Skiing in the French Pyrenees

The Pyrenees mountain range runs along the border between France and Spain, with the small country of Andorra nestling in the middle. It is 400 Km long and 70 Km wide. Although the Alps attract millions of tourists each winter season the Pyrenees tend to be less crowded and less expensive than some of the "premier" French resorts.

• For a map of the Midi-Pyrénées see AngloINFO Maps

• For general information see website Ski France

Did you know?

• Andorra is the highest inhabited country in Europe, with no part of it below 900 metres 
• Barèges is one of the oldest ski areas in France with its skiing history dating back to the 1930s.
• Napoleon III built a hospital in Barèges so his wounded soldiers could benefit from the thermal spring water
• Moguls are the bumps created by skiers as they turn on the snow. Although many people dislike the bumps some runs are left "un-pisted" so they turn into mogul fields where the experts can brush up their technique
• Snow parks, also known as terrain parks, board parks, freestyle parks, slide areas or simply just park, are areas on the mountain which are specially designed to cater for the freestyle skier or boarder. There are rails, jumps, slope-style, big-air and a half-pipe for the more daring to try their skate inspired acrobatics
• There are 200 summits over 2,000m and Pico d'Aneto (on the Spanish side) at 3,404m is the highest point

Weather & Snow Reports

• Snow forecast hotline
  Tel: 08 92 68 10 20
• For snow reports and weather forecasts from Snow-Forecast: Click here
• For regional weather forecasts, see Meteo France website: Click here
• See the AngloINFO weather for a seven day forecast

On the Slopes

Ski slopes - or pistes - are graded by difficulty:

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation page for information on safety and regulations at ski-resorts in France: Safety in the Snow 

Ski Resorts in Midi-Pyrénées 

There are many small resorts in the area and although we have covered most of them, this list is not exhaustive. In total, the region is host to 38 ski resorts and 1,000 Km of marked piste.

• For a comprehensive guide to the Pyrenees resorts see website ePyrenees.com

Gourette (64)

There are 16 ski lifts, 1000m of marked pistes, 119 snow cannons, 2 ski schools and 2 mountain restaurants.

• Ski runs: 4 green, 8 blue, 12 red, 1 black
• 1 Snow Park
• Website

La Pierre St-Martin (64)

The resort has is open to disabled skiers. It has 14 ski lifts, 45 snow cannons, 20Km of cross-country ski tracks and 55 hectares of skiable pistes.

• Ski runs: 3 green, 9 blue, 5 red, 1 black
• 1 border cross
• 1 Mogul field
  Tourist Office website

Peragudes (64)

The resort is in the heart of the Pyrenees and offers a variety of activities for skiers and snow boarders. It has 17 ski lifts, 110 snow cannons (covering 60% of the ski area) and 1 mountain restaurant.

• Ski runs: 5 green, 20 blue, 15 red, 3 black
• 1 snowpark
• Website

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. The skier has 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
• Website Tourmalet
• Website Bagners de Bigorre-La Mongie  

Luz-Ardiden (65)

Ski resort with 90 snow cannons and 2 mountain restaurants.

• Ski run: 4 green, 4 blue, 15 red, 3 black
• 15 ski lifts
• 1 Snow Park
• Website 

Cauterets (65)

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, raqueting and walking.

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

Barèges (65)

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
• Website

Gavarnie(65)

This ski area has 7.5 Km of cross-country pistes as well as a good mix of Alpine ski runs. It is also the home of the longest green run (beginners' slope) in the Pyrenees.

• Ski runs: 7 green, 5 blue, 5 red, 2 black
• 11 ski lifts
• 7.5Km of cross-country pistes
• Website

Saint-Lary (65)

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
  Website

Piau - Engely (65)

This is the highest resort in the French Pyrénées stretching from and altitude of 2,560m at its highest point to 1,850m in the village.

There are 5 green pistes, 20 blue, 9 red and 6 black covering a total of 297 skiable acres.

The website is in English and provides all the information about the opening dates of the resort, latest snow conditions and prices for accommodation, lift passes and ski school.

• Pau-Engaly website

Luchon/Superbagnères (31)

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
• Website

Boutx-le-Mourtis (31)

This is a small resort with tree-lined pistes.

• Altitude 1350-1860m
• 12 ski lifts
• Website 

Les Vallèes d'Ax (09)

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
• Website

Ax 3 Domaines

• Ski runs: 5 green, 5 blue, 11 red, 2 black, 17 ski lifts
• 80 snow cannons
• Website

Ascou-Pailheres

• Ski runs: 3 green, 4 blue, 6 red, 2 black
• 6 ski lifts
• 10 cannons
• Website

La Chioula

60Km of cross-country pistes and 10 Km of snowshoe walking routes

• Website

Beille

A resort with 70 Km of cross-country pistes and 30 Km of snowshoe walking routes.

• Website

Guzet (09)

This is a small resort with pistes running between the chalets.

• Altitude: 1,100-2,100m
• 40Km of Pistes
• Ski runs: 7 green, 10 blue, 10 red, 6 black
• 18 ski lifts
• 108 snow cannons
• 1 Snow Park
• Website

Mont d'Olmes (09)

This small resort offers 23 Km of pistes and a skiable area of 300 hectares.

• Altitude 1,500-2,000m
• Ski runs: 8 green, 4 blue, 9 red, 2 black
• 12 ski lifts
• 75 snow cannons
• Website
  

Mijanès-Donezan (09)

The ski resort is located just 4 Km from the village of Mijanès, it caters for both cross country and downhill skiers.

• Altitude: 1530-2000m
• Ski runs: 4 green, 2 blue, 2 red, 1 black
• 5 ski lifts
• Website

Across the Border in Spain

Baquiera-Beret, just over the border in Spain, is on the north side of the Pyrenees and easily accessible from France.

• Maximum altitude: 2,510m
• Minimum altitude: 1,500m
• 104 Km of signposted slopes (skiable surface: 1,922 ha)
• 72 runs: 4 green, 36 blue, 26 red, 6 black
• 7 km of cross-country skiing circuit
• 1 slalom stadium
• 33 ski lifts: 1 cable car (9 people), 20 chairlifts (2 x 6, 6x 4, 7 x 3, 5 x2 ), 5 ski lifts (3 tows,1 two-seater tow, 1 t-bar) & 7 conveyor belts.
• 549 snow cannons
• Website

Further Information

• For general European skiing information, see the Complete Skier website: Click here
• For general, multilingual chatter about skiing in France see the Go Ski France website: Click here
• For information on staying warm and safe while skiing, see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Safety in the Snow