Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in southwestern France. It is division of the Midi-Pyrénées region. The département of Hautes-Pyrénées was created at the time of the French Revolution, on 4 March 1790, through the influence of Tarbes politician Bertrand Barère, a member of the Convention. Hautes-Pyrénées consists of a number of distinct geological areas. The Southern segment, along the boundary with Spain, consists of mountains such as the Vignemale, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, and the Neouvielle and Arbizon ranges.

Hautes-Pyrénées is Mountainous department in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France on the Spanish frontier; area 4,507 sq km/1,740 sq mi; population (1999 est) 222,400. The principal river is the River of Adour, with its tributaries the Arros and Gave de Pau; the Garonne is on the southeast frontier. There is a number of forests, and maize, vines, tobacco, wheat, flax, and chestnuts are cultivated. Marble and slate are extracted, zinc, manganese, lignite, and lead are found, and there are mineral springs. There are artillery, chemical, aeronautical, and engineering industries, and tourism is important, principally in ski resorts such as Val Louron, Peyragudes, and Cauterets Lys. The major towns are Tarbes (the administrative centre), Argelés-Gazost, and Bagnères-de-Bigorre.