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Origin and history

The Midi de Bigorre peak, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées at 2,876 m above sea level, is a major natural and scientific site. Known since Antiquity, it is associated with Pyrenean legends such as Pyrene and Heracles, and venerated by the inhabitants of Upper Adour as a sacred space linked to the solar god Abellio. Neolithic traces, such as a point of arrow discovered near the Pass of Sencours, attest to an ancient use.

As early as the 18th century, the peak became a place of scientific observation. François de Plantade studied the solar crown there in 1706 and died in 1741 during barometric measurements. In 1774 Monge and d'Arcet analyzed atmospheric pressure. The observatory, founded in 1873, is dedicated to astronomy and meteorology, while a telecommunications transmitter is installed there in the 20th century, covering a seventh of France.

The peak is also a symbol of environmental preservation: in 2013, he obtained the International Starry Sky Reserve label, first in Europe, to combat light pollution. Its cable car, upgraded in 2001, facilitates access to the summit, where an exceptional panorama extends from the Basque Pyrenees to Ariège. The site thus combines natural, scientific and tourist heritage.

The toponymy of the peak evolves with the history: called mountain of Arizes (linked to the water), then peak of Midi de Bagneres, it takes its present name at the end of the nineteenth century, reflecting its southern position relative to the plain. Its extreme climate, with temperatures up to -45°C, and its rare biodiversity (alpine plants like Armeria alpinea) make it a unique ecosystem.

In 2008, an avalanche killed four mountaineers, recalling the dangers of this mountainous environment. Today, the Midi peak remains an active research site, thanks to its observatory attached to Toulouse-III-Paul Sabatier University, and a major tourist site with its cable car and night sky protection programs.

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