Pierrefitte-Nestalas
Encyclopedia
Pierrefitte-Nestalas is a commune
in the Hautes-Pyrénées
department in south-western France
.
mountains. It is at the point of confluence of the Gave de Gavarnie and the Gave the Cauterets torrents, which converge to become the Gave de Pau
. The town is surrounded by mountains such as the Hautacam
and the Cabaliros. It is a necessary point of passage to gain access to either Cauterets
or to the Pays Toy and Gavarnie
beyond.
up the Gave de Gavarnie to the thermal site of Luz-Saint-Sauveur
.
The town later gained some measure of local prominence due to its position, and due to the abundance of water to power small mills. Thanks to hydro power, industrial activities such as chemical manufacturing, aluminum smelting and power generation were developed in Pierrefitte-Nestalas and the adjacent town of Soulom
during the course of the twentieth century. This was also responsible for bringing the railroad to town.
Most of the large industrial facilities were closed or reconverted at the end of the twentieth century and the railroad line was closed. Today, many inhabitants work in Lourdes
or other nearby towns. Tourism is central to the town's economy. Pierefitte-Nestalas also houses a mountain rescue unit.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in southwestern France. It is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.-History:...
department in south-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
Pierrefitte-Nestalas is in the southern part of the Lavedan valley in the central French PyreneesPyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
mountains. It is at the point of confluence of the Gave de Gavarnie and the Gave the Cauterets torrents, which converge to become the Gave de Pau
Gave de Pau
The Gave de Pau is a river of south-western France and a left tributary of the Adour. It takes its name from the city Pau, through which it flows. The river is in length, and its source is at the Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees mountains....
. The town is surrounded by mountains such as the Hautacam
Hautacam
Hautacam is a ski resort in the Pyrenees. It is situated in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The winter sports station lies at a height of 1560 meters...
and the Cabaliros. It is a necessary point of passage to gain access to either Cauterets
Cauterets
Cauterets is a spa town, a ski resort and a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-Geography:Cauterets is located southwest of Lourdes in the beautiful valley of the Gave de Cauterets and borders the Pyrenees National Park....
or to the Pays Toy and Gavarnie
Gavarnie
Gavarnie is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-See also:* Cirque de Gavarnie* Gavarnie Falls*Communes of the Hautes-Pyrénées department-References:*...
beyond.
History
The hamlet of Nestalas, with its medieval church, was a point along the ancient road leading from the Abbey of Saint-SavinSaint-Savin
Saint-Savin is the name of several communes in France:* Saint-Savin, Gironde* Saint-Savin, Hautes-Pyrénées* Saint-Savin, Isère* Saint-Savin, Vienne, also referred to as Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe...
up the Gave de Gavarnie to the thermal site of Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Luz-Saint-Sauveur is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-References:*...
.
The town later gained some measure of local prominence due to its position, and due to the abundance of water to power small mills. Thanks to hydro power, industrial activities such as chemical manufacturing, aluminum smelting and power generation were developed in Pierrefitte-Nestalas and the adjacent town of Soulom
Soulom
Soulom is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-References:*...
during the course of the twentieth century. This was also responsible for bringing the railroad to town.
Most of the large industrial facilities were closed or reconverted at the end of the twentieth century and the railroad line was closed. Today, many inhabitants work in Lourdes
Lourdes
Lourdes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in south-western France.Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous...
or other nearby towns. Tourism is central to the town's economy. Pierefitte-Nestalas also houses a mountain rescue unit.