Country France Department Hautes-Pyrénées Area 176 ha | Region Occitanie Population (2006) 1,314 | |
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Canton Canton of Argelès-Gazost Intercommunality Communauté de communes de la Vallée de Saint-Savin Arrondissement Arrondissement of Argelès-Gazost | ||
Pierrefitte-Nestalas is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.
Contents
Map of Pierrefitte-Nestalas, France
Geography
Pierrefitte-Nestalas is in the southern part of the Lavedan valley in the central French Pyrenees mountains. It is at the point of confluence of the Gave de Gavarnie and the Gave de 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.
History
The hamlet of Nestalas, with its medieval church, was a point along the ancient road leading from the Abbey of Saint-Savin 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.