Lutour and Cerisey waterfalls

On the way to the beautiful Pont d'Espagne, a succession of waterfalls and torrents vibrate as a symbol of life and splendour; without a doubt, quite a spectacle. If you stop at a place called La Raillère (2.5 km after Cauterets), and after a short climb, following the footbridge at the foot of the waterfall, you will see the impressive Lutour waterfall in the middle of the forest. Then, if you continue along the route, you will see the Cerisey waterfall.

The Cerisey waterfall is located near the road leading to the bridge of the Spanish town of Cauterets in the Hautes-Pyrénées, a favourite place for hikers because of the wonderful waterfalls to be seen in the area.

The Lutour Valley or Estom Valley (in French: Vallée du Lutour), where these spectacular waterfalls are located, is a valley situated in the central part of the French side of the Pyrenees in the Hautes-Pyrénées department. It is approximately 10 km long and 4 km wide on average.

Natural environment surrounding the Lutour and Cerisey Waterfalls

In the highest part of the Lutour valley (the southern part) there are a series of glacial lakes such as Lake Estom, at an altitude of 1,804 metres. The lowest part of the valley is very close to the tourist town of Cauterets, at an altitude of 1,000 metres. The peaks that make up the Estom valley reach an average altitude of 2,800 metres.

The Lutour River flows from south to north along the valley floor, giving rise to beautiful waterfalls and rapids. In terms of flora, there are extensive forests of Scots pine and spruce. Above an altitude of 2,000 metres, alpine meadows predominate.

How to get to Lutour and Cerisey Waterfalls

To the west of the Lutour valley is the Vignemale valley and to the east is the Gavarnie valley. To access the area, you must first go to the municipality of Cauterets and then take a road that takes you to the restaurant and hotel located in the lowest part of the valley. On the shores of Lake Estom you will find a mountain refuge and a restaurant with magnificent views of the lake and the mountains.

Spring and early summer are the best times of the year to marvel at the waterfalls and majestic lakes in a region that offers a variety of excursions and walks.

In 1843, the French poet Victor Hugo, on entering these parts on horseback, said only: "This valley is peaceful, the escarpment is silent. The wind is silent. Suddenly, in a bend of the mountain, a torrent appears. It is the sound of fighting and it looks like it".

The Lutour and Cerisey waterfalls are definitely a sample of the beauty of the Lutour valley, considered to be the deepest in the Pyrenees. Amidst dense forests of white spruce, the Lutour and Cerisey waterfalls make their presence felt with the sound of their falling waters and the spectacle of their creation in the middle of the Pyrenees Natural Park. It is well worth seeing them and taking photographs of them with the retina, never to be forgotten.