Barèges

Area Profile

Barèges is an old Roman spa town famous for its thermal springs. Napoleon III built a military hospital here so that his battle weary troops could benefit from the healing waters. Barèges Thermes are still open today and are kept busy in winter by skiers who go there to have their muscles soothed by the hot sulphuric water after a hard day on the slopes. Due to the thermal springs and its altitude (its the highest spa town in France), Barèges is a year round resort with crowds coming here to enjoy the natural healing spas which can soothe many ailments, especially arthritis and rheumatism.

The village itself has a quaint medieval feel - it has one main street which lengthens each year as the village develops. The skiing is made up mainly of wooded trails and valleys making it one of the prettier resorts in the Pyrenees. Barèges was one of the first ski resorts to open in the area, becoming popular in the early 1900's for its cross country trails. It was only in the 1920's that ski lifts were installed and the resort really got started. Situated at the foot of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, Barèges is connected to La Mongie by the Col du Tourmalet which makes this one of the largest skiing areas in the Pyrénées with over 120km of piste.

Barèges links with neigbouring La Mongie to make up one of the biggest skiing areas in the Pyrenees and just as the villages are in complete contrast, so is the skiing. La Mongie has steep, wide open treeless slopes while

Barèges is very typically Pyreneen with its picturesque wooded trails. There is a good variety of terrain in Barèges which has skiing for every level. Its nursery area at La Laquette is easily accessible - only a short gondola ride up from the top of the main street. There is a weekly torchlight descent from here down into the village.

This area has everything you could want, its wide and very gently sloping in a naturally sunny spot with restaurant nearby. Once beginners are turning and feeling more confident they are spoilt for choice with so many easy greens and gently blues. When snow conditions allow, the long, very easy green through the trees back to Bareges from Tournaboup makes a brilliant last run of the day and is something beginners aim to achieve within the first week.

Important Dates

Projected Days Open: N/A

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Years Open: N/A

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Terrain Type

Beginner Runs: 63%

Intermediate Runs: 30%

Advanced Runs: 7%

Expert Runs: %

Lifts

Total Number Of Lifts: 40

Gondolas & Trams: N/A

High Speed Sixes: N/A

High Speed Quads: N/A

Quad Chairs: 4

Triple Chairs: N/A

Double Chairs: 3

Surface Lifts: 25

Elevation

Top: 8202 ft.

Bottom: 4593 ft.

Vertical Drop: 2297 ft.

Longest Run: 5.0 miles

Skiable Terrain: N/A

Snow Making: N/A