Pyrenees & Skiing

Winter visitors can take advantage of our close proximity to the French Pyrenees to take advantage of skiing opportunities in the region. The Pyrenees mountain range runs along the Franco/Spanish border and also includes the small principality of Andorra. At 900 meters, it is the highest country in Europe and one of the smallest [it is just 400 km long and 70 km wide].

Although the ski season here is shorter than the Alps, it is much less crowded and considerably less expensive. A great advantage is the sunshine, which, because of its more southerly location, enables the possibility of outdoor eating on the terraces of some of the excellent restaurants in the area.

Some excellent resorts are a couple of hours away and may justify an overnight stay. However, almost on our doorstep is Guzet Neige (1,100 – 2,100m), which is just an hour away. Whilst not an emormous resort it is considerably larger and better equipped than some "local" resorts in the area, with some quite challenging skiing as well as beginner and intermediate runs. With 7 green, 10 blue, 10 red and 6 black runs, a snow park, 18 ski lifts and 108 snow cannons, it is more than adequate for a day or two's skiing. Tel: 05 61 96 00 11 for further information.

A little further away, near to Montsegur, is the small resort of Les Monts d’Olmes (1500 – 2,000m). It has 23 km of pistes [8 green, 4 blue, 9 red and 2 black], 12 ski lifts and 75 snow cannons. Tel: 05 61 63 89 06.

Bareges, where Napoleon 111 built a hospital so that his soldiers could benefit from the thermal spring water, is one of the oldest ski areas in France with its skiing history dating back to the 1930’s. Together with La Mongie, it forms the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees in the Col du Tourmalet, where it is possible to ski sections of the Tour de France cycle race. There are 8 green, 11 blue, 7 red and 2 black runs and 36 km of cross country ski tracks in Bareges.

At Tourmalet/ La Mongie (1,400 – 2,500m), at the foot of the Pic du Midi mountain, there are 100km of pistes, 23 green, 19 blue, 21 red and 6 black. There are 43 ski lifts, a snow park and 172 snow cannons,

At Luchon/ Superbagneres (630 – 2,260m), the old mountain village of Luchon, at 630 m altitude, is linked to the ski resort of Superbagneres by gondola. There are 5 green, 8 blue, 6 red and 6 black ski runs and 15 ski lifts. Tel : 05 61 79 21 21 for info’.

Les Vallees d’Ax (1,240-2,400 m), in the region of the spa town of Ax-les-Thermes accessed from Foix, is made up of four skiing areas; Ax 3 Domaines, Ascou-Pailheres, la Chioula and Beille [the oldest cross country ski resort in the Pyrenees]. The resort of Ascou-Pailheres provides lovely tree-lined, downhill skiing suitable for beginners and children.