Pyrenees Vacation
The Pyrenees Mountains in Spain
The Pyrenees Mountains form the border between Spain and France and are actually older than the Alps. In winter the Pyrenees are a popular destination for mountaineering and skiing, though not as popular as the higher Alps. In summer months, notable activities include horseback riding in the Pyrenees, along with cycling, hiking and many other activities. The Pyrenees Mountains are known not only for their beauty, but also their great history. No matter your interests there is something for you in the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain.
Horseback Riding in the Pyrenees
One of the richest vacation experiences in Spain is horseback riding in the Pyrenees. There are various horseback riding tours that take visitors on historical as well as naturally beautiful journeys. There are short riding experiences and longer ones, depending upon your experience level and desires for your trip. The horses are trained Andalusian or Spanish horses, bred to be sure-footed in mountain riding.
Herding trails are popular for horseback riding in the Pyrenees. They allow riders to experience the diverse landscape from hills to canyons and table mountains. Herdsmen continue to use the same historic trails to move through the Pyrenees that they used for centuries. In winter, the flocks of sheep are taken to the temperate coast of the Mediterranean and in summer they are moved back into the mountains. Historic merchant paths between mountain villages can also be ridden.
Horseback riding in the Pyrenees combines nature, history and culture into a satisfying experience that is more than just a vacation. You will see the architecture in the villages, as well as that of churches and abbeys built into the mountains. The large masias” and castillós of wealthy landowners in feudal days still stand majestically. Horseback riding in the Pyrenees also allows you to avoid the huge tourist crowds in the cities of Spain, providing you with a much more rewarding vacation.