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Barèges, the largest ski domain in the Pyrénées
the regions of France
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the slopes, close to – but not in – the mountains, from where you can easily reach a number of ski resorts while enjoying the calm and peace in the villages of rural southwest France.
Ski sun-day
With skiing and sunshine, the Pyrénées off er the best of all worlds, says Nadia Jordan – and the properties are great value too
A
nyone who has looked at property prices near any Alpine resort will
have noticed that the region has become so expensive as to be out of the reach of most househunters. However, the good news is that, here in the valleys and foothills of the French Pyrénées, excellent-value properties
can still be found for buyers seeking permanent or holiday homes with easy access to the mountains and year-round activities on the doorstep. For those also wanting to let
out a property, there is still a very good market in the region for renting to skiers in winter, walkers and cyclists out of peak season and holidaymakers in the summer. If you are looking
for a property that is both good for skiing in the winter, perfectly located for enjoying outdoor activities and has a great climate in the summer months, then the Pyrénéan foothills could be the ideal location for you. Rather than buying property
right in a ski resort, your budget will go much further if you choose a property lower down
MORE FOR YOUR CASH Houses in the ski resorts tend to be smaller and the buildings clustered together. But once you get an hour or so away, you can fi nd properties with more space and larger gardens with room for a pool and a sunny terrace where you can admire the distant, snow-capped peaks and plan your next ski or cycling trip in the mountains. Most of the resorts in the
Pyrénées are smaller and have quicker access from the valleys than those in the Alps, hence they can be easily reached – usually within an hour to an hour and a half – from much of southwest France. For example, Haute-Garonne, Gers and Ariège are all close enough to several ski resorts for a day trip or weekend on the slopes. This means you can enjoy the best of both worlds, with excellent skiing within reach in winter, while having easy access to airports at Toulouse and Tarbes, and the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.
BEST FOR SKIING In terms of which ski resorts are best, those in the centre of the Pyrénéan chain tend to be more snow-sure (away from the coasts and also higher in
First re orts Our pick of resorts to have within striking distance of your home
BAGNÈRES- DE-LUCHON Bagnères-de-Luchon is both a ski destination and a thermal spa with year-round mountain activities. In winter, it transforms into a chic ski resort with a cable- car right in the centre of town to whisk you up to the lovely ski resort of Superbagnères with its 32km of pistes and runs skiable to 2,260 metres. And for non-skiers, there is also snowshoeing, dog sledding and all sorts of treatments on off er in the thermal baths and spa, which have just been completely refurbished. In summer, there are endless walks for diff erent abilities including children; there are pretty mountain lakes for swimming and paddling such as Lac d’Oô; tennis
Bagnères-de-Luchon is a spa town 68 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2025
courts, a golf course, fabulous fi shing and lots of biking trails. In July and August, you can take your bike up to the high trails via the gondola. Plus, of course, Spain is only 10km down the road. Luchon itself is very stylish with beautiful Belle Époque architecture
and awash with lovely cafés and restaurants, plus there is a cinema that regularly shows fi lms in English and lots of festivals throughout the year, so there is something for everyone. In addition, Luchon is soon to have the fi rst hydrogen train in France, which will run from Montréjeau all the way into town, making it accessible directly by train from Toulouse and from all the stations to the Atlantic and the Mediterranean – so there is no need to have a car here.
PEYRAGUDES Peyragudes (connected to Peyresourde) is situated approximately 20 minutes’ drive from Luchon (there is a twice-daily shuttle), and although many British skiers will be unfamiliar with the ski area, some may recognise Peyresourde as the setting for the opening of the James Bond fi lm Tomorrow Never Dies. There are 50km of pistes up to 2,400m, accessed by an effi cient liſt network. The showpiece of this resort is the Vallée
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
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