What to do in the Pyrenees in winter?

Gavarnie-Gèdre
What to do in the Pyr ...
You are planning a winter holiday in the Pyrenees… Get off the beaten track and follow our program of fun and original activities to make your winter stay in the Pyrenees unforgettable! With its mountains of ice, snow-capped valleys and pine forests, the Pyrenean scenery lends itself well to winter sports. It's not just skiing to have fun in the Pyrenees ;)  


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Learn about caving in the caves of the Pyrenees

When it's cold outside, we look for indoor activities. So we take you to the bowels of the earth for a discovery of nature, from the inside! Even if we know our environment and its workings better and better, this underground world remains shrouded in mystery. Whatever your level and your sporting abilities, the specialized instructors will know how to guide you, in complete safety, in this marvelous universe. Here is our list of caving clubs in the Pyrenees.

Pyrenees in winter

Explore with Objectif Spéléo in Seix ; Photo @Objective Caving

Visit an underground cave

We stay underground, for a more family visit. In the Ariège Pyrenees, the Lombrives cave has been a refuge throughout history. From prehistoric times to the present day, many generations have left their traces there. It must be said that this cave is really fascinating with its concretions, its lake and its " cathedral ". Different visits have been planned to satisfy all your desires, from family hiking to speleological discovery. Check out practical information and events on their website.

Take a walk in nature

Winter is a good season to enjoy nature in peace. You will meet a lot less hikers than in summer. You can admire this magnificent postcard panorama, formed by the Pyrenean mountains under the snow. The fir forests do not become bare and are home to many wild animals. By being discreet, you will probably come across a few...

To guide you, we offer a selection of walks and hikes :  


Pyrenees in winter

The mountain is yours, in its white coat

If you are more of a cyclist, the passes and mountain roads offer you an exceptional environment, with views up to these sporting challenges.  

To find other cycling routes, the website of the tourist office provides you with the most beautiful cycling routes in Occitania (fr). For advice, tips and tips : the Maison du Vélo website is very comprehensive.

Pyrenees in winter

The brave, well-equipped can take to the winter roads

Fishing for Pyrenean trout in a fish farm

An aquaculture farm is the ideal place to try out Pyrenean trout fishing in any season. If you are already a fan, this will be an opportunity to practice this hobby outside the regulated period and to improve your techniques to be ready for the opening of fishing!  


Pyrenees in winter

Learn or improve! Photo @Lesley Williamson

Practice an original winter sport

Winter sports in the Pyrenees remain essential. But there are many other activities to discover, apart from skiing. We offer you our most unusual ideas to enjoy the snow without putting on your skis :

  • Find your child's soul and go sledging. Well yes, sledding is not just for children. You too still have the right to have fun, experience intense sliding sensations and finish your crazy race in the snow! You will find, in many stations, tracks reserved for sledges. As a bonus, here's everything you always wanted to know about sleddin (fr)...


  • Take a sleigh ride with sled dogs or pulled by a horse.


Pyrenees in winter

The snowshoe yoga hike, what a great idea! Photo : @Omahatha Yoga

Discover the sky in the observatories

The Hautes Pyrénées and Pyrénées Ariégeoises observatories offer occasional workshops during events, initiations or courses to admire the sky at this time of the year when the Milky Way is great to observe.  

  • The Sabarat Observatory is located near the Mas-d'Azil, in a very preserved environment. It organizes evenings and entertainment.


Pyrenees in winter

Pic du midi de bigorre ; The Pic du Midi de Bigorre, a breathtaking view

Relax in the wellness centers

After sport, comfort… And if we went to relax in a wellness center… After all these sporting and invigorating activities, it is high time to take care of yourself and recharge your batteries to recharge your batteries! To find the right address, this page shows you the balneotherapy areas, hammams, saunas, etc.

Our favorites :  

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Taste the mountain gastronomy

In the Pyrenees, there are many local products (fr) to taste : mountain cheeses, trout from the gaves, black pork, Tarbais beans... This typically mountain cuisine has preserved its authenticity, while evolving towards a renowned gastronomy. Toulouse and its cassoulet, garbones from the south-west, pies from the Pyrenees… the typical dishes of the region are delicious and generous.

At the bottom of the Barèges slopes, near the Col de Tourmalet and the Pic du Midi, the Auberge du Lienz, chez Louisette (fr) welcomes you in a friendly atmosphere to easily enjoy this family cuisine, based on good local products and ancestral recipes.

Pyrenees in winter

Yum, you need invigorating dishes in winter! © SOLLUB / Adobe Stock

Visit the sacred city of Lourdes

This city with a special destiny will amaze you. Of course, the shrines, the basilica and the other churches are magnificent. In addition, religious tourism has developed there and offers you all kinds of activities and visits on this theme. But there is also a lake, a funicular, a fortified castle and a Pyrenean museum to see. For an overview of your visit, follow our blogger during her 24 hours in Lourdes, the sacred city at the foot of the Pyrenees.

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We hope that these few ideas have inspired you for the next winter holidays in the Pyrenees.


Did you like our article? Find more on our Blog.

Follow us on the Facebook page of the Toulouse Pyrenees Guide and on Instagram @guidetoulousepyrenees

 

Article written by Stéphanie Tempier for the Toulouse Pyrénées Guide.


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