The Laaps’Art welcomed Jean-Louis Rey on Thursday, September 17 for a conference dedicated to the 'Carriers of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre'. This event shed light on a little-known aspect of the observatory's construction, conceived in the 19th century at the summit of the Pic, at nearly 3,000 meters altitude.
For over 70 years, men from the Campan valley, primarily farmers, were responsible for transporting equipment and supplies, regardless of the weather. Like true Pyrenean 'sherpas', they climbed nearly 2,000 meters in elevation, carrying loads up to 50 kilograms.
Through testimonies, life stories, photographs, drawings, and unpublished archives, Jean-Louis Rey brought this human adventure to life, marked by courage, suffering, and sometimes tragedy. The audience was deeply impressed by this narrative and was invited to explore the subject further through the book published by the speaker.
Jean-Louis Rey thus shared the little-known epic of the carriers from the Campan valley.
