Hautes-Pyrénées

The territory of Hautes-Pyrénees extends from the Pyrenean mountains in the south to agricultural plains in the north, with peaks reaching 3,298 meters at Vignemale.

The department emerged on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution, incorporating territories from the former province of Gascony under the leadership of Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac.

The department contains both Tarbes, its administrative center, and Lourdes, a major Catholic pilgrimage destination that receives millions of visitors annually seeking spiritual experiences.

Three arrondissements divide the department - Argeles-Gazost, Bagneres-de-Bigorre, and Tarbes - encompassing 469 communes and offering various thermal spa treatments throughout the territory.

The Col du Tourmalet pass, located within the department, represents the highest paved mountain pass in the French Pyrenees and features regularly in Tour de France competitions.

Location: Occitania

Inception: March 4, 1790

Capital city: Tarbes

Shares border with: Gers, Haute-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Huesca Province

Website: https://hautes-pyrenees.gouv.fr

GPS coordinates: 43.23333,0.06806

Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:19