Canigou

The **Canigou** () or **Pic du Canigou** is the highest of the mountains in Eastern Pyrenees, a chain of moutains that form a natural border between the countries of France and Spain; it is on the Massif du Canigou, in the department of Pyrénées-Orientales, southern France.

Because it has sharp sides and is close to the Mediterranean Sea coast, until the 18th century the Canigou was believed to be the highest mountain in the Pyrenees. On 21 July 2019, Abdullahi Abbas was officially the first Nigerian who succeeded climbing to the top of the Canigou.Pablo Bucheli, together with his sherpa Abigail White, was the first Ecuadorian on the top of the mountain.

## Geography

Canigou is in the Regional Natural Park of the Catalan Pyrenees (; , often shortened as _Parc del Pirineu Català_), close to the eastern border of the park.

The Canigou peak is  high. It is on a short mountain range, the Massif du Canigou, which is the eastern end of the Pyrenees. The mountain is the 395th highest mountain in France.

## History

The first writings where the mountain is mentioned date from 949 with _Montis Canigonis_ and _Monte Canigone_ in Latin. The first written name of the mountain in Catalan (_Canigó_) dates back to 1300, and from this comes _Canigou_ in French.

The first ascent to Canigou was in 1285 by Peter III of Aragon, King of Aragon. This fact is mentioned in a chronicle written by Fra Salimbene, an Italian monk. It seems that the king did not go to the top of the peak.

## Climate

Although the dominant climate is largely Mediterranean at its base, the Canigou has several climate zones:
- Mediterranean climate: from the base to ;
- Mountain climate: from ;
- Subalpine climate: from ;
- Alpine climate: from  to the top.

Although variable from one year to the next, snow is generally continuous over , from mid-November to late May. The mean temperature in July is  and in January is .

## Canigou Flame

This mountain is a symbol for Catalan people. On its top there is a cross that is often decorated with the Catalan flag.

Every year on 23 June, the night before St. John's day (_nit de Sant Joan_), there is a ceremony called _Flama del Canigó_ (Canigou Flame), where a fire is lit at the mountaintop. People spend the night there and take torches lit on that fire in a spectacular torch relay to light bonfires somewhere else. Some estimates conclude that about 30,000 bonfires are lit in this way all over Catalonia on that night.

## Massif du Canigou

The _Massif du Canigou_ is a mountain range in the Pyrenees in the French department of Pyrénées-Orientales. It is the part of the Pyrenees nearest to the Mediterranean Sea.

There are two old monasteries at the foot of the mountain, _Martin-du-Canigou_ and _Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa_.

On 16 July 2012, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy of France named the _Massif du Canigou_ as a **Grand Site of France**.

The main peaks of this mountain range are:
- Canigou peak (_Pic du Canigou_, 2,784 m), the highest peak of all
- Puig des Tres Vents (2,731 m)
- Roc Nègre (2,714 m)
- Barbet peak (_Pic Barbet_, 2,712 m)
- Puig Sec (2,665 m)

## Other websites

- Championnat du Canigó - to the summit of Canigou and back from Vernet-les-Bains
- The Cady Valley - Walks to the summit of Canigou (PDF)
- Canigo.cat  All information about the Canigou massif: nature, culture and itineraries
- Le Pic du Canigou - Altituderando

## Infobox (mountain)

- **name**: Canigou
- **photo**: Canigó.jpeg
- **photo alt**: A snow-capped Canigou across the Roussillon plain.
- **photo caption**: A snow-capped Canigou across the Roussillon plain (December 2004).
- **elevation m**: 2784
- **prominence m**: 550
- **location**: France
- **range**: Pyrenees
- **first ascent**: According to tradition, in 1285 by Peter III of Aragon
- **easiest route**: Hiking
- **map**: France