Access is possible either by the Gaube valley (beyond Cauterêts), or la vallée d'Ossoue.

Vignemale is a tautological compound of two pre-Indo-European vin and mal both meaning « mountain ».

[3] Le Petit Vignemale is located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, near Cauterets and Gavarnie arrondissement of Argelès-Gazost in the Pyrenees National Park.

The summit is composed of sediment masses from the early Devonian period.

[4] The first ascent was made in August 1798 by La Baumelle.