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Atlantic Pyrenees - the treasure of (two) nations
The Atlantic Pyrenees, also known as the Western Pyrenees, is a beautiful department in the southwest of France. It is made up of the historic province of Béarn and the French part of the Basque Country, and its prefecture is the city of Pau. As a cross-border mountain range located on the border between Spain and France, the Atlantic Pyrenees are quite a tourist attraction - a strong point on the map of Europe for all lovers of raw nature and active recreation. For some, the range resembles the Alps a bit (due to limestone ridges and deep valleys), and among the many advantages of the region are the abundance of forests and the number of generally accessible shelters and huts. It is impossible to ignore the freedom of camping and lighting fires. A tourist who has decided to spend a vacation in the Atlantic Pyrenees will feel fully connected with nature. Both the French and Spanish parts of the range are geologically and biologically diverse. In the north, deciduous forests predominate, many of which have their original character - the last representatives of the Pyrenean bears can be found there. In turn, the southern part, due to better sunlight, is covered with more species of thermophilic flora, and conifers are dominant among trees. Compared to the northern part, there are also more pastures here. The villages are located at the foot of the mountains and in the lower parts of the valleys. The main tourist traffic is concentrated under the Pierre Saint Martin passes (Arette la Pierre Saint Martin resort) and Somport (Candanchu resort). In other parts of the region, it is rather small, so visitors can enjoy a comfortable contact with nature. The downside of hiking along this range is poor marking of the routes, which can be difficult for inexperienced tourists, as is the lack of signposts at some trail crossings.