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Skiers by the ski school at La Mongie

Grand Tourmalet

On either side of the legendary Col du Tourmalet, La Mongie and Barèges share the French Pyrenees' biggest ski area.

Photo: Tourisme Grand Tourmalet, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • DepartmentHautes-Pyrénées
  • Slopes~100 km
  • Top lift~2,500 m (Pic du Midi 2,877 m)
  • SeasonDec–Apr

The Grand Tourmalet ski area links the purpose-built resort of La Mongie on the east side with the old spa village of Barèges on the west, with around 100 km of slopes. Above it all, the Pic du Midi cable car climbs from La Mongie to the observatory at 2,877 metres.

The skiing

  • Long red and blue runs across both sides, with good tree runs above Barèges.
  • Freeride descents from the Pic du Midi for experts with a guide, one of the great off-piste adventures in the Pyrenees.
  • Nursery slopes and ski schools in both villages.

Where to stay

La Mongie is ski-in, ski-out and practical. Barèges is more charming, and the valley towns of Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Bagnères-de-Bigorre add thermal spas and restaurants.

Getting there

Tarbes–Lourdes airport is about an hour away, Toulouse about 2 h 30. The Col du Tourmalet road is closed in winter, so La Mongie and Barèges are reached from different valleys.

Stay near Grand Tourmalet

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Header photo: Photo: Tourisme Grand Tourmalet, CC BY-SA 2.0

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