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(S/E) Starting from Place de la Mairie, head towards the Thermes de César, whose yellow façade can be seen among the row of buildings on the street of the same name. A few steps lead to the esplanade in front of the building. Turn left to go around the thermal establishment, crossing the garden that separates it from the Bains du Rocher.
Walk along the back of the thermal baths until you reach the winding path that climbs the slope to the old Pauze-Vieux thermal baths.
(1) When you come out in front of the old thermal baths, turn left and follow the small road until you reach the Cabane du Bousquet. Here you will find theGR® 10, which leads to the track by following a path up to the left. Continue along the slightly downhill track and cross the valley where the Ruisseau de la Gorce flows.
(2) After crossing the stream, the track continues its ascent through a beautiful beech forest, dotted with a few houses and barns that have been converted into second homes. After four hairpin bends, you reach the final climb that leads to the Chalet de la Reine Hortense. From the terrace of the establishment, where you can recharge your batteries, you can linger over the panoramic view of the entire Cauterets valley and the Cirque du Lys above.
(3) Leave the hotel and continue climbing for about 150 metres. A path branches off to the left, descending quite steeply from the outset. After the first bend, you reach a straight, moderately steep section that follows a beautiful row of strikingly vertical beech trees. When you reach an area of meadows (summer pastures) and barns, you come to the first short, steep hairpin bends. This continues until you reach the foot of the slope.
From this point, the descent becomes quite dizzying and can be somewhat difficult in wet weather or after mountain bikes have passed through, as the route is marked for them. It is therefore a good idea to bring a walking stick for this part of the route. You will reach the first houses of Cancéru when the slope finally levels out.
(4) Turn left when you reach the small village road, then left again at the first crossroads. Follow this road down to the RD920. When you reach the RD920, you will also come to the old railway line that runs parallel to it, which has been converted into a greenway.
(5) Follow the greenway for 350 metres, crossing a first street. At the second intersection, turn right into Impasse Russel and join the RD920, just before the crossroads that leads to the Pont de Fanlou. Turn right to reach it.
(6) Cross the Gave de Cauterets to reach the opposite bank. Immediately after crossing, leave a private road on your left, then follow the small path that starts at the foot of the cliff on the left side of the road. It winds between a few properties before leading to the heart of the Hount-Hérède residential estate. Walk up the road through this housing estate to reach Avenue du Mamelon Vert.
(7) Turn left when you reach the avenue and follow it until you cross the Gave de Cambasque, which flows down from the Cirque du Lys. Ignore the first descent that runs alongside the stream and continue for about 50 metres until you reach a staircase.
(8) Go down these steps on the left to reach Boulevard Latapie Plurin on the right, which leads back to the children's carousel. Turn left when you reach the esplanade and head to the nearby town hall square (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
