Ski Holidays in the French Pyrenees

Stretching from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the resorts of the Pyrenees combine tradition, charm, convenience and outstanding natural beauty.

The Pyrenees mountain range runs along the French-Spanish border, with the small country of Andorra sitting in the middle. It is 400 Km long and 70 km wide. There are many small resorts within the Pyrenees - around 38 in total at the last count - with around 1000km of pistes.

They range from traditional villages such as Barèges, one of the first French ski areas, to the more purpose built style such as at Superbagneres and the resorts in Ax Trois Domaines. As the resorts are less well known than their Alpine counterparts, they tend to be less crowded.

Getting to the Pyrenees has got easier in recent years with low cost carriers opening up routes to Perpignan and Carcassonne. Montpelier, Toulouse and even Barcelona, across the border are also all very feasible places to fly to for holidays in the Pyrenees. The rail network in the area is also fairly extensive.

Some of the main resorts in the French Pyrenees are:

Tourmalet/La Mongie

At the foot of the Pic du Midi Mountain the Domaine du Tourmalet is the largest resort in the French Pyrenees. It comprises the villages of Bagneres and La Mongie, and is not far from Cauterets. There are 100km of pistes and 32km of lifts, which are capable of moving 45,000 people per hour. There is also a wide variety of cross-country skiing available.

  • Altitude: 1,400-2,500m
  • Ski runs: 23 green, 19 blue, 21 red, 6 black
  • 43 ski lifts
  • 1 Snow Park
  • 172 snow cannons

Cauterets

Bordering the national park of the Pyrenees this ski area is picturesque and exciting. The resort is made up of two areas, Le Cirque du Lys is dedicated to downhill skiing and boarding, whereas Le Pont d'Espagne is a haven for cross country skiing, raquetting and walking.

  • Ski runs: 5 green, 7 blue, 7 red, 2 black
  • Altitude: 1,450-2,450m

Barèges

Barèges was one of the first French ski areas, dating back to the 1930s. Together with La Mongie they create the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees in the Col du Tourmalet. It is possible to ski sections of the Tour de France cycle race. There are 36 Km of cross country ski tracks

  • Ski runs: 8 green, 11 blue, 7 red, 2 black

Saint-Lary

Saint-Lary has 100 Km of pistes covering 700 hectares of skiable area, and is spread across 3 areas: St-Lary 1700 - Pla d'Adret, the family heart of the resort; St-Lary 1900 - Espiaube is for the more experienced skier and is linked to 1700 by road and pistes, it is also the starting point of the 3.6 Km "Mirabelle" piste, which is one of the longest runs in the Pyrenees; St-Lary 2400 is the home of the snow park, this area is also a good spot for walkers.

  • Ski runs: 6 green, 24 blue, 14 red, 9 black
  • Altitude 1,600-2,500m
  • 183 snow cannons
  • 32 ski lifts
  • 5 snow parks
  • 3 Mountain restaurants

Luchon/Superbagnères

The old mountain village, Luchon, is at 630m altitude and is linked to the ski resort of Superbagnères by 17 Km of road or by an 8 minute gondola trip.

  • Altitude 630-2,260m
  • Ski runs: 5 green, 8 blue, 6 red, 6 black
  • 15 ski lifts

Les Vallèes d'Ax

The Vallèe d'Ax is made up of 4 skiing areas: Ax 3 Domaines, Ascou-Pailheres, la Chioula and Beille. Ax 3 Domaines and Ascou-Pailhere provide tree-lined, downhill, Alpine skiing suitable for beginners and children. The other two areas, la Chioula and Beille, provide extensive cross country skiing pistes with Beille being the oldest cross country ski resort in the Pyrenees.

  • Altitude 1,240-2,400m

Font Romeu

One of Europe's oldest winter resorts, Font Romeu has been welcoming skiers since 1921. It remains a lively and popular border resort attracting weekend crowds from Spain as well as France. It has the biggest snow making operation in the Pyrenees and the second biggest bed base.

Font Romeu itself is an historic town, about 200km from the city of Toulouse and just 90 km from Perpignan. Facilities include a casino, climbing wall, dog sledding, horse riding, ice hockey, judo, a library, squash, tennis and marked winter walking routes. The ski lifts are 4km (2.5 miles) away in the newer purpose built section of the resort..

Most runs are short and flat, but for a greater choice the resort has signed up to the Les Neiges Catalanes Pass, which encompasses neighbouring ski resorts Err Puigmal, Eyne, Formigueres, Les Angles and lift-linked Pyrenees 2000, St Pierre del Forcats and Porte Puymorens. The most challenging skiing available at Font Romeu is "Competition" on the northern face. In general, it's a perfect base for beginners and families.
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