Both grandiose and intimate, the Pont d’Espagne, this “Little Canada”

In the heart of the National Park, classified as a Grand Site of Occitanie, the Pont d'Espagne is among the most beautiful natural sites in the Pyrenees.

Bathed in sunlight in summer, crystalline and hushed in winter, punctuated by cascading waterfalls and sparkling streams, nestled among ancient pines and polished rocks, it offers a spectacle that is both invigorating and restful, a haven of coolness where it's a pleasure to relax and contemplate.

Chalet La Source wouldn't be complete without spending at least a day there!

Getting to Pont d'Espagne from Le Chalet La Source

The Pont d'Espagne is accessible in just a few minutes by road, either by car to the Puntas car park (fee applies), or by shuttle bus from the centre of Cauterets (timetable available at the Tourist Office).

Those feeling more energetic can hike from Chalet La Source , taking the Chemin Demontzey to La Raillère and then following the famous Chemin des Cascades . This is a beautiful two-hour hike through the woods, punctuated by six magnificent waterfalls.

In any case, once you pass through the arch of the visitor center (altitude 1460m), there's no car: you'll need your hiking boots… or skis! The ascent to the Pont d'Espagne (altitude 1500m) is then via a paved path, punctuated by viewpoints. The elevation gain is minimal, just 40m from the parking lot.

The Pont d'Espagne, magnificent in summer as well as winter

Deep in the forest, you'll discover this magnificent granite arch, spanning the two banks of a rocky fault.
Nearly 20 meters below, the Gave de Marcadau and Gave de Gaube rivers converge here. In this steep-sided valley, the water rushes and churns. Thunderous sounds and spray are guaranteed, especially in spring during the thaw!
Lush in summer amidst the green undergrowth and the cascading waterfalls, this site becomes almost shrouded in winter; beneath the snow, the torrents become a mere murmur. A truly cinematic setting!

This bridge is a significant site in the history of the Pyrenees. Built in 1886, it is located on an old pastoral route between France and Spain; it was the last bridge to cross before reaching the border, hence its name.
Before the border was definitively drawn, it was the scene of numerous territorial disputes. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it became a place of trade , particularly for livestock – Marcadau means "market" in Occitan.

Hospitality and Waterfalls

Opposite the bridge is a large granite building, the Hôtellerie du Pont d'Espagne , built in 1933, when thermal tourism was well developed.

Surrounded by walkways and viewpoints , with its large sunny terrace, it is the ideal setting to refresh yourself, or have lunch after a good hike, and above all, to admire the rushing rivers and magnificent waterfalls.

Upstream from the bridge, the Gave de Gaube forms two beautiful waterfalls .

The closer, higher one is on the central branch; it plunges about ten meters, creating a beautiful sheet of white foam.

The second, smaller one, is further upstream on the right bank of the river; if the flow isn't too strong, it's possible to cross at this point to get closer to the main waterfall.

Victor Hugo, who was fond of this place, wrote in 1843: "Ah! You want torrents, Parisian! You want mountain streams, waterfalls, chasms, precipices, emotions! Well, here they are. Look, lean over here, here, and here again."

A must-see for a stroll: Lake Gaube

The first hiking option from Pont d'Espagne is to go up to Lac de Gaube (altitude 1725m) via the GR10.

It's a walk of about 1 hour and 15 minutes, along a path through the undergrowth that winds above the right bank of the Gave river.
Be aware that the first part is quite steep, and the stone steps may be a bit high for young children or the elderly.



Following the GR10 trail, Lake Gaube comes into view in the final meters of the ascent.

This immense glacial lake (1500 meters long by 300 meters wide) offers a spectacular view that truly rewards the efforts: turquoise and transparent water at the edge, then a deep blue, in which the mountain ranges on either side are reflected, with the Pic du Vignemale in the background.

An easy alternative for reaching the lake is to take the Gaube chairlift, located near the hotel in the direction of Clot. In 12 minutes, it drops you off at practically the same altitude as the lake, which you can then reach in a quarter of an hour via a path offering a beautiful view of the Gaube valley.

The Hostellerie du Lac de Gaube (open only in summer), with its beautiful terrace facing the lake, allows you to admire this magnificent landscape, while enjoying a meal or a refreshing drink.

From this point, it is possible to extend the hike to the Oulettes de Gaube refuge, at the foot of the Pic du Vignemale: it is a 3-hour round trip walk from Lac de Gaube.

A place of pilgrimage for Pyrenean enthusiasts, it allows you to admire the north face of Vignemale , Piton Carré, the Aiguille des Glaciers, Chausenque.

A geological curiosity can be seen during the ascent: large granite blocks are striated on their surface, as if by the roots or nerves of a living being. This is the result of natural erosion.

These granite blocks, traversed by veins of quartz, were exposed by the melting of the glacier that covered them more than 10,000 years ago.

Since then, the rain has relentlessly eroded the granite but left the quartz, which is much more resistant, intact, shaping, after millennia, protrusions on the surface of the rock.
 

Hiking in the Marcadau Valley

From the Pont d'Espagne, another route involves going up the Marcadau valley , an easy walk starting from the Clot plateau and crossing the Gave river several times, via wooden bridges with pretty names like Pont du Clot, Pont de Camou, Pont du Paradis...

A mountain refuge and bar, the Chalet du Clot, offers a pleasant stop on its panoramic terrace at the start of the plateau.

A path that climbs opposite the chalet leads to the Cayan plateau (1630m); the path then crosses the Gave river again at the Cayan and Estalounqué bridges.

It is a wide grassy valley where the Gave du Marcadau meanders, between the Gaube and Pic d'Arrouy massifs, closed at the bottom by a series of peaks that mark the border with Spain, including the Grande Fache which rises in the distance, at 3005m.

In summer, it's the perfect place for a picnic by the river, a nap under the pine trees, and watching the marmots. In winter, under the snow, this magnificent landscape becomes simply… magical.

In total, it takes about an hour of easy walking from the Pont d'Espagne. On the way back, at the Cayan Bridge, you can take another path – the path to Lake Paradise – and see some beautiful waterfalls along the way.

From the bottom of the Cayan plateau, it is possible to continue the hike with two possible routes: towards the Wallon-Marcadau refuge (1870m) in about 1 hour, or towards the two Embarrat Lakes (2078 and 2139m) in 1 hour 30 minutes.

More experienced hikers can also choose to cross into the other valley by reaching the Oulettes de Gaube from Wallon-Marcadau : this is a hike of about six hours, which follows part of the GR10.

The Pont d'Espagne in winter, the ideal Nordic space for families

In winter, the Pont d'Espagne site transforms into an "all-in-one" location for Nordic activities. It's the ideal space to learn or improve, whether you're practicing your favorite sport or just starting out.

The area offers 35 km of Nordic ski trails and 6 km of snowshoe trails , marked in the Marcadau valley, as well as 3 easy alpine ski runs on the slopes of Gaube, and a sledding and snow games near the Chalet du Clot.

It's a family paradise where relaxation is key. Here the slopes are gentle, there are no crazy surfers and no stress!

In the same day, you can enjoy cross-country skiing while the children sled at Chalet du Clot, then after lunch on the terrace, everyone can head out together for downhill skiing or snowshoeing... all in a setting of incomparable beauty.
What better plan could there be?

At the Pont d'Espagne ski area, you can take cross-country skiing lessons with Elan Nordique , as well as snowshoeing and beginner downhill skiing lessons .

 
Idyllic setting, pleasure of hiking and Nordic sports, and quite simply sharing delicious moments... this is why this magnificent site of Pont d'Espagne, a stone's throw from Chalet La Source , deserves much more than a small detour!