Chalet du Bastan
Winter Season
Barèges is on the edge of the largest ski area in the Pyrenees, the Domaine du Tourmalet. It straddles the Col du Tourmalet, and is linked up to the large modern resort of La Mongie in the next valley. The runs are reached by a series of well maintained ski lifts which allow you to explore the huge variety of skiing the area has to offer.
Barèges offers a wide network of open easy pistes for beginners, there are two ski schools in the village the École de Ski Français (ESF) and the independently owned Ecoloski, both of whom have English and Spanish speaking instructors.
Intermediate skiers are well catered for with a wide variety of blue and red runs, some of which will leave you breathless! The resort has an interconnecting series of easy runs which take you the length of the resort, alongside the rather more challenging options, so there is always an easy way home. The Lienz area offers sheltered skiing through the forest, so there is plenty of skiing if the weather is bad.
The black runs will challenge even the most experienced skier, and because of the vast array of off-piste skiing within the area, you will definitely find plenty to entertain you. If you really want to get away you can use one of the local ski guides.
It is possible to ski from the Pic du Midi observatory, with a qualified ski guide. It has been said that this descent is more challenging than the famous Vallée Blanche at Chamonix in the Alps. The other must do off piste run is above the Quatre Thermes in La Mongie, the route starts with a trek through a hole in the mountains which leads to a wonderful unspoilt run all the way back down to the car park at Tournaboup.
The restaurants on the mountain all serve good home cooked food at very reasonable prices, around 8-9 euros for the dish of the day. La Bergerie on the La Mongie side of the Col du Tourmalet was featured in the Sunday Times Travel section – best mountain restaurants.
To see more of the ski area, go to www.tourmalet.fr