' (Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'') is a department in southwestern France.

Contents

History

Geography

Lourdes

See also

External links

History

Historically the department was part of Bigorre, a county at times independent but later part of Gascony province. Large parts of the area were held by the English after the Treaty of Brétigny, 1360. In the 16th century, it was part of the Huguenot domain of the monarchs of Navarre, brought to France by Henri IV. For its early history, see Bigorre and Gascony.

Geography

The Hautes-Pyrénées is a mountainous agricultural landscape of villages, farms, fields, upland pastures and winding mountain roads. On the border between France and Spain, the department is centered on the peak of Mont Perdu.
See also: Pyrenees

Lourdes

One of the most famous towns in this department is Lourdes. Following the Apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette, The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes has developed into a major tourist destination as a Marian city. Today Lourdes has a population of some 17,000 inhabitants but is able to take in some 5,000,000 pilgrims and tourists every season. Lourdes has the second greatest number of hotels in France after Paris with some 270 establishments.

See also

★ Cantons of the Hautes-Pyrénées department

★ Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department

★ Arrondissements of the Hautes-Pyrénées department

External links

★ Tourism & culture in Hautes-Pyrenees

★ General Council of Hautes-Pyrénées website

★ Prefecture website