In the Pyrénées National Park, the sky is their garden

The Pyrenees are not nicknamed the "Birds-of-Prey Mountains " for nothing! Birdwatching enthusiasts: nothing much more to do other than look up to see the lords of the sky. Bearded Vultures, Golden Eagles, Egyptian Vultures, no bird is too rare to have taken up residence in the naturally protected heights of the Pyrénées National Park. Come and see for yourself!

The Pyrenees are not nicknamed the "Birds-of-Prey Mountains " for nothing! Birdwatching enthusiasts: nothing much more to do other than look up to see the lords of the sky. Bearded Vultures, Golden Eagles, Egyptian Vultures, no bird is too rare to have taken up residence in the naturally protected heights of the Pyrénées National Park. Come and see for yourself!

You will encounter it in the high mountains, on the cliffs and rock faces, unless you come across the Egyptian Vulture... This migratory bird only lives in France from March to September and nests in the rock faces of medium mountain ranges.

Griffon Vultures of Aste-Béon

Aste-Béon cliffs, a remarkable landscape in itself, are home to the oldest French colony of Griffon Vultures. This is yet another rare bird that has come close to extinction. Today it benefits from the protection offered by the Ossau National Nature Reserve. How could we forget the majestic Golden Eagle? It’s not unusual to see it soaring across the skies of the Pyrénées National Park, making use of the rising thermals. No denying the major bonus for experienced birdwatchers of being able to complete their discovery with sightings of the Wood Grouse and Ptarmigan.

Vautours Cliff (Vultures’ Cliff): an open-air living museum

Vautours Cliff is one of the most original museographic sites. Cameras placed close to nests let you see Griffon and Egyptian Vultures on a giant live screen without disturbing them. Nuptial displays in January, young birds taking flight in July, and throughout the year the daily life of hundreds of pairs living on these cliffs, from sharing prey to living in the nest with a new-born baby... A very well-designed trail, both educational and entertaining, to discover these fascinating birds of prey.

Watching migration from the Soulor Pass

Cycling enthusiasts know it from the Tour de France. For birds, it is above all a very important migration flyway. This makes it a great place to see them thanks to two freely accessible nature trails, one on birds of prey and the other on passerines. At the Soulor Pass, it is not unusual to have the opportunity to exchange with birdwatching enthusiasts of the association OCL (Oiseaux Cols Libres) who meet every year to track raptor migration.

In the Aspe Valley: journey through the past on the Chemin de la Mâture

In the 17th century in the Aspe Valley, the Chemin de la Mâture (literally Mast Path), a 1200-metre-long trail carved into rock was dug into the cliffside. In the past, this path was used to transport fir tree trunks felled to be used as masts for French royal navy vessels. It forms a deep gash 4 metres high and 4 metres wide running right across the cliff. Overhanging the Gorges of Enfer (Gorges of Hell) by 200 metres, the Chemin de la Mâture is an ideal place to spot birds of prey in flight or nesting in the cliffs.