Guidebooks and Maps for Hiking in the Pyrenees

How to Find Information for Trekking Routes Across the Pyrenees

Mar 10, 2009 Karen Berger

A variety of maps and guidebooks, some in English, help hikers plan a hike in the Pyrenees. Hikers can order this information, or find it in shops along the route.

Hikers in the Pyrenees have a large selection of maps and guidebooks, including topographic maps (both French and Spanish) at various scales, and the French “topoguides,” which contain both guidebook information and maps. A few guides are available in English. These information resources facilitate planning a hike of the major Pyrenees trekking routes.

Maps for Hiking in the Pyrenees

• The French serie verte (green series) maps. These 1:100,000 scale maps are adequate for the well-marked GR-10. The four maps which cover the Pyrenees are numbers 69 (Pau Bayonne), 70 (Pau Bagnhres de Luchon), 71 (St. Gaudens Andorre) and 72 (Biziers Perpignan). While these maps focus on the French side of the Pyrenees, they do overlap the Spanish border, so they may also be useful for some portions of the HRP (High Route of the Pyernees) and the GR-11 (on the Spanish side of the border).
• The French serie bleu (blue series) maps. These 1:25,000 scale maps are excellent for hikers planning to travel cross country, or those tackling the HRP.
• Spanish maps are available, but are more difficult to find. Some of the choices include the Mapa Guia series, which covers many of the major parks (1:50,0000) , the 1:10,000 series of Parques Naturales de Andalucía maps, and the The Institut Cartografic Catalunya, which has an excellent website and offers 1:50,000 maps of Catalonia. The entire country is covered by 1:50,000 maps by the Cartografía Militar de España.

Maps are widely available in larger French and Spanish towns along the route, especially in outfitting stores, or at Au Vieux Campeur, a large French outfitter on the Rue des Ecoles in Paris.

Guidebooks for Hiking in the Pyrenees

Guidebooks include the French topoguides, which contain both maps and written descriptions (in French) for the Grande Randonnee routes.

In addition, the following guides are available:

• Pryenees High Level Route by Georges Veron, West Col Publications (ISBN: 0906227488). Veron offers an ambitious 45 day-schedule but 50 - 55 days would be more practical. The HRP runs from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.

• La Senda: Grande traversée des Pyrénées espagnoles par le GR11, by Jean-François Rodriguez. (ISBN:2.905521.43.0 - in French, Spanish or Catalan; an English edition is planned) This guide describes the route on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees (los Pireneos in Spanish). The guide includes information about resupply possibilities.
• The Pyrenean Trail: GR10, by Alan Castle, Cicerone Press (ISBN: 1852842458). A description of the GR-10, which stays wholly in France.

France on Foot is an English language website that includes listings of English-language materials, along with links to many suppliers and hiking organizations.

Another source of information and maps is the Centre D'Information Sentiers et Randonnies, (Information Center for Trails and Treks) 64 Rue de Gergovie, 75014, Paris. Telephone (1) 45.45.31.02.

Resources for Hiking in Europe

The copyright of the article Guidebooks and Maps for Hiking in the Pyrenees in Backpacking, Hiking & Camping is owned by Karen Berger. Permission to republish Guidebooks and Maps for Hiking in the Pyrenees in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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