Hautes-Pyrénées family holidays and breaks

The département of Hautes-Pyrénées in the central and highest part of the mountain range separating France from Spain boasts some of the country’s most spectacular views and best trekking opportunities, but also has plenty for to see and do on family holidays – children can have fun on small-scale versions of the same mountain activities as adults, and the tourist attractions, which are largely based on natural features, are geared up for kids. For those families who simply want to chill out, meanwhile, the snow-topped mountains basking in the sun and the blue skies punctuated by eagles, buzzards and the odd hang-glider give limitless holiday inspiration.

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22°C
73°F

Average monthly temperatures for [location-name_0]

Flying Time	2 hours
Carbon Footprint	0.84 tonnes CO₂
Timezone	GMT +1
Local Currency	Euro

What to do

The trump card for the Hautes-Pyrénées is its 26km flat cycle path leading from Lourdes to Cauterets – this converted train track following the river is very popular with cyclists, roller-bladers and evening strollers.

Drive up high, park the car and within a short walk appreciate views that would otherwise be inaccessible with children. The valley of Gavarnie is a must; you can park in the village and walk up to the highest waterfall in Europe, and even hire mules if the 2hr trek is too much for the children. See our feature on trekking in the Pyrenees with children.

The ski station of Hautacam is fun for kids, with its summer mountain luge (bob-sleigh circuit on rails) and its go-karting and quad bikes. These can be combined with an hour-long walk to the peaceful lake of Isaby.

The valley of Cauterets is worth driving through, with its many impressive roadside waterfalls. The road ends at the park known as Pont d'Espagne, where you can catch a couple of ski-lifts then walk for half an hour to reach Gaube lake. Here you can shiver as you gaze at the glaciers loitering in the shadows of Vignemale, the highest of the French Pyrenean peaks.

The Pyrenees are teeming with wildlife, and spotting a marmot or an izard (the Pyrenean version of the chamois) can be the highlight of a walk. However, you need to know what to look for. The Parc Animalier at Argelès-Gazost is a pleasant place to learn about mountain animals – kids love being able to get so close to them. The visit begins with an awe-inspiring gallery of stuffed mountain animals and continues along a path taking you past or into enclosures full of marmots, squirrels, otters, deer, foxes, bears and wolves. Info boards give explanations in English, and there's a great photo opportunity as the kids stroke the marmots.

If you want to recognise the birds of prey circling the snow-drizzled peaks, you'll have to get close – which isn't easy. Instead, opt for the Donjon des Aigles in Beaucens, where you can admire the magnificent creatures perched in the castle ruins then sit on the lawns to watch the bird-handlers demonstrating the birds' skills. The backdrop of castle and mountains is in itself a show. The commentary is only in French, but having your hair swept by the wings of an owl, buzzard or vulture is an experience not to be missed even if you don’t understand what is said.

Mountains don't only mean trekking, they also demand climbing skills, and there are several safe environments where children can develop rope techniques in the area. Firstly, there are the treetop adventure circuits. Chloro'fil, a few kilometres from Argelès-Gazost, is an example of how natural woodland can be tastefully transformed into a tourist attraction – and is perfect for hot days, too. The courses are arranged in the woods around a grassy clearing where you can enjoy watching the human squirrels scampering in the trees. There are four fun circuits for 4-14-year-olds (less than 1.4m tall); parents are expected to keep a vigilant eye on their offspring. A couple of huts contain interactive games on the mountain environment.

For more contact with rock, the bureau des guides organisations in each valley offer introductory rock-climbing lessons for children as well as guided via ferrata circuits – a type of rock-climbing where you clip onto steel cables and climb on metal steps embedded in the rock. On some routes you can also whizz along cableways spanning the valley between two buttresses. The activity base on the GR10 campsite near Cauterets caters for all age-groups and has an English-speaking guide. One parent can do the via ferrata with the older children (who must be at least 1.3m tall) while the other can take the younger kids (4-10-year-olds) on the kiddies’ tree course.

Other good bets for family holidays in the region are river activities such as rafting, caves to visit, including the Grottes de Médous, and the kids' fishing course at Le Parc du Lutin Pêcheur.

Where to stay

Accommodation suitable for family holidays in the Hautes-Pyrénées ranges from hotels and B&Bs to gîtes and campsites. Search for family hotels in the area with partners Booking.com.

It's a good idea to stay in a village at the base of several valleys, such as Argelès-Gazost; you’ll have more sunshine out of the shadow of the mountains, plus easier road access to a larger selection of sites.

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When

In the summer months, the combination of sun, snow and silence makes the Hautes-Pyrénées an unforgettable destination for family holidays. In winter the region has 12 resorts attracting skiers and snowboarders.

How

TGV trains from Paris serve Tarbes and Lourdes four times a day, taking about 6hrs. There are also nightly sleeper trains from Paris to Tarbes, and thrice-weekly sleeper trains that also carry cars (expensive, but useful time-savers on family holidays). A good source of timetable and practical information is Man in Seat 61. To take your car, call 33 ( 892 35 35 35. Eurostar can provide joint tickets for their own trains from London and onward journeys within France.

It’s about a 10hr drive from the ferry port and Eurotunnel terminal of Calais down to Tarbes in the Hautes-Pyrénées, with tolls costing about 60 euros in total. Or you can take a ferry from Portsmouth to Santander in northern Spain and then drive for about 4hrs. See Via Michelin for a route guide.

Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées airport has daily links with Paris-Orly with Air France. However, you might find it cheaper (and easier) to take a budget flight to an airport such as Toulouse, Bordeaux or even Barcelona and hire a car there.

Eat

Hautes-Pyrénées specialities can be rich – think dried sausage, goose products such as foie gras, local ewe or cow-and-ewe milk cheese, wild mushrooms and Armagnac (brandy). More adventurous kids may like cassoulet, a slow-cooked stew of haricot beans with various meats – perhaps pork and pork sausages, goose, duck and mutton.

However, simple child-pleasing French staples such as steak haché or omelette with frites are widely available, which can simplify family holidays. There are also a range of traditional cakes, including a cake-on-a-spit that looks rather like a kebab.