The Pyrenees is one of several important mountain ranges in Europe, which is the natural border between Spain and France, and also in the heart of the Pyrenees Orientales contains the small principality of Andorra.

The mountain range separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe with a length of about 430 km from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.

Pyrenees Coast-to-Coast I Route stage 3°

I pedaled through all four zones of the Pyrenees, which from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean are called Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

During the crossing I really enjoyed the breathtaking views of the entire Pyrenees passing through an extraordinary diversity of landscapes, very beautiful mountain views and cultures in each territory.

There are many variants to cross from through the French Pyrenees and in the past on another cycling trip I had already climbed some passes of the Pyrenees such as Col de la Perche  located at 1,581 m of altitude (Pyrénées-Orientales) and many others in Europe such as the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy bordering Switzerland at an elevation of 2,757 m.

Of course I was not afraid to climb the highest and most spectacular peaks of the legendary passes of the Tour de France it was not my purpose of the trip it was just for me to cross and continue the journey that I had set out that was cycling the entire Iberian Peninsula.

So I crossed the Pyrenees, exactly where I wanted to be and in my own way, I had chosen a variety of roads, including part (V81 Pyrenean Piedmont Plain Véloroute that covers part of the Pyrenees) giving me the opportunity to see another perspective of the Pyrenees that is not immersed in cycling in high mountain activities but it was not flat, there were challenging places and of course the climbs and descents!

Route description

After leaving behind a long and wide sandy beach located in the coastal town of Le Barcarès bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the slopes of the Pyrénées Orientales passing then from the Agly rivers, which flows into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and from this point I gradually head into the foothills of the French Pyrenees passing by Lourdes is nestled in the heart of the French Pyrenees is a town of medieval origin, that I had already seen on another cycling trip but since it was on my route I revisited it.

After leaving behind a long and wide sandy beach located in the coastal town of Le Barcarès bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the slopes of the Pyrénées Orientales passing then from the Agly rivers, which flows into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

And from this point radually the road headed uphill passing by the localities of Cases-de-Pène, the charming village of Estangel, the pretty village in the valley of Maury until reaching the village of Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, Puilaures, Col de Campérié (511 metres high), the small village of Saint-Martin-Lys is nestled between the magnificent gorges of Pierre-Lys and renowned for a great road with incrivle scenery.

After passing the town of Quillan is situated in the south of the Aude department and south of Carcassonne the route is decidedly more challenging tackling a climb with a length of 5 kilometres. to the Col du Portel (601 m) in the Ariège region of the Pyrenees. Then I passed through Puvert, Belesta, Villeneuve-d'Olmes, Laroque-d'Olmes, Saint Paul-de-Jarre.

And then  the location of and from Foix I cycled up on The Col del Bouich is a nice road pass (599 m), Saint-Martin-de-Caralp, La Bastide-de-Sérou, the small village of Rimount and finally is a charming mountain town of Saint -Girons is the is the capital of Couserans and is surrounded with stunning landscapes by a green landscape, between mountains and valleys.

Then continuing on the cycle path passing through Mane, Labarthe-Inard, Estancarbon, Saint Gardens, Montrejeau, Capver, the interesting county side of the municipalities of Benqué-Molère, Castillon-la-Bataille, Montgaillard, Escoubès and finally Lourdes

Lourdes is a pilgrimage town in southwestern France. Even for the non-religious, the town is well worth a wander and immersed in a beautiful natural setting.

Leaving Lourdes continues the route with steep hills lead into Pau, known as the "Capital of the Tour de France" to Orthez and cycling alongside the Adour river  on the Véloroute du Piémont Pyrénéen (V81) passando poi da the lovely waterside medieval city of Bayonne at the starting point for the Basque coast, where the Adour river meets flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The final stage is headed towards the Atlantic coast I cycled at edge the Parc écologique Izadia is an ecology park and is nestled between the coast and the mouth of the Adour, in Anglet, continuing on the coast until passing through Biarritz, Bidart, Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye with its feet in the Atlantic Ocean located  in the furthest point in the South West of France.