Cirque de Gavarnie
Gavarnie, France
A vast rock amphitheatre with one of Europe’s tallest waterfalls. A flat path from the village reaches its foot.
The Cirque de Gavarnie is a glacial cirque in the Pyrenees: about 800 m wide at the bottom and roughly 3,000 m wide at the rim, with rock walls rising up to 1,500 m above the valley floor. The waterfall drops about 422 m in steps and is among the highest in Europe. The cirque has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Pyrénées – Mont Perdu” since 1997.
Cars are not allowed into the village centre; park in the car parks by the tourist office (there is a fee; check the current rate, as of October 2026). From there a well-marked, wide path climbs gently alongside the Gave de Gavarnie. After about 1.5 hours you reach the Hôtel du Cirque et de la Cascade, where the cirque opens up. The classic circuit is around 7 km long and takes about 3 hours (319 m of ascent). The path to the foot of the waterfall is narrower and steeper and adds over an hour.
- Nearest town
- Gavarnie, France
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 42.7350, -0.0100
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- La BergerieCampsite1 km from Cirque de GavarnieTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Le Pain de SucreCampsite3 km from Cirque de GavarnieTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Les TilleulsCampsite6 km from Cirque de Gavarnie · 50 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Le MouscaCampsite7 km from Cirque de GavarnieTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Camping San Nicolás de BujarueloCampsite9 km from Cirque de GavarnieTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping OrdesaCampsite13 km from Cirque de GavarnieTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Cirque de Gavarnie?
Cirque de Gavarnie is in Gavarnie, France, at GPS 42.7350, -0.0100. It is about 13 km from Torla-Ordesa.
Can you camp near Cirque de Gavarnie?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is La Bergerie, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 55 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Cirque de Gavarnie?
Cirque de Gavarnie is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie.
What is there to see near Cirque de Gavarnie?
Places worth a stop nearby: Ordesa valley (10 km), Cascada de Sorrosal (16 km), Pont d’Espagne (17 km) and Col du Tourmalet (23 km).
When is the best time to visit Cirque de Gavarnie?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)