legends
of the Pyrenees

Legend has it that after his return from Spain, the knight Roland, nephew of Charlemagne, and his men are attacked by surprise by the Saracens while they try to join the Cirque de Gavarnie near Monte Perdido. Stuck between the peak of Taillon and the summit of Casque, they fought valiantly for several days.

Seriously injured, Roland decides to break his legendary sword Durandal, rather than leaving it to its enemies. Despite his efforts, the sword remains intact, but Roland's powerful blows cause a huge gap to open in the cliff, thus breaking the mountain herself ! 

Discover the lakeEstaing, a glacial lake accessible by car, at 1 meters above sea level, in the Val d'Azun. The time of a easy ride, explore the shores of the lake passing through green meadows and cool under the trees. Contemplate them summits mountains reflected in the waters of a deep blue and soak up the tranquility of this Pyrenean jewel. 

Legend has it that this lake was once inhabited by fairies, bewitched women condemned to reside there.

To be freed from their fate, they had to be proposed to by a fasting man who would hear their song at the bottom of the lake. One day, returning from Spain, Abbadie de Sireix, heard a fairy sing and married her. She offered him wealth and descendants on the condition that he never call her “crazy”. But the day Abbadie called her crazy for reaping the harvest in a hurry, she disappeared and returned to the bottom of the lake. She promised to watch over their children and their descendants. Today, they say that Darne Abbadie is there still present. If you remain silent, perhaps you will hear the song of the fairies...

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