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    The Pyrenees range (Hautes-Pyrénées) The Brèche de Roland - Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées) The resort of Superbagnères - Luchon (Haute-Garonne) Snowboarding - Peyragudes (Hautes-Pyrénées) École de ski français, resort of Superbagnères - Luchon (Haute-Garonne) Hiking - Cauterets (Hautes-Pyrénées Dog sledding - Plateau de Beille (Ariège) Thermal baths - Luchon (Haute-Garonne) Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées) Luchon (Haute-Garonne)

    Ten things about skiing in Occitania

    From "accessible" to "warm" and including "spas" and "children", here we paint a picture of the atmosphere in our ski resorts and tell you ten things about life here in winter, which is anything but a dreary season in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean !

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      • Accessible : between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the ski resorts in the Pyrenees are easy to get to by car (autoroutes A64, A61 and A66), train (stations in Toulouse, Tarbes and Pau) and aeroplane (airports at Toulouse-Blagnac, Lourdes-Tarbes-Ossun and Pau, Perpignan Rivesaltes).


      • Altitude: the alpine skiing pistes at the Pyrenean resorts, in the départements of Hautes Pyrénées, Ariège and Haute Garonne and Pyrénées Orientales are on average altitudes of between 1,400 and 2,500 metres. Piau-Engaly very close to the Spanish border even rises to 2,600 metres. The nordic ski areas are generally at altitudes of between 1,100 and 1,500 metres, and up to 2,000 metres in the case of Beille in Ariège.
        The ski resorts in Aveyron and Lozère are on the highest part of the Aubrac Plateau (1,200 to 1,400 metres).


      • Beauty: the Pyrenees are certainly beautiful, and we intend to keep them that way. Sun-drenched panoramic viewpoints looking out on unspoilt landscapes, spectacular waterfalls and ancient forests, steep white slopes in the heart of listed and protected areas, ski resorts preserved from overdevelopment : in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean we have true respect for the mountains. This is also true in the Aubrac, the region's other snowsports destination, where the views stretch out across countryside as fresh and pure as at dawn on the day the world began.

      • Children : your kids will be pampered, spoiled and well looked after in our ski resorts, which provide all the activities and facilities required to enable them to feel confident and safe (snowpark, beginners' areas, ski schools and more), plus of course special family ski passes.

      • Investment : in the last 15 years, the ski resorts of Occitania have been investing heavily in modernising themselves, renewing their accommodation stock and ensuring they give the public what they want. With new ski lifts, snowmakers and other latest-generation installations and services, they stand out through their dynamic approach and sense of innovation.

      • Local produce : first-time skiers and thrill-seeking boarders all want the same thing. Good food, in the form of succulent Gavarnie AOC mutton, unforgettable Noir de Bigorre ham, a steaming bowl of garbure or aligot, an enormous platter of mountain cheeses, and to round it all off the deliciously generous gâteau à la broche.

      • Spas : this is now a must-have après-ski experience, a pleasant and very popular moment of relaxation that is in its element in the Pyrenees. This is because the Pyrenees are home to France's finest collection of recreational spas, with 10 stunning spa centres dedicated to well-being in thermal water.

      • Sustainable : sustainable development and looking after our natural mountain attractions are a priority in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean, where ski resorts like Saint Lary Soulan are leading the way.

      • Villages : Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the traditional charm of its little mountain towns and villages. Just some of the many examples are Luz-Saint Sauveur, Barèges, Saint Lary, Luchon, Ax-les-Thermes and Laguiole. Everything there is authentic : the typical architecture, the épicerie fine delicatessens and the relaxed, sociable atmosphere. During the ski season, these places are buzzing with activity in the tapas bars, restaurants and night clubs.

      • Warm : the best way to describe the welcome you get in the ski resorts of Occitania. And that is what you will also find when the skiing's done, down in the valleys. A relaxed approach to skiing, a simple way of getting close to nature that youngsters, students and families all love.

      Check out : 

      • The Pyrenean resorts Internet portal : www.lespyrenees.net
      • Here you'll find a guide to the ski resorts in the Pyrenees, the snow report, great deals for holidays and accommodation, the current month's events diary, and more.

      Luxury, relaxation and thermal water

      • After a hard day's playing in the snow or doing nothing on a sunny mountain terrace, lie back in the amazing surroundings of one of the recreational spas you'll find next door to some of our ski resorts.

        Examples include Espace Forme et Bien-Être in Luchon (near Luchon Superbagnères), Balnéa in the Louron Valley (near Peyragudes), Luzéa in Luz-Saint Sauveur (near Luz-Ardiden), Aquensis in Bagnères de Bigorre, and Ciéléo in Barèges (both of which are close to Le Grand Tourmalet ski area).

        For more information, go to the Well-being page (recreational spas)

      Bond ... James Bond

      • When shooting the Bond film Tomorrow never Dies (1997) with Pierce Brosnan, the production team had to find a challenging location: an altiport with completely unspoilt scenery in the background. They found it at Peyragudes : this ski resort in Hautes Pyrénées was used as the backdrop for the film's opening scene.
       
      Project co-financed by the European Union. Europe is partnering Midi-Pyrénées with the European Regional Development Fund.