Do you like skiing? You will love the Pyrenees! Family or sports but still fun, the offer of resorts in the Pyrenees is so wide that everyone finds a track to his size, even for the most unusual slides! And winter and summer, we marvel at nature to great show, time for a hike or a hot outdoor bath with views of the mountains!
Skiing: a must-see activity for your holidays in the Pyrenees
- Luchon
Which station to choose for skiing in the Pyrenees? At 1:30 am from Toulouse, Luchon opens the door of the Pyrenees with the station of Superbagnères and its 28 tracks for all levels. And an asset: its breathtaking views of the massif of Maladeta and Aneto (3,404 meters), the roof of the Pyrenees on the Spanish side.
- Mongie
At the foot of the peak of the Midi, La Mongie sees big: with 100 kilometers of tracks, the large Tourmalet is the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees. Beginners, advanced skiers or fans of new styles, everyone can find his slide, including snowboarding with his "snowpark". The end of the end? The descent of the Pic du Midi (2,877 meters above sea level)! Before setting off, a compulsory stop on the terraces with 360 ° panorama.
- Saint-Lary
To go down the longest track of the Pyrenees (3 kilometers and 600 meters of altitude difference), it is in Saint-Lary that it is necessary to plant its sticks. This Pyrenean village has three areas, Saint Lary 1700 for families where beginners slopes, daycare and toboggan run, Saint Lary 1900 for the descent, and Saint Lary 2400 for skiing.
- Cauterets
At the gateway to the Pyrenees National Park, Cauterets with its Belle Epoque decor, is ideal for cross-country skiing with the "Pont d'Espagne" ideal for snowshoeing or hiking.
- The Angles and Font-Romeu
In the Catalan Pyrenees, the old village of Angles is at the foot of 45 tracks for all levels, including for the experienced who have a snowpark and a freeride area. And in Font-Romeu, we visit the beautiful Romanesque churches of the region as a bonus before sleeping in an igloo!
Outdoor in the Pyrenees
- Exceptional flora and fauna in the Pyrenees
On holiday in the Pyrenees, we are full of nature in its purest state with the Pyrenees National Park! With more than 45,000 uninhabited hectares, this park encompassing six valleys is a real sanctuary of biodiversity. On the flora side, the endemic species are the most original in Europe. And wildlife side, we can see the brown bear, marmots and many species of threatened raptors such as bearded vultures, golden eagles or tawny vultures in the nature reserve of Ossau.
- Eclectic Landscapes
And in front of the grandiose landscapes, one holds one's breath. Like in Gavarnie, a glacial cirque culminating at 3,000 meters above sea level, the most popular ice-waterfall spot in the Pyrenees: its large cascade of more than 400 meters is completely frozen in winter.
At the Pic du Midi, at 2,877 meters altitude, we learn to recognize the summits, we travel through the stars at the Planetarium and dance above the void on a metal bridge suspended in the sky! And for more magic, it is possible to opt for a starry night with observation of the night sky and gourmet dinner facing the sky!
- Spirituality and culture in the Pyrenees
At the foot of the Pyrenees, Lourdes occupies a special place: this small town and place of pilgrimage since 1858 is the most visited in France after Paris! It is pressed in its sanctuaries: Grotto Massabielle where the Virgin Mary would have appeared 18 times, basilicas, crypt, church Sainte-Bernadette and chapel. But other places are offered to curious travelers like the Pyrenean museum of the castle or the peak of Jer, and its panorama on the chain of the Pyrenees. And we do not leave the Pyrenees, without attending a rugby match, preferably in Bagneres-de-Bigorre.
The Pyrenees: wellness destination
With 31 spas and more than 10 spa centers, the Pyrenees mountains are an invitation to well-being. In Luchon, we dive into the steam bath of the vaporarium, a network of underground galleries where thermal water displays 72 °, or we travel from Roman baths to Japanese baths in Balnéa in the Louron Valley. And in winter, there is nothing to miss in the world an outdoor bath in a hot spring facing the Pyrenees!