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-Affordable ski holidays with 40 resorts to choose from
-Fantastic aprés scenes, from family-friendly to all-night partying
-Excellent snowfall lending the pistes fantastic skiing
France is a country of regions and of contrasts. That applies to its skiing as much as it does to its cuisine or culture. So don't just file the Pyrenees under 'mountains' and expect an identical out-of-the-box Alpine experience above the snow line.
The Pyrenees separate France from Spain, in the far south-west of France. The border actually runs through the mountains and there are many ski resorts in both the French and Spanish Pyrenees. All of the 40 or so Pyrenean ski stations attract both Spanish and French winter sports fans and most people are happy hopping between languages.
The resorts are less well established than the most famous Alpine resorts. There's no surprise there, the Alps is where modern winter sports were born. But the Pyrenees has no reason to feel inferior to its counterpart to the east when it comes to the quality and quantity of its snow or its slopes, and its oldest resorts date back to the 1930s.
The tops of the Pyrenees reach to 3,404 metres at Aneto, which is in Spain. But there are also high peaks in France, including the beautiful Pic du Midi at 2,877 metres. Some years, Pyrenean resorts are world-beaters for snow cover.
Resorts tend to be modern, purpose-built places and there has usually been good investment in snow machines to help out when nature doesn't quite do its job. While the skiing industry may have colonized the Alps first, the Pyrenees has a history of thermal and hydro treatments dating back to Roman times and beyond and many ski stations have neighbouring spa towns that now provide exclusive and luxurious wellness facilities.
This lack of development means that the Pyrenees offer a more natural experience than the Alps. You won't find the same levels of nightlife and shopping here but you will find a distinctive local mountain cuisine and some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe with plenty of wildlife for the sharp-eyed to spot, not to mention some truly cracking skiing. With less demand, prices tend to be much better, and as word gets out resorts are modernising to offer the sort of facilities, extras and family accommodation that the modern traveler demands.
There are around 40 ski areas in the Pyrenees, most of which are fairly small and cosy, and they tend not to link with other resorts. We've listed five of the biggest and best below.
This area consists of 137km of pistes, with an altitude of 1,500m to 2,700m, and is well-known for its assured ski cover at high altitudes
The large domain of the Peyragudes has 51 runs linked by 17 high-speed lifts. The area also boasts 230 snow cannons, and with an altitude of 1,600m - 2,400m, yearly snowfall is generally good. The Peyragudes pistes are beautiful, the high altitude providing world-beating views
Towering altitudes guarantee good snow cover in beautiful surroundings in Piau-Engaly, and with 42km of pistes to explore, with a large choice of blue and red runs, including the huge Grande Bleue, and the red Foret piste. The domain sits between the altitudes of 1,400m to 2,500m.
The area of Saint-Lary Soulan is good fun for beginners and youngsters, with 7 green and 26 blue runs of its 100km of pistes. There are also 12 red and 10 black runs in this resort, providing skiing versatility. The Snow Garden and Kidpark give it real family appeal.
The famous Pic du Midi towers above this, the biggest resort of the French Pyrenees. There's a huge 240km of pistes over an altitude of 1,250m to 2,500m. Tourmalet is also a big favourite with snowboarders, with terrain parks in Bareges and La Mongie to choose from.
The nine resorts within the Neiges Catalanes domain offer some choice, but you are more likely to find wonderful slopes than an excellent nightlife. Families though will have no trouble finding good quality outings and in-resort activities for youngsters, and decent restaurants at good prices. Les Angles, unusually for the Pyrenees, is a mountain village rather than a purpose built ski resort.
Saint-Lary Soulan
The old village of Saint-Lary, down the mountain from the ski resorts, gives an authentic mountain village atmosphere in jaw-dropping surroundings. There are some alternative off-slope activities and Saint-Lary does very well for shopping, drinking and dining. The long-established thermal baths have been transformed into the very best modern spa facilities
Tourmalet
There's a lovely choice to be made when you choose to check out the giant Tourmalet ski area. Head to purpose-built La Mongie for great restaurants, bars and ski shops or pick Bareges for a traditional mountain village experience with a fantastic thermal spa, cinema, and a real air of old world luxury in one of the range's best established resorts.
Two villages below the fantastic sunny slopes offer a good choice of off-piste activities. The Peyragudes is the Pyrenees' friendliest resort, with a real emphasis on good value fun that includes all the family. A lot of the winter activities are built around the stunning views, sunrises and sunsets of this most beautifully sited resort.
Ski-in/ski-out accommodation and a design that's considered the impact on the pristine mountains make Piau a great resort for the serious skier. The village is friendly, and a big favourite with locals who come up to ski their favourite runs at weekends before eating and drinking in a good range of bars and restaurants with real Pyrenean character. A very good range of snowy alternatives to skiing is offered.
There are hundreds of kilometres of lifts across the Pyrenees. Every resort in the mountains provides guests with access to at least one lift. A few of these are only open for winter visitors, however many resorts keep their lifts open throughout the summer months.
An ever increasing number of Pyrenees destinations provide lift access to mountain bike users in the summer, for example, the ski station at Ax3 Domaine opens its lifts for cyclists to enjoy the 1300m of descents in the area. Season passes or day passes can also be purchased online or at local tourist offices.
There are plenty of childcare options available for families in the Pyrenees. For example, five crèches can be found located around the Champseur Valley. These are located in the resorts of St Bonnet, St Leger, Chaillol, Ancelle, and Orcieres Merlette but there are plenty more crèches and nurseries located throughout the mountain range. Many tourist offices in the various Pyrenean resorts can provide parents with a list of qualified private nannies and au pairs working in the area.
The most popular resorts in the Pyrenees have spacious car parks which will be especially easy to park in during the summer season. A few resorts also have free car parking spaces out on the streets. These will be marked by signposts with the letter 'P'. Some of the more quiet resorts might not offer free spaces but will still provide places to park for a small fee. Tourist offices can provide parking information and maps which display the parking spots available to visitors.