HautesPyrénées

Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in the Occitanie region of southwest France. It takes its name from the Pyrenees mountain range and has Tarbes as its prefecture. The department is numbered 65 and is divided into two arrondissements, Tarbes and Argelès-Gazost. Its major towns include Tarbes, Lourdes, and Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

Geographically, Hautes-Pyrénées spans a variety of landscapes, from low valleys to high peaks in the central Pyrenees. It borders Pyrénées-Atlantiques to the west, Gers to the north, Haute-Garonne to the northeast, Ariège to the east, and Spain to the south. The area includes parts of the Pyrenees National Park and is known for scenery such as the Cirque de Gavarnie and the higher alpine terrain around Barèges and La Mongie, which host ski resorts and mountain activities. The Pic du Midi Observatory is a notable scientific site within the department.

History and population form a core part of its profile. Hautes-Pyrénées was created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. The population is around 230,000, with Tarbes serving as the economic center and Lourdes as a major international pilgrimage site. The department also contains smaller towns with thermal baths and historic architecture, reflecting a blend of rural and mountain communities.

Economy and culture center on tourism, agriculture, and light industry. Tourism is driven by religious pilgrimage to Lourdes and winter sports in the high Pyrenees, as well as mountain hiking and cultural tourism in towns like Lourdes and Tarbes. The department is served by the A64 autoroute, the Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport, and rail connections to Toulouse and Paris, supporting both local life and visitor access.