The Brèche de Roland

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Hike above the Cirque de Gavarnie to visit a mountain pass made famous by its name.

Details

n°13159
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 641 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 640 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,800 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,203 m
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Photos

The eastern peak of the Brèche
View towards the north
View towards the south
La Brèche

Description of the walk

In Gavarnie, take the road to Port de Boucharo and park at the terminus car park at the Col des Tentes.

(S/E) Continue on the road, which is now closed to traffic, and reach the border pass of Boucharo in French, Bajuruelo in Spanish.

(1) Take the wide path on the left, which crosses several streams further on: first the Gave des Tourettes, then the Ruisseau des Gabietous (be careful, as it can be a little slippery on the rocks). Then cross the stream flowing from the Glacier du Taillon, continue along the path and climb the small Col des Sarradets.

(2) Continue until you reach the refuge of the same name.

(3) Take the moraine heading south, cross the small snowfield and finish climbing the Brèche de Roland in the rocks.

(4) Descend via the same route to return to the Col des Tentes car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,210 m - Car park at the Col des Tentes - Col de Tentes
  2. 1 : km 1.6 - alt. 2,270 m - Port de Boucharo
  3. 2 : km 4.55 - alt. 2,599 m - Col des Sarradets
  4. 3 : km 4.69 - alt. 2,577 m - Refuge des Sarradets
  5. 4 : km 5.55 - alt. 2,794 m - Brèche de Roland
  6. S/E : km 11.06 - alt. 2,208 m - Car park at the Col des Tentes - Col de Tentes

Notes

There is no shortage of water on this route, which can be taken from the many streams running down the mountain.
The Sarradets refuge is available for day or overnight stays.

Important note: This hike is particularly popular but can be a little tricky. The stream and snowfield crossings can be difficult. This route should only be attempted in good weather conditions and is not suitable for those who are not experienced in this type of hiking.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

A magnificent walk in a beautiful mineral world. This pass, named after Charlemagne's nephew, is a real pilgrimage site and on weekends when the weather is good, it is not uncommon to meet hundreds of people there.
On the day of our visit, we had the pleasure of hearing a band playing the anthem of Aviron Bayonnais at the Refuge des Sarradets. We were at the level of the snowfield and the sound that reached us was a real treat.
Further down, don't forget to visit Gavarnie and its famous cirque

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 34 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Chris33
Chris33
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike and magnificent panoramic views of France and Spain
2 hours uphill and 1 hour downhill for me

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ours65
ours65

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful sunny day to take this walk for the umpteenth time.
The difficulties:
- crossing the Taillon glacier torrent. A few yellow arrows have been painted on the rocks. More should be added to make crossing the torrent safer
- trail in the old lateral moraine above the refuge: ascent and descent in scree
- towards the end, several passages where you have to use your hands to climb up and scramble or "culing" to climb down.
The joys:
- discovering this geological phenomenon
- magnificent panorama to the south and north

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cathycoco
cathycoco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a beautiful day spent under the sun Passing by the delicate waterfall
lunch break at Roland's Breach
more difficult on the descent

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello and thank you very much for mentioning the extension to Taillon.
This hike is described on the website by clicking on this link
Have a nice day

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User 9653818

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It would have been interesting to suggest the possibility of continuing on Le Taillon

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User 21491878

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike that is accessible if you have strong legs and a head for heights (there is a tricky section near the waterfall).
We did it in 6 hours there and back (including lunch breaks).
Hiking boots are essential and hiking poles are highly recommended.
The view from the breach is magnificent!

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lesbubusalain
lesbubusalain

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off at the beginning of July but turned back after 4 km because there was too much snow and it was too dangerous without crampons.

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taillon65
taillon65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The breach, my pilgrimage! Magnificent!

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sergekrzmic
sergekrzmic
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, accessible yet with a high-mountain atmosphere. The climb really starts from the refuge and it's pretty steep! Crampons are useful for the return trip on the snowfield.
We would have liked to go all the way to Taillon, but the weather wasn't great.
A good reason to go back 😊

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Patrice31
Patrice31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route takes you to the Brèche de Roland via the Col de Sarradets and the Sarradets refuge. The path is easy going until you reach the Port de Boucharo. Turn left and the path narrows, climbing steadily but without difficulty. Be careful on the scree slopes. The climb at the bottom of the Col de Sarradets is difficult, the path is not easy to follow and it is easy to lose your way. However, with care and a little common sense, this climb is manageable. And the reward is great when you reach the pass. An easy path leads to the refuge in 10 minutes. From the refuge to the Rolland breach, follow a trail with a 300-metre elevation gain, which leads to a plateau. You may have to cross a snowfield (present on 1 July 2023), which may require the use of crampons.

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Ouakari cartes sur tables
Ouakari cartes sur tables

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A demanding hike, carried out in less than ideal weather conditions (overcast skies and rain), but still offering glimpses of most of the peaks.
After checking that the route was passable, as I was alone, I set off with crampons and an ice axe, the latter intended to prevent me from falling. Sure enough, the first snow appeared quickly after the Port de Boucharo, forming a wall before the waterfall, which I crossed at a height of one metre.
The climb to the Col des Sarradets was the first real difficulty of the route, as it was quite steep. The reward was a splendid view of the top of the Cirque de Gavarnie.
Once I had left the refuge behind me, I took advantage of the snow-free moraine to make my way towards the plateau. Back in the powder snow (it was snowing at this altitude), progress was difficult: I used my ice axe to help me sink as little as possible into the snow.
Once I reached the plateau, I decided to stay there, as a storm was rumbling in the valley and fog was beginning to descend on the Brèche.
The return was relatively easy thanks to the crampons, which I kept on until the last patches of snow. The Port de Boucharo lived up to its name, as it was completely blocked on the way down.
In short, two pieces of advice for this hike at this time of year: check the conditions and don't hesitate to hire basic equipment (it's cheap and light to carry).

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thierry.rossich
thierry.rossich

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, it's so beautiful that it takes your breath away!
Not suitable for young children unless they are used to walking on steep, rocky terrain...
I continued on to Taillon, where the view was magnificent!!!

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fougerey
fougerey

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Seeing the Brèche from afar during previous hikes made us want to see it up close, but we suffered from the crowds and didn't make it all the way. We stopped halfway between the refuge and the Brèche, as the traffic going up and down the steep trail was too difficult with all the people.
There is a magnificent view of the Brèche from this spot.

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jungph33
jungph33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The challenges:
- The waterfall, but there wasn't too much water on this particular day.
- After the refuge, a difficult scree slope. Possibility of sledding down on the snowfield.
Otherwise, it is very busy with people in street clothes...

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful but difficult and physically demanding hike that we didn't complete because it was too difficult for two septuagenarians on their third hike in three days. We stopped at the waterfall, which was quite difficult to cross due to the strong current. Despite everything, we enjoyed the beauty of the landscape. The climb to the Col des Tentes (by car) is superb, as is the hike itself. We were lucky enough to see a chamois and some marmots.
PP and MM

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