Col du Pourtalet
Encyclopedia
The Col du Pourtalet, El Portalet or Portalet d'Aneu is a mountain pass
and border crossing
in the Pyrenees
, between France
and Spain
. The pass reaches an elevation of 1794 m (5,885.8 ft), and links the Ossau
and Tena
valleys.
The road across the pass is known as the A-136 on the Spanish side, and links to Biescas
and Huesca
. On the French side the D934 road connects the pass to the towns of Laruns
, Oloron-Sainte-Marie
and Pau. The pass is usually closed by snow from late October to late May.
The French side of the pass falls within the commune of Laruns
in the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
, whilst the Spanish side is within the municipality of Sallent de Gállego
within the province of Huesca
.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
and border crossing
Border checkpoint
A border checkpoint is a place, generally between two countries, where travellers and/or goods are inspected. Authorization often is required to enter a country through its borders. Access-controlled borders often have a limited number of checkpoints where they can be crossed without legal...
in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, between 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...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The pass reaches an elevation of 1794 m (5,885.8 ft), and links the Ossau
Ossau Valley
The Ossau Valley is a valley of the French Pyrénées, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département.- Administration :...
and Tena
Tena Valley
The Tena Valley is a valley located at the southern side of the Pyrenees, in the Alto Gállego comarca, province of Huesca, and is crossed by the Gállego river from north to south...
valleys.
The road across the pass is known as the A-136 on the Spanish side, and links to Biescas
Biescas
Biescas is a town in Aragon, Spain. It is located in the Tena Valley, in the Aragonese Pyrenees. It has a long history and one of its oldest houses is called Casa Josito: this house was built in 1789, the same year as the French Revolution....
and Huesca
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
. On the French side the D934 road connects the pass to the towns of Laruns
Laruns
Laruns is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is situated at the confluence of two mountain streams, the Gave d'Ossau and its tributary, the Valentin....
, Oloron-Sainte-Marie
Oloron-Sainte-Marie
Oloron-Sainte-Marie is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. The town of Oloron-Sante-Marie is positioned at the junction of two rivers and has a population of approximately 12,000. While not spectacular, it is a pleasant looking town, with an ancient quarter,...
and Pau. The pass is usually closed by snow from late October to late May.
The French side of the pass falls within the commune of Laruns
Laruns
Laruns is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is situated at the confluence of two mountain streams, the Gave d'Ossau and its tributary, the Valentin....
in the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...
, whilst the Spanish side is within the municipality of Sallent de Gállego
Sallent de Gállego
Sallent de Gállego is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain.The town is located in the central Pyrenees besides the reservoir of Lanuza on the foot of some of the highest summits of the chain, close to the border with France...
within the province of Huesca
Huesca (province)
Huesca , officially Huesca/Uesca, is a province of northeastern Spain, in northern Aragon. The capital is Huesca.Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees, Huesca borders France and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées...
.
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes