Among vultures.

Powerful waterfalls, adrenaline kicks in suspension bridges: A hike in the Pyrenees in France and Spain is more spectacular than the low influx of tourists can be expected. Visitors often have large parts of the trail itself - or share it with a couple of bears and birds of prey.

 

Sainte-Engrace - It is a long and shaky, the gaps in the wooden beams you can see in a 150 meter deep gorge. Who the suspension bridge of wood in the French Pyrenees to use, it must be reasonably free from giddiness. The farther you are in the middle of the bridge moves, the greater ranges of the narrow bridge.

When you look at the depth of veteran hikers will also slightly sluggish in the stomach. Italian carpenters have the bridge built in the twenties, when the Pyrenees villages have been largely isolated. Today it serves as a starting point for hikes in the Basque country and in the former province of Béarn.

The region is known for the berets, the other for the béarnaise sauce - both wrongly. The beret, the Kurt Tucholsky an ice bag with a fabric top Zippelchen "has called, actually comes from Béarn. The shepherds were the first there, which the borderless knitted hats and then walkten. But only on the head of the Basques were known to the cap, and finally to the worldwide recognition of the French character. The béarnaise sauce, was invented in Paris and after King Henri IV, who from the region came Béarn.

These and other anecdotes told Jean Soust, the guides, while it constantly goes up the hill. Who wanders in this area, you can not splurge with altitude. Instead of craggy mountain peaks are just a green hill to see where it goes, but steep. "There is hardly a mountain range in Europe, where such a diversity of species has received," says Soust, pointing to the flowers by the wayside.

Blooming mountain landscapes

Later in the Pyrenees summer bloom in all colors: First yellow of the gorse bushes, then the purple of the heather, thistles to magenta, royal blue gentian and white daisy.

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Unlike the Alps, the Pyrenees, so far from mass tourism. Two long-distance through the mountain chain crossing the border between France and Spain and also a watershed is. To mark, there were years of controversy.

"Since the Basque has shown tenacity," says Jean. First were the red and white dashes on the rocks over a half a meter long. "The one could almost see from a plane, which has upset conservationists," he says. Finally, they were felsgrau overpainted and by replacing discrete new bands - a lot of effort for a relatively small number of hikers in the region and also a sign of how much the people in preserving their land is situated.

It goes to a mighty waterfall with a beech, whose leaves the sun in countless spots of light dissolves. Above the tree line winds along an old Hirtenpfad up the mountain meadow. Violent bell is heard.

It sounds like the beginning of a Catholic high office, but there are just hundreds of sheep. They eat their way to the aromatic herbs fed to the Pyrenees cheese its particular taste. Somewhat later bimmelt it again, but this time there are stocky horse with long Zottelmähnen the bell around the neck wear, so that their owners find them easier.

Evening wine by the fireplace

For accommodation there are many gites in simple guesthouses, the evenings offer regional dishes. Didier Constance Espondaburu operates the farm near the village of Sainte-Engrace. "Today, there are eggs in Cocotte lamb with chanterelles and selbstgesammelten sheet cake with fresh blackberries," he announces to his guests and radiates with pride. While wonderful aromas from the kitchen draw, it is with a glass of red wine before the fireplace beautifully endure.

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL-QUIZ

AP, DDP, Antje Blinda