PYRENEES RESORT VILLAGE

Bareges - Tourmalet

4 saisons
Relaxation
In nature
Sport and thrills

In the heart of a preserved valley in the Pays Toy, the spa resort of Barèges is located on the road to the Col du Tourmalet and a stone's throw from the Great Occitanie Sites such as the Pic du Midi de Bigorre or the Cirque de Gavarnie. Starting point for some of the most beautiful hikes in the Pyrenees in summer, in winter the village turns into a village resort to access the Grand Tourmalet ski slopes.

Pyrenees winter sports resort

The Grand Tourmalet

Nestled between the villages of Barèges and La Mongie, the Grand Tourmalet station, is the jewel of the Pyrenees for winter sports enthusiasts. With its renowned ski area, skiers and snowboarders can indulge their passion on slopes winding through fir forests or on ridges with open views. Let yourself be carried away by the magic of winter in this enchanting place!

A ski area for all levels

A versatile resort accessible to all, the wide beginner slopes make it easy to move around the resort. For the more experienced, thanks to the cable car Pic du Midi, we treat ourselves to a freeride descent on an off-piste with more than 1700 m of altitude difference and 10km of descent. It is also from this astronomical observatory that you can try ice climbing, thanks to access to 4 lines.

View of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre from the Grand Tourmalet ski resort

Explore on snowshoes

In the panel ofwinter activities in Barèges, there are also rackets. For all ages, marked trails allow you to enjoy, at your own pace, the purity of this environment frozen by snow. To get off the beaten track, the mountain guides offer day or half-day outings, the opportunity to take advantage of their knowledge and their most secret corners.

Book a snowshoe outing

Nordic atmosphere on the Lienz plateau

In Lienz, several routes cross the fir trees and transport you into a Nordic atmosphere. It is also on this vast plateau that the sled dogs will take you through the woods for a unique experience. When the snow gives way to vast green expanses, the La Laquette and Lienz sectors are transformed into paths and mountain bike modules at Bareges Bike Park.

What to do at Bareges?

Outdoor activities

Base camp for many sports, throughout the year, in Barèges there is something for everyone. From this village with a mountain soul, we reconnect with the essentials, with the preserved nature that surrounds it and we allow ourselves a moment for ourselves.

Barèges village map

« Barèges is a spa resort, my village, which is very small but very pretty. The soul of Barèges is the old village with in winter the ski resort and its renowned slopes which have welcomed champions like Annie Famose and in summer there are hiking trails accessible to many families, the lakes , climbing and the Pic du Midi which dominates the great valley. »

Louisette, former restaurateur at Auberge Chez Louisette

Hike to the Glère lakes and its refuge above Barèges

Hiking destination

Directly from the center of the village, there is access to hiking trails, family walks or roaming trails like the GR10. Two steps from the Neouvielle Nature Reserve, in summer, the trails intertwine through the shades of blue of some 70 lakes in a protected natural area where fauna and flora live in symbiosis.

At the foot of legendary passes

For parking for cyclists, the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet is a must. On the road to the mythical passes of the Pyrenees, Barèges is the perfect starting point to tackle the Pyrenean mountain stages of the Tour de France. The history of French cycling is anchored here on the asphalt which undulates between passes and valleys.

To discover by mountain bike

Always on two wheels, whether you are a fan of downhill mountain biking or cycling, you are bound to find the right outing. Wide tracks that cross the plateaus overlooking Barèges offer outings with an unobstructed view of the valley, while more technical trails will take you into the woods, in the shade of the conifers. And for those who want a little shot of adrenaline, Bareges Bike Park is the ideal place: DH or enduro courses, tracks for all levels with banked turns and varied modules.

The hilltop villages

of the Barèges Valley

Between Barèges and Luz-Saint-Sauveur, perched villages adorn the green expanses of the Barèges valley. Scattered on the steep sides of the Labatsus Valley, Sers, Betpouey, Viey and Viella are villages of character. Here the bigourdane identity is reflected through a architecture particular. We let ourselves be seduced by small cobbled streets, stone buildings, churches and flowery fields as if suspended above the valley.

Lanes of the village of Viey with Pyrenean architecture in the Barèges Valley

These villages testify to years of history, where men and women learned to conquer this land to build dwellings in harmony with their natural environment. At the heart of each village, we notice the presence of a washhouse, a fountain or a square where the villagers shared moments of conviviality. Each element shows how in the past, the inhabitants had taken advantage of this territory, to settle there and develop their agricultural activity which continues today from generation to generation.

Village of Sers in the Valley of Barèges

In summer, to visit and get a foothold in local life, a path leads from village to village.

“The Villages of Labatsus” hiking itinerary

The perched village of Betpouey in the Barèges Valley

Zoom on

Mutton AOP Barèges - Gavarnie

local specialty of the Pyrenees, here we raise the sheep Barèges - Gavarnie. This local breed is an integral part of the heritage of our region and its breeding has been passed down for decades. This local know-how is a source of pride which well deserves specific promotion. It is therefore an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and an Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP) that reward this meat with its unique taste. We find this meat on sale at the producers, in the shops in our valleys or served directly on the plates of Restaurants.