Pic du Midi: “It’s timeless,” Véronique Sanson sets the 2,877-meter-high sky on fire

This Thursday, July 31, 2025, Véronique Sanson gave a concert at the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre in front of nearly 800 people. A moment filled with communion facing a sea of clouds

It's undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to hold a concert: the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the Hautes-Pyrénées. For several years, the site has hosted a series of concerts during the summer. Previous performances include Zazie, Murray Head, Zaho de Zagazan, and, more recently, the rap group IAM. On July 31, Véronique Sanson performed in front of a crowd of nearly 800 people.

Three hours before the concert scheduled for 8:30 p.m., the audience begins to gather at the bottom of the cable car at the La Mongie station. The weather is gloomy, and everyone is hoping we'll make it past the cloud cover: "I've checked the weather forecast twenty times today and the webcams at the summit; it should be okay," confides Céline, who is coming to the Pic for the first time.

After a little over ten minutes of climbing, the peak appears beneath a blue sky. Upon arriving, we encounter the last visitors of the day, who are waiting to descend. The sky is clear, and a sea of clouds unfolds all around the site. Only a few Pyrenean peaks pierce through.

Hearing the singer, the growing crowd on the terrace took the opportunity to eat, share a drink, and explore the exterior of the site. Many took photos of themselves on the platform that juts out into the void.

We meet spectators who are delighted by both the concert and the setting: "When I was little, my father used to play Véronique Sanson's records for me. I'd never seen her in concert, and when I heard she was playing here, I told myself I couldn't miss it," exclaims another Véronique, from Argelès-Gazost. "It's my first time here. It's a fantastic evening, the setting is just incredible," says Nicolas, who is originally from the Toulouse region.

The Pic du Midi has launched a concert program to diversify its tourist offerings while preserving the site: "We're not trying to turn the Pic into a nightclub; we're staying ethical by offering five to six concerts a year. We have to respect the place and those who work there," explains Vincent Doutres, sales and communications director of the Pic du Midi. With a dedicated annual budget of around €250,000, the aim of the concerts is to attract as wide an audience as possible: "We try to have a diverse program to attract people who wouldn't necessarily come during the day to visit this icon of the Pyrenees."

After the opening act, performed by Spanish pianist Laura Andres, Véronique Sanson took the stage, preceded by the musicians and backing vocalists. Wearing a black hat and sunglasses, and a sequined jacket, the concert was almost an hour long. Behind her, the sun's rays illuminated the sea of clouds. After her opening song, Véronique Sanson took the opportunity to thank her audience: "Thank you for being here and always loyal. It's wonderful to play here with the view behind you."

The singer, who knows the region well, as she is also the patron of the ski patrollers at the Mongie resort, performs a string of hits: "Rien que de l'eau"; "Ma révérence" and "Chanson sur ma drôle de vie". Her enthusiastic audience sings along and applauds.

The younger generation is also represented. Violette, 23, a seasonal worker in the valley, took the opportunity to come and listen to one of her favorite artists: "She's timeless. I've been listening to her songs since I was little and I'm delighted to be able to see her in person, especially here; this place is just magical."