The Lavedan (; in Gascon eth/lo Lavedan, /et/lu laβedã/), or occasionally vallées des Gaves, denotes a mountainous

natural region A natural region (landscape unit) is a basic geographic unit. Usually, it is a region which is distinguished by its common natural features of geography, geology, and climate. From the ecological point of view, the naturally occurring flora and ...

of France, located at the heart of the

Pyrénées The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...

, and forms a group of valleys upstream of

Lourdes Lourdes (, also , ; oc, Lorda ) is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for the Châte ...

. The Lavedan is historically part of the

Gascony Gascony (; french: Gascogne ; oc, Gasconha ; eu, Gaskoinia) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part ...

province and of the county of

Bigorre Bigorre ({{IPA-fr, biɡɔʁ; Gascon: ''Bigòrra'') is a region in southwest France, historically an independent county and later a French province, located in the upper watershed of the Adour, on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, part of th ...

. Today, it is situated in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the

Occitanie Occitanie may refer to: *Occitania, a region in southern France called ''Occitanie'' in French *Occitania (administrative region) Occitania ( ; french: Occitanie ; oc, Occitània ; ca, Occitània ) is the southernmost administrative region of ...

region.

Etymology

The name "Lavedan" is documented under ancient forms: ''in pago Lavetanense'' (v. 860),Livre vert de Bénac. ''Levitanensis vicecomes'' (v. 980), ''vicecomites Levitanicæ vallis'' (v. 1060), ''Ramundus de Levitania'' (1095), ''homines Baredgie et Levitani'' (v. 1110), ''A. de Laueda'' (1114), ''Aramon Garsie de Lavedan'' (1283), ''terram de Lavedaa'' (1285). Il is made up of the Latin ''-etan, -itan'' suffix, typically present in names of iberian peoples. Le radical est Lau- / Leu-.

Geography

Topography

The Lavedan is made up of 7 valleys, which in the past formed relatively self-sufficient and autonomous entities (they were named under ''vath'', ''arribèra'' « valley » ou d'''estrem'' « excentred valley ») : ;La Vath Surguèra (prononcé 'Bat surguère') : A small valley on the left bank at the entrance of the Lavedan which groups the towns of

Ségus Ségus is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of ...

, Aspin-en-Lavedan,

Ossen Ossen (; oc, Aussen) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have ...

Omex Omex is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of ...

Viger Viger may refer to: People There are a number of prominent Canadians with the surname Viger. This includes: * Amanda Viger (1845–1909), nun, pharmacist and hospital founder * André Viger (1952–2006), wheelchair marathoner and Paralympic * Bo ...

. ;L'estrem de Castèth-lobon (pronounced 'Casteth Loubou') or Castelloubon : which corresponds to the Néez basin, located on Cheust and

Ourdis-Cotdoussan Ourdis-Cotdoussan is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.Loup dynastyDukes of Gascony
/ref>'' from which

dukes of Gascony The Duchy of Gascony or Duchy of Vasconia ( eu, Baskoniako dukerria; oc, ducat de Gasconha; french: duché de Gascogne, duché de Vasconie) was a duchy located in present-day southwestern France and northeastern Spain, an area encompassing the ...

and

counts of Bigorre The County of Bigorre was a small feudatory of the Duchy of Gascony in the ninth through 15th centuries. Its capital was Tarbes. The county was constituted out of the dowry of Faquilène, an Aquitainian princess, for her husband Donatus Lupus I ...

were born, at the beginning of the 10th century, the viscounts' residence until the beginning of the 11th century, it comprises the towns of Juncalas,

Geu Geu () is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), ...

, Ger, Lugagnan, Saint-Créac (which today includes Antalos and Justous),

Ousté Ousté (; oc, Ostèr) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to hav ...

, Berbérust-Lias,

Ourdis-Cotdoussan Ourdis-Cotdoussan is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.Germs-sur-l'Oussouet Germs-sur-l'Oussouet (; oc, Gèrms) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is des ...

, Cheust,

Gazost Gazost (; oc, Gasòst) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have ...

, Ourdon. ;L'estrem de Sala ou Estrèm de Salles : Argelès (formerly ''Ourout'' and ''Vieuzac'', which became Argelès-Gazost in 1897),

Ayzac-Ost Ayzac-Ost is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have ...

Agos-Vidalos Agos-Vidalos is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have ...

Ouzous Ouzous is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree ...

, Salles,

Sère-en-Lavedan Sère-en-Lavedan (, literally ''Sère in Lavedan''; oc, Cèra) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residen ...

Gez Gez may refer to: People * Gez Varley, British musician * Gez Walsh, English writer Places * Gez, Bayburt, Turkey * Gez, Hautes-Pyrénées, France Other uses * Geʽez, a Semitic language native to Eritrea and Ethiopia * (), the former c ...

. ;The val d'Azun : constituted of the Arren and Estaing valleys as well as the Bergons and the right bank of the high valley of l'

Ouzoum The Ouzoum or Ouzom (/ uzũ /) is a left tributary of the Gave de Pau, in the Southwest of France, between the Génie longue and the Béez. It is long. It flows into the Gave in Nay, upstream from Pau. Name Historical graphies were oscilla ...

, comprises the villages of Arrens, Marsous,

Aucun Aucun () is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), ...

, Gaillagos,

Arcizans-Dessus Arcizans-Dessus is a Communes of France, commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées Departments of France, department in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department References

Communes of Hautes-Pyr ...

Arras-en-Lavedan Arras-en-Lavedan (, literally ''Arras in Lavedan''; oc, Arràs) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Gover ...

Sireix Sireix ( oc, Shirèish) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have ...

Bun A bun is a type of bread roll, typically filled with savory fillings (for example hamburger). A bun may also refer to a sweet cake in certain parts of the world. Though they come in many shapes and sizes, buns are most commonly round, and are ...

, Estaing,

Arbéost Arbéost (; oc, Arbiost) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. Geography Climate Arbéost has a oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification ''Cfb''). The average annual temperature in Arbéost is . The ...

, Ferrières (including Hougarou). ;Le Davant-Aiga (pronounces Dabant-Aygues = ''East of the waters'') : It correspond to the eastern bank of the

gave du Lavedan GAVE may refer to: * Gave (Melgaço), a parish in Portugal * Gave (placename element), a French word meaning ''torrential river'' in the west Pyrenees * Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), a medical condition * Gabinete de Avaliação Educaci ...

and includes the towns of Préchac,

Boô-Silhen Boô-Silhen is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. Population The inhabitants of the commune are known as Boôsilheniens. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is ...

(including Asmets),

Saint-Pastous Saint-Pastous is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high deg ...

(including ''Senta-Maria''), Ayros-Arbouix, Vier-Bordes,

Artalens-Souin Artalens-Souin is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to ha ...

, Beaucens,

Villelongue Villelongue (; oc, Vilalonca) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. Villelongue is situated on the flank of the Hautacam mountain, around a stream called the Ruisseau d'Isaby, and descends to the Gave de Ga ...

(including Ortiac). ;L'arribèra de Sent Savin ou Rivière de Saint-Savin : Saint-Savin,

Lau-Balagnas Lau-Balagnas is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high de ...

, Adast, Pierrefitte-Nestalas, Soulom, Uz,

Cauterets Cauterets (; in Occitan ''Cautarés'', in Catalan ''Cautarés'', in Aragonese ''Cautarès'') is a spa town, a ski resort and a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department and the region of Occitanie in south-western France. Geography Cauter ...

Arcizans-Avant Arcizans-Avant is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to h ...

. ;The Barèja valley (French 'Barège') named « Pays Toy » :

Luz-Saint-Sauveur Luz-Saint-Sauveur (; oc, Lus e Sent Sauvaire) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitania region of south-western France. It lies on the river Bastan, a tributary of the Gave de Pau. Locals simply call it Luz, the city ...

Sassis Sassis is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of ...

Sazos Sazos ( Gascon: ''Sasòs'') is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (admini ...

, Grust,

Saligos Saligos (; oc, Saligòs) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. On 1 January 2017, the former commune of Vizos was merged into Saligos.Chèze,

Viscos Viscos is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. It is famous for being the setting of Brazilian author Paulo Coelho's 2000 novel ''The Devil and Miss Prym Paulo Coelho de Souza (, ; born 24 August 1947) is ...

Vizos Vizos (; Gascon: ''Visòs'') is a former commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the commune Saligos.Esquièze-Sère, Esterre, Viella,

Betpouey Betpouey is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. Geography The Petite Baïse forms part of the commune's southwestern border, then flows north through the middle of the commune. Population See also *Commun ...

Barèges Barèges (; oc, Varètja, , in the Gascon dialect) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, administrative region of Occitania, southwestern France. It is situated in the valley of the Bastan on the former Route nationale 618 (the "R ...

Sers Sers may refer to: * Sers, Armenia * Sers, Charente, France * Sers, Hautes-Pyrénées, France * Sers, Tunisia Sers, also Le Sers or Es Sers, is a town and commune in the Kef Governorate, Tunisia. It is located by road southeast of El Kef. As o ...

Viey Viey is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. See also *Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of s ...

Gèdre Gèdre (; oc-gsc, Gèdra) is a former commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Gavarnie-Gèdre.Gavarnie Gavarnie (; oc, Gavarnia) is a former commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, Southwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Gavarnie-Gèdre.Gave de Pau The Gave de Pau () is a river of south-western France. It takes its name from the city of Pau, through which it flows. The river is long ( including the Gaves réunis), and its source is at the Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees mountains. The ...

bassin, upstream from

namely with the valleys of the

Gave de Gavarnie GAVE may refer to: * Gave (Melgaço), a parish in Portugal * Gave (placename element), a French word meaning ''torrential river'' in the west Pyrenees * Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), a medical condition * Gabinete de Avaliação Educaci ...

, the

Gave de Cauterets GAVE may refer to: * Gave (Melgaço), a parish in Portugal * Gave (placename element), a French word meaning ''torrential river'' in the west Pyrenees * Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), a medical condition * Gabinete de Avaliação Educacio ...

and the

Gave d'Azun GAVE may refer to: * Gave (Melgaço), a parish in Portugal * Gave (placename element), a French word meaning ''torrential river'' in the west Pyrenees * Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), a medical condition * Gabinete de Avaliação Educacio ...

Delimitation

The Lavedan communicates with the

vallée de Campan Vallée is a French surname. Notable people with the surname include: *André Vallée (1930–2015), Canadian Roman Catholic bishop *Anne Vallée (born 1958), Canadian biologist *Bernard Vallée (born 1945), French fencer *Brigitte Vallée (born 19 ...

(vallée de l' Adour) by the

col du Tourmalet Col du Tourmalet (; elevation ) is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the French Pyrenees, in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is at the foot on the eastern side and the ski station La Mongie two-thirds o ...

and with the

vallée d'Ossau Vallée is a French surname. Notable people with the surname include: *André Vallée (1930–2015), Canadian Roman Catholic bishop *Anne Vallée (born 1958), Canadian biologist * Bernard Vallée (born 1945), French fencer * Brigitte Vallée (born ...

by the

cirque du Litor A (; from the Latin word ') is an amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosion. Alternative names for this landform are corrie (from Scottish Gaelic , meaning a pot or cauldron) and (; ). A cirque may also be a similarly shaped landform ...

(east of

col d'Aubisque The Col d'Aubisque ( oc, Còth d'Aubisca) (elevation ) is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the Aquitaine region of France.Chany, Pierre (1988), La Fabuleuse Histoire du ...

; the left bank of the

vallée de l'Ouzom Vallée is a French surname. Notable people with the surname include: *André Vallée (1930–2015), Canadian Roman Catholic bishop *Anne Vallée (born 1958), Canadian biologist *Bernard Vallée (born 1945), French fencer *Brigitte Vallée (born 19 ...

is part of Ossau while the right bank is part of the val d'Azun). It is separated from

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to so ...

by the

France–Spain border The France–Spain border (; ) was formally defined in 1659. It separates the two countries from Hendaye and Irun in the west, running through the Pyrenees to Cerbère and Portbou on the Mediterranean Sea. Features Main border The Franco-Span ...

, traversable by numerous mountain passes.

Main sites

The main towns are

Argelès-Gazost Argelès-Gazost (; oc, Argelèrs de Gasòst) is a commune and a subprefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. The Pyrénées Animal Park is located in Argelès-Gazost. Population See also *Communes of the Haute ...

, Pierrefitte-Nestalas,

Gèdre Gèdre (; oc-gsc, Gèdra) is a former commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Gavarnie-Gèdre.Gavarnie Gavarnie (; oc, Gavarnia) is a former commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, Southwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Gavarnie-Gèdre.Vignemale The Vignemale (; Occitan: ''Vinhamala'', Aragonese: ''Comachibosa'', Catalan: ''Vinyamala''), at 3,298 metres, is the highest of the French Pyrenean summits (the highest in the whole of the range is Pic d' Aneto). It lies on the border between ...

Pic de Néouvielle Pic de Néouvielle (3,091 m) is a mountain in the Néouvielle massif , photo=Pic Ramougn.jpg , photo_caption=North side of Pic Ramougn from Hourquette d'Aubert , country=France , region_type=Region , region= Hautes-Pyrénées, region1= , ...

(''Neuvielha'') *

Cirque de Gavarnie __NOTOC__ The Cirque de Gavarnie is a cirque in the central Pyrenees, in Southwestern France, close to the border of Spain. It is within the commune of Gavarnie, the department of Hautes-Pyrénées, and the Pyrénées National Park. Major ...

Lac de Gaube Gaube Lake (in French: ''Lac de Gaube'') is a lake in the French Pyrenees, in the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées, near the town of Cauterets. Name The lake's name is tautological, in that ''gaube'' in the Gascon language means "lake", ...

Pont d'Espagne Pont d'Espagne is a stone-built bridge that spans the Gave de Marcadau at the point where it meets the Gave de Gaube, near one of its sources high in the French Pyrenees. It is a protected area of the Pyrénées in the Pyrénées National Park. ...

Notes and references

{{Authority control Pyrenees Valleys of France Landforms of Hautes-Pyrénées