Cirque du Litor, Natural rocky basin in Béost, France
The Cirque du Litor is a natural rocky basin in the high valley of the Ouzom, in the commune of Béost in the French Pyrenees. It sits at around 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) and is enclosed by steep limestone cliffs that curve around open summer pastures.
In the 19th century, travelers on the route linking Eaux-Bonnes and Argelès-Gazost gave the site its current name, struck by the round, funnel-shaped cliffs. Around the same time, a thermal road was carved through the rock, with tunnels cut directly into the cliff face, sections of which are still visible today.
The name 'Litor' comes from the Occitan word for avalanche, a reference to the steep couloirs that cut through the cliffs and are still visible today. In summer, local farmers drive their sheep and goats up to the high pastures, a seasonal practice that gives the site its living, working character.
The walk starts near Arbéost, with parking available along the D126 road, where it is important not to block access to pastures or cabins. In summer, keep a calm distance from livestock guardian dogs and do not approach the animals.
Despite the name, the Cirque du Litor is not a glacial cirque in the geological sense. The rounded humps and ridges scattered across the plateau are morainic deposits left by a glacier that once flowed through the valley below, not the basin itself.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
