Néouvielle massif, lakes and lagoons in magnificent granite landscapes

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Réserve du Néouvielle lac d'Oredon / Photo: PACI LAETITIA [CC-BY-SA-3.0] Wikimedia Commons
Réserve du Néouvielle lac d'Oredon / Photo: PACI LAETITIA [CC-BY-SA-3.0] Wikimedia Commons

To disconnect from the city, its traffic and its stress for a few days, there is nothing more comforting than a visit to nature, the Néouvielle National Nature Reserve is waiting for you. This unique reserve is located in France (Midi Pyrenees Region and close to Bielsa), so if one of your dreams is to get to know the alpine fauna surrounded by beautiful landscapes, you can't miss this natural wonder that holds the best adventures.

Routes

Visit many lakes and ponds in magnificent granite landscapes and there is the opportunity to climb several peaks, including the Pic du Midi de Bigorre and the Pic de Bastan.

READ ALSO: Pic de Neouvielle (3,091m). Circular route.

  • Barèges - Glère Hut
  • Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) - Lac dets Coubous
  • Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) - Cabane d'Aygues-Cluses
  • Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) - Col de Madamète - Pic de Madamète - Lac dets Coubous - Pont de la Gaubie
  • Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) - Col de Madamète - Chalet-Hôtel de l'Oule
  • Barèges (Pont de la Gaubie) - Hourquette Nère - Bastan Hut
  • Chalet-Hôtel de l'Oule - Bastan Hut
  • Artigues (Carretera del Col du Tourmalet) - Cloutou Bell Hut
  • Vallée de Couplan - Chalet-Hôtel de l'Oule
  • Excursion to Lac de l'Oule
  • Excursion to Lac d'Aumar
  • Tour of the Néouvielle lakes
  • Pic de Neouvielle (3,091m). Circular route.

The National Nature Reserve of Néouvielle

This natural territory has been protected since 1936 and covers an area of approximately 2100 hectares. It is a wonderful area that is definitely worth a visit. The landscape is completely sculpted by glaciers, which provide a varied habitat for different animals and flora, which develops in the middle of alpine meadows, pine forests, crystal clear waters and more than 80 blue water lakes.

How to get to the Néouvielle National Nature Reserve?

Lac d'Aumar and Lac d'Aubert, Réserve Naturelle Nationale du Néouvielle / Photo: Romaric Juvanon [CC-BY-SA-4.0] Wikimedia Commons
Lac d'Aumar and Lac d'Aubert, Réserve Naturelle Nationale du Néouvielle / Photo: Romaric Juvanon [CC-BY-SA-4.0] Wikimedia Commons

To reach the starting point of the excursion on the Néouvielle National Nature Reserve From Bielsa, take the A-138 regional road towards France through the Bielsa-Aragnouet tunnel. After crossing the tunnel, a descent of about 10 km begins until you reach the village of Fabian. At this point there is a signposted turn-off to the Neouvielle Nature Reserve, then after about 11 km you will come across a narrow road until you reach the Lac d'Oredon pay car park.

Later, leaving Lourdes, head towards Bagnères de Bigorre, where you can enjoy a beautiful spa town, and then continue through the Campan Valley towards the famous Aspin Pass, a place through which the Tour de France usually passes, so it has tourist stops that host a large number of tourists.

Continuing along the same route at the foot of the Aspin, the small resort of Payolle, with its pine forests and lake with stunning views of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, provides a setting reminiscent of the mountain range of north-eastern France.

Then you can go down in the direction of Arreauwhich is a small town situated at the crossroads of the Aure and Louron Valleys where you can end the route and enjoy this small village and then return or spend the night.

A good place for spotting alpine wildlife

The mix of habitats in the Néouvielle nature reserve, with altitudes of over 2,500 metres and areas full of blueberry trees, pines and shrubs, make this a suitable place for all alpine fauna to inhabit. This magical area, with pine trees up to 500 years old and the highest mountain pines in Europe, makes this a truly special place and one that should be preserved for its value.

These pines also provide a unique wild scent, evoking the best French fragrances and generating an aromatherapy effect enjoyed by all visitors.

2000 hectares of dreams

The Néouvielle National Nature Reserve You will fall in love with its glacier-sculpted landscapes and its paradise of peaks, meadows and crystal-clear waters.

In this magical place there are more than 80 lakes, including the lakes of Orédon, Oule, Aubert and Omar, these places have a lot to teach you, here you have a lot to discover, recharge yourself with the energy of nature in the national nature reserve of Néouvielle.