Dwars door de Pyreneeën

In the new series “Across the Pyrenees,” Arnout portrays the mighty Pyrenees in eight episodes. From the Atlantic Ocean, he traverses the imposing mountain range to the Mediterranean Sea; a journey through nature and time.

Arnout Hauben, his regular sound engineer Ruben Callens, and cameraman Philippe Niclaes begin their journey in the Spanish village of Hondarribia on the Atlantic coast. They hike through deep gorges, such as the Ordesa Valley, and past crystal-clear mountain lakes. From episode to episode, the Pyrenees slowly unfold in all their rugged beauty. The journey ends at Cap de Creus, a magnificent rocky cape on the Mediterranean Sea.

With their imposing peaks, the Pyrenees have captured the imagination since time immemorial. Throughout European history, the mountain range has served as a dividing line between different religions and cultures. It has often formed the boundary between war and peace, sometimes offered the path to freedom, but just as often has been the scene of unspeakable atrocities. The Pyrenees are more than just a border between France and Spain. They are a crossroads of civilizations. Here, Cathars fled along secret mountain paths, while pilgrims walked the legendary Camino to Santiago. A journey through the Pyrenees is therefore not only a journey through nature, but also through time.

Across the Pyrenees is a program by The Chinezen for VPRO and VRT 1. The program is expected to be broadcast in 2026.