With 54 runs of a hundred kilometers located on either side of the Col du Tourmalet, which the riders of the Tour de France will climb once again for the 2023 edition, the Grand Tourmalet area allows you to (really) ski all the day.
And this whatever its discipline, its level or its starting point in the Hautes-Pyrénées spot, the village of Barèges (1250 meters) on the western slope, or La Mongie (1800 m) on the eastern slope.
"The domain is characterized by its size, the largest in the
Pyrenees
, and the diversity of its points of view"
, explains Blandine Vernardet, general manager of the Grand Tourmalet domain.
The one from the very touristy Pic du Midi being without doubt the ultimate panorama.
“The majority of skiers go up to the Pic, the lighthouse of the Pyrenees. The work that we have undertaken, with a first phase of 4 million out of a total of 15 million euros, for the redesign of the central esplanade of La Mongie has made it possible to improve the areas for beginners and children and will also put more value the connection with the Peak"
, she explains about the makeover of this village where, for the anecdote, Emmanuel Macron learned to ski and returns regularly.
“One of our other projects is housing, because the capacity is still too low.
In winter, we welcome 550,000 customers, mainly from the Atlantic arc, but with 140,000 visitors in summer, we can still progress”
, says Blandine Vernardet, welcoming the opening of the first four-star hotel this winter.
Read also Ranking of the 200 French ski resorts: snow cover, ski pass prices... Which one is right for you?
What's new for winter 2023
With its 100 kilometers of slopes which range between 1400 and 2500 meters above sea level, the Grand Tourmalet ski area is neither more nor less than the largest in the French Pyrenees.
M. Bris / P. Quintana / T. Chambe
Two family spaces, where many activities take place, have been created on the snow front, one at La Mongie, the other at Barèges.
On the Barèges
side
,
three snowshoe trails
have been created starting from Tournaboup or Lienz and also
a ski touring trail
.
On the
Mongie
side ,
two new ski touring routes
provide access to the Col du Tourmalet and the Panoramic sector, which deserves its name well.
Grand Tourmalet: our favorite slopes
Pure air, spectacular panoramas and thrills for all downhill enthusiasts, starting at 2877 m!
M. Bris / P. Quintana / T. Chambe
Both ends of the Grand Tourmalet are accessible to everyone.
Alpine skiing is practiced in the forest around Barèges or at altitude in La Mongie on black and red slopes;
freeride skiing and snowboarding at the Pic du Midi;
freestyle, cross-country skiing and hiking on both sides of the Col du Tourmalet.
For the adventurous
Like the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix and La Grave in the Alps, the Pic du Midi opened up the space below the two cable cars.
This freeride area offers thrills and breathtaking views.
For nature lovers
On the Lienz plateau, two lifts provide access to several trails winding through a magnificent forest.
Children are in the spotlight on the
Laquette green run
, redesigned with playful modules.
Or sleep ?
Hôtel La Voie Lactée -
A success that will give a boost to the French Pyrenean hotel industry, a little behind the Spanish ski resorts.
Hotel La Voie Lactée / Photo press
By staying at
La Mongie
, you put on your skis when you leave your apartment, you can go to dinner or go shopping on foot.
We join Barèges on the spatulas and the Pic du Midi by cable car.
Bagnères-de-Bigorre is about 30 minutes away by car.
To facilitate the choice, the Compagnie des Pyrénées (ex-N'PY) has grouped the accommodation offer on its site.
For a family stay, the Résidence Mer et Golf in La Mongie, located opposite the slopes, offers 104 modern apartments and studios with south-facing terraces.
The establishment has a restaurant and a swimming pool to relax after a day in the great outdoors.
Guided tour of The Milky Way
Go to slideshow (9)
Also very close to the snow front, the former hotel La Crête Blanche has just changed its status and name.
Called
La Voie Lactée
, in reference to the Pic du Midi, classified as an international starry sky reserve, this four-star hotel has 20 rooms with a
sixties
design .
Read alsoHotel La Voie Lactée in La Mongie, the expert opinion of Le Figaro
Where to eat?
In La Mongie as in Barèges, you are spoiled for choice.
Here are our three favorites:
At the top of the Col du Tourmalet is L'Étape du Berger.
The Abadie have been cooking there for three generations, local products, mainly from the family farm.
Guest rooms and a cottage encourage you to stay.
Some evenings, you can go up there with a groomer or snowmobile (to be reserved with Ulteam DP).
The 2877 is located, as its name suggests, at the top of the Pic.
You can taste exclusively Pyrenean dishes.
Reservation on site.
Just take off your shoes to sit down at the
Chalet des Pisteurs
snack bar , located in an old mountain chalet.
Only open at lunchtime, it is advisable to book to enjoy a mountain toast or a blueberry tart.
Especially since this place with a view of the Pic du Midi is accessible via the Pourteilh chairlift.
Contact: 06 52 72 84 39.
On the Barèges
side
, the
larger
La Laquette restaurant offers a similar atmosphere.
Contact: 05 62 92 68 61.
To see, to do this winter
A stay at Grand Tourmalet is not complete without visiting the Pic du Midi.
Simon Defarge
Take height
A stay at Grand Tourmalet is not complete without visiting the Pic du Midi.
After 15 minutes of climbing, we discover the chain of the Pyrenees, under their best light at sunset or in the early morning.
At night, the lucky ones (more availability for 2023) can listen to the researchers who have been observing the sky there for more than 140 years.
Their observations are detailed in the planetarium and since February 2023 also in the House of Night, located opposite the Col du Tourmalet.
Access to the Peak at €47, €29 youth rate and €33 and €20 with a weekly ski pass.
picdumidi.com.
Fun with and without the snow
The French practice an average of three activities other than skiing, in particular walking, snowshoeing and sledding.
At the Grand Tourmalet, you can do all three, but also try electric motorcycles and scooters with UlteamDP.
Or take a tree climbing course and its zip line overlooking an imposing waterfall with Vertige de l'Adour.
Others will prefer to relax at the Thermes de Barèges (Ciéléo) or at the Thermes de Bagnères-de-Bigorre (Aquensis), which are celebrating their 200th anniversary.
Ciéléo: €12 per adult (1h) child (3-11 years) €8, family €34;
Aquensis: €18.50 (2 hrs) per adult, €9 per child, €44 per family.
Offers with climb to the Peak at €59, with ski pass at €54.
Read alsoPyrenees: five Nordic sites less than two hours from the ocean
Ski passes 2022/2023: prices and good deals
Like the Magic Pass in 52 Franco-Swiss resorts, the
No Souci Pyrénées card
allows you to ski in 13 resorts: Grand Tourmalet, La Pierre Saint-Martin, Gourette, Cauterets, Luz-Ardiden, Piau, Peyragudes, Ax 3 Domaines, Mont d'Olmes, Guzet, Porté-Puymorens, Formiguères and Cambre d'Aze.
"Nearly 40% of visitors are subscribers, because its formula appeals to locals and holidaymakers alike, who also favor pricing according to consumption"
, describes Blandine Vernardet.
Loyalty is rewarded because the 5ᵉ day is at -50%, the 10ᵉ, 15ᵉ and 20ᵉ are free.
Another advantage, adults benefit from the child rate if they ski together.
The Flex card offers beginners the possibility of changing sectors.
No Souci Pyrénées card €39, Flex card €5, to buy on nosouci.com.
€49 per adult day;
€34.50 per child day (5-17 years old).
Respectively €41.55 and €36.98 at weekends and school holidays with the card (-15%) and €34.50 and €30.45 (-30%) during the week excluding holidays.
Students benefit from -30% every day.
TIPS
Frozen weekends
: two nights and two days of skiing at €119/person, or two nights and three days of skiing for €149/person.
Valid on March 10-13, 17-20 and 24-27, 2023.
Crazy weeks
: stay for a family or group of four people minimum of 7 nights and 6 days at €199/person from March 11-18 and 18-25 and from March 25 to April 1, 2023.
Small week
: enjoy the slopes, in March outside school holidays, for 4 nights and 5 days at €179/person.
Go
By car :
From Paris: A20 to Toulouse then A 64.
From Bordeaux: A65.
From Toulouse: A64.
By train/plane:
Only the low-cost Spanish company Volotea serves Tarbes-Lourdes Pyrénées from Paris Orly.
By train, several trips a day from Paris Montparnasse to Lourdes and Tarbes.
Buses and shuttles (on reservation) connect the airport and the stations to the resorts.
