Culture and sightseeing
Other Great Tourist Sites in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean
1 hour away :
- Cirque de Gavarnie, the most spectacular cirque in the Pyrenees. For more information.
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Pont d’Espagne : an amazing attraction that is the starting point of a host of walks in the Pyrenees National Park. For more information.
http://gavarnie.com
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Lourdes : both a little mountain town and a vast pilgrimage destination.
www.lourdes-infotourisme.com
Towns and villages
21 minutes away :
- Campan : see the 16th century church (remarkable Baroque retable) and covered market square (one of the oldest in the Pyrenees).
25 minutes away:
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Luz-Saint Sauveur : a lively spa town with an amazing fortified church. www.luz.org
32 minutes away :
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Bagnères de Bigorre : a spa resort that has retained its elegance of old, with typical local architecture, shops and formal parks (and not forgetting the casino!). www.grand-tourmalet.com
Museums
25 minutes away :
- Maison de Dominique Larrey, Baudéan : an interesting museum dedicated to locally born Dominique Larrey, surgeon-in-chief of the Napoleonic armies. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 91 68 96.
32 minutes away :
- Musée Salies, Bagnères de Bigorre : typical of the Art Deco period, this museum of 19th century art includes a room dedicated to the brilliant watercolourist Blanche Odin. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 91 07 26.
Traditions
21 minutes away :
- L’Atelier des Mounaques, Campan : a workshop producing hand-made 'mounaques', funny little rag dolls of characters from the Campan Valley (the shepherd, the farmer, etc.). Tel. +33 (0)5 62 91 68 99.
35 minutes away:
- Chez Gabrielle, Lesponne: the former village grocery shop and café preserved as it once was. A must-see. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 91 28 81.
Well-being
Recreational spas
15 minutes away :
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Ciéléo, Barèges : this recreational spa, an extension of the thermal baths in Barèges, features an original and inspired décor. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 92 68 02 – www.cieleo-bareges.com
25 minutes away :
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Luzéa, Luz-Saint Sauveur : an elegant recreational spa built on the mountainside next door to the thermal baths in Luz. Tel. +33 (0)800 05 05 65 – www.luz.org
32 minutes away :
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Aquensis, Bagnères-de-Bigorre: a beautiful recreational thermal spa with a smart, relaxing atmosphere. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 95 86 95 – www.aquensis.fr
Sites of outstanding natural beauty
5 minutes away :
- The Col du Tourmalet: climbing to 2,115 metres, this legendary stage of the Tour de France provides a fascinating panorama of the Bastan Valley to the west and the Gripp Valley to the east.
25 minutes away :
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The Médous Caves, Asté: a stunningly beautiful journey into the depths of the earth, carved out by the River Adour. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 95 02 03 – www.grottes-medous.com
35 minutes away :
- The Lac de Payolle: on the road to the Col d’Aspin, magnificent pastoral scenery in a setting of mountain meadows and summer pastures. Lots of footpaths to explore.
Outdoor activities
Hiking
20 minutes away :
- 'Le Plateau de Lumière': starting from the hamlet of Betpouey, this is a splendid balcony walk above the Bastan Valley with views down to Barèges. A 3½-hour walk. Moderate difficulty. Route description (in French) in the walking guide Midi-Pyrénées à pied (pub. FFRP).
White water sports
Around the Pic du Midi
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Rafting and canyoning : the great speciality of the Pyrenees! In the area around the Pic du Midi there are a dozen professional outfits specialising in guided rafting, canyoning, kayaking and white water swimming trips. Address book at www.tourisme-hautes-pyrenees.com
Aerial trails
5 minutes away :
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Vertige de l’Adour : an aerial trail in a canyon with a high mountain guide at the foot of the Pic du Midi. Accessible to everyone (minimum age 3 years). Tel. +33 (0)6 32 71 07 96 – www.vertigedeladour.com
45 minutes away :
- Parc Accrobranche de l’Aya: a treetop trail accessible to everyone (minimum age 4 years) in a hundred-year-old beech grove in the peace and quiet of the little-known and wonderfully unspoiled Lesponne Valley. Tel. +33 (0)6 78 54 03 60.
Skiing
At the foot of the Pic du Midi
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Grand Tourmalet : the biggest ski area in the French Pyrenees and the birthplace of snowboarding. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 91 94 15. – www.grand-tourmalet.com
Fairs and festivals
25 minutes away :
- Jazz à Luz : a 4-day musical journey in the heart of the Pyrenees that features all sorts of different musical genres (jazz, rock, popular song, etc.). In July.
1 hour away:
- Festival de Gavarnie : the Cirque de Gavarnie forms the spectacular backdrop for this open-air festival on a different theme each year. In July.