The Cirque de Garvanie/Nature's Amphitheater
- michaelvenckus
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
July 20 2026
If you ever get to the French Pyrenees there is one place to visit that is a must; The Cirque de Garvanie. Located in the commune of Garvanie there have been many descriptions over the years but Victor Hugo described it best as "the Colosseum of nature". The cirque was Placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 and is the gem of the Pyrenees.
The best way to reach the amphitheater is to pick one of the several hikes that start in the Garvanie Village. The hike we choose is about three miles to the Hotel du Cirque (the full out & back was close to eight miles) which gives you the full view of the horseshoe shaped amphitheater and its many waterfalls
including the Grand Cascade which is the highest waterfall in France. We chose to hike deeper (and steeper) into the space to get a birds eye view of the huge cascade and feel its cooling effect after a steep scramble.
To appreciate the true enormity of the cirque I highly recommend that you push your hike deep into the center. While it is not the easiest of treks we saw people of all ages, young and old, making the effort. Once you reach the center you will be in awe of what the glaciers, water, sun, snow and wind have created in the last several million years. This hike truly felt like a pilgrimage to one of nature's most beautiful bounties.
Cirque de Garvanie is about a one hour drive from Cauterets in the French Pyrenees. The Garvanie Village is the starting point and has plenty of parking. The village is usually quite busy and there is an information center to help your plan your day. There are also many shops and restaurants for you to grab food for a picnic or have lunch (or Glace!) after your hike.
