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French Pyrenees

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
As we are considering buying a property near Biarritz, I would like to know snowHead 's views of Ski Resorts in this region.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Popular then!!!!
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Not been to that end of the Pyrenees, only the Mediterranean end, and even then didn't manage to get any skiing in (high winds closed the lifts). As a general overview I think Bareges/la Mongie are the biggest and best (but still not Alpine in scale) with places like Font Romeu and les Angles in the east getting more visitors with good recent snow records. The western Pyrenees is a mystery to me , but I wouldn't expect large domaines and jumping apres...
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Try this site http://www.pyrenees-online.com/stations/index.php it has links to all the French Pyrenees Resorts. I visited Font Romeu in February which was fine for a weekend but is in the other side. Bareges/Lamongie http://www.tourmalet.fr/index.html is the largest on the Atlantic side.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Are any of them open for summer skiing?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
IncogSkiSno,
I love the area and am just back from a summer holiday there. Having said that I don't know if my opinions will be of any use as I have never skied in the area.

Personally I wouldn't choose the Biarritz area as a place to have any form of skiing holiday from as it is to far to the skiing to drive to and from on a daily basis. We have friends who live about 40 mins inland from Biarritz and ski in the Pyrenees. They have had great snow for the last couple of seasons and tell me that the skiing has been great.
Having said that when they have a skiing holiday they rent a house closer to the skiing as although the drive is worthwhile for a days skiing to do it on a regular basis for a week would be to tiring.

From Biarritz the nearest ski area is I believe Iraty but I think this is just ski de Fond. Most of the worthwhile alpine skiing is I believe further inland above Lourdes. I would guess this is at least an hour and a half from Biarritz and then slow roads up from there. La Mongie Bareges, Cautarets and Gavarnie/ Gedre are all said to have decent skiing.

Personally I would love a place in the Basque area but I wouldnt base a skiing holiday around it; rather reckon that if I was down in the area when the snow was good go up to the slopes for a day or two. Hope this is of some use.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
nog,
None open for summer skiing, the pyreneean glaciers are receding fast and are not lift served in winter anyway. but the area is stunning.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
T Bar,
We are trying to eventually find somewhere with good surf and reasonable distance to skiing area. Of course this may not even happen, just looking at all the options for now. We may just opt for buying property in a ski resort.

Thanks for the info.

Did you actually stay in Biarritz?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Not sure if this is near enough to Biarritz

I was in Luz St Saveur this year for a week. The two nearest resorts were Bareges/ La Mongie and Luz Ardiden. The trip was a beginners ski tour so we weren't skiing the resorts too much. We spent two days around in the Barege/La mongie area. At the time it had plenty of snow when the rest of France was really suffering.

The resort skiing we did was pretty good, no complaints and the only mountain restaurant we used was excellent. I can't remeber the name but its on one of the climbs sometimes used on the Tour de france and full of old cycling stuff.

I spent a day in Luz Ardiden which is a smaller area but still worth doing.

For a week of resort based skiing I would find any one area too small. Best to do the area by car and see some of the other resorts in the area.

Big plus is the scenery, much more rugged than the alps. Peaks aren't as high as the alps but there seem to be more packed in to a smaller area. More like the dolomites.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
rich, Thanks, that's interesting. Are the resort villages picturesque?
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
IncogSkiSno, everything is on a smaller scale than the alps which includes the villages/towns. I didn't think they were particularly picturesque. Luz and Barege are both below the snow line.
The towns like Barege higher up the valleys are long and narrow following the road as there's not much level gound to be had. Access to the slopes is a bus/car ride up the valley. Barege had a funicular once but its no longer in use, too expensive to run we were told.
The hotels are mostly small family run operations with not a lot of stars but plenty of character.
The whole area seems to be in a bit of a time warp, thats not really a criticism just an observation.

If you have some aches and pains almost every town seems to have its own hot spring baths, each one guaranteed to cure a different ailment.

It would make a great weekend destination but there aren't a lot of flights to choose from and my friends prefer to play safe and go to places they've heard of.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
IncogSkiSno,
We stayed Inland from Biarritz and have been going to the same area for the last four summers. It is a great area with good surf I am told, though bar a bit of body boarding I dont surf but I certainly like the coast here. It does apparently get very crowded during the French summer break though this is after we leave.
According to the RAC journey planner it is about two and a half hours between Biarritz and Bareges.
I guess somewhere half way would give you shorter trips but whether you would want to do this on a daily basis, I dont know.

Pau is meant to be a lovely town and is probably about mid way in terms of travelling time though not geographically. The area is well worth a visit even if you decide not to buy. Don't miss a trip to St Sebastien over the border, a beautiful city with fantastic tapas and other food.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
T Bar,

We had 2 weeks in Lebenne last year and took in St Sebastien, Biarritz and St Jean de Luz. We (kids)also surfed/ boarded Hossegor and Capbreton areas. Couldn't afford it this year so we're trying South Brittany. Sad
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Colin B, I have been on the Tourmalet site - it doesn't look too bad!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I thought it looked pretty good and was toying with the idea of a long weekend there myself. I found Font Romeu to be very cheap with very few English visitors. I went in mid-February, there was loads of snow, but understandably it was pretty busy especially at weekend when lots of Spaniards come over the border too. I think you'll find Le Tourmalet to be pretty similar.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I thought it looked pretty good and was toying with the idea of a long weekend there myself. I found Font Romeu to be very cheap with very few English visitors. I went in mid-February, there was loads of snow, but understandably it was pretty busy especially at weekend when lots of Spaniards come over the border too. I think you'll find Le Tourmalet to be pretty similar.
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