The Terre d’Alpinisme label was created following the inclusion of mountaineering in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in Bogota in 2019. The Unesco listing is recognition of the values of knowledge, transmission and action to preserve the practice and bring it to life in local areas.
The Terre d’Alpinisme label is built around three criteria: heritage, promotion and transmission.
Today, this identity is asserted through the “Terre d’Alpinisme” label, a distinction which celebrates territories where mountain sports are not limited to performance, but embody universal values: sharing, respect, transmission and commitment.
Cauterets, awarded the “Land of Mountaineering” label
Cauterets is the first resort in the Pyrenees to obtain this label, launched in 2021 by the FFCAM (Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne), the SNGM (Syndicat National des Guides de Montagne) and the town of Chamonix Mont Blanc following the inclusion of mountaineering in UNESCO’s International Heritage List. Cauterets is the first town in the Pyrenees to receive this recognition.
Pyreneanism
Here, we’re not talking about mountaineering, but about Pyreneanism: it’s much more than a sport: it’s an art of living in the mountains.
Above all, it’s a philosophy of the mountains: recounting experiences, linking the written word to sporting performance. Born in the Pyrenees in the 19th century, it’s a blend of self-transcendence, admiration for the landscape and adventure stories.
The ideal of a Pyrenean climber is to be able to climb, write and feel at the same time.
A collective commitment
The Terre d’Alpinisme label is part of a shared regional project.
It brings together :
- the commune of Cauterets,
- mountain office,
- the FFCAM and local alpine clubs,
- mountain guides,
- tourism and cultural players,
- schools, associations and local residents.
Together, they are developing initiatives in three main areas:
- Passing on the history and culture of mountaineering,
- Supporting mountain activities in all their forms,
- Protecting natural environments.
Concrete actions
The approach builds on a number of initiatives already underway for Cauteresian children and visitors alike:
- Creation of an exhibition on the Pyrenees in the heart of the village,
- Organisation ofdiscovery events: free introductory mountaineering courses, meetings, film screenings, exhibitions, climbing days for young Cauteresians, etc.
- Partnerships between guides, mountain huts and schools to raise awareness of mountain professions.
