ACTIVITIES GUIDE Ossau Valley • summer 2021 02 03 INTRODUCTION TO OUR VALLEY SUMMARY 6 SECTEURS GEOGRAPHIQUES p 16 Family discovery POUR VOS ACTIVITÉS EN VALLÉE D’OSSAU vers Pau p 17 Hiking, trail, bicycle, P 14 THE OSSAU VALLEY IS ONE OF THE THREE VALLEYS OF Nordic walk P 12 ARUDY BESCAT BÉARN. IT IS DOMINATED BY p 18 / 19 Gourmet visits BIELLE RÉBÉNACQ vers Oloron BUZY THE PIC DU MIDI D’OSSAU BILHÈRES BUZY ISESTE (2,884 METRES). IT IS 50 p 20 Leisure facilities LYS PLATEAU DU BENOU BESCAT KM (30 MILES) LONG, GOING LYS p 21 In rainy weather COL DE MARIE SAINTE ARUDY COLOME SAINTE-COLOME FROM LA BASTIDE DE vers Vallée Col de BLANQUE Marie-Blanque d’Aspe ISESTE RÉBÉNACQ RÉBÉNACQ ALL THE WAY p 22 Wellness and thermal Plateau du Bénou CASTET Port de Castet UP TO POURTALET PASS BILHÈRES Lac de Castet baths BIELLE (SPANISH BORDER). p 23 Around the water ASTE P 10 P 8 BÉON p 24 Person with reduced LARUNS LOUVIE-SOUBIRON ASTE-BÉON mobility / strollers / scooters BÉOST LAC DE CASTET BÉOST LARUNS BAGES BAGES Col d’Aubisque PORT DE p 25 Must see nearby EAUX BONNES CASTET LOUVIE-SOUBIRON vers Lourdes This icon indicates GOURETTE that there is a p 26 to 40 BOOK YOUR vantage point GUIDED SPORT ACTIVITIES P 4 This guide was made to give you ideas on what to AT LARUNS TOURIST OFFICE do in each different area of the Ossau Valley. We’ve EAUX-BONNES tried to list all the different activities that the valley P 6 GOURETTE P 41 Practical information has to offer. For any further information, please, get ARTOUSTE AUBISQUE in touch with the Tourist Office. You will also find at COL DU POURTALET P 42 to 43 Activities Lac de Bious Artigues the end of this guide various activities, supervised PONT DE CAMPS Pont de Camps DUE TO SANITARY providers contacts Parc National by professionals, that you can book directly at the ARTOUSTE des Pyrénées Pic du CONDITIONS, SOME Midi d’Ossau INFORMATION CAN BE tourist centre of Laruns/ Artouste. BIOUS ARTIGUES CHANGED. Col du Pourtalet vers Espagne EAUX-BONNES GOURETTE 04 AUBISQUE 05 A BREATHTAKING VIA FERRATA OF SIALA Located between Eaux-Bonnes and Gourette, the via PANORAMIC VIEW ferrata of Siala is set on the cliff above the Valentin AT THE FOOTHILL OF THE COL D’AUBISQUE, JUST BELOW THE PIC DU GER (2613 M – 8573 gorges. Different routes equipped (free access or with a FT), EAUX-BONNES, A THERMAL WATER SPA RESORT FROM THE SECOND EMPIRE, AND OUTDOOR CLIMBING guide from 37€) and a stunning view on the Ossau Valley GOURETTE, A SKI RESORT, HAVE A LARGE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO OFFER, FOR BOTH are waiting for you. To get to the starting point, you have PEOPLE INTO SPORTS AND PEOPLE LOOKING FOR BEAUTIFUL SCENIC VIEWS. to follow a path in the forest (5 min), then you will cross Legendary summits of the the water on a monkey bridge – the main course is in EAUX-BONNES GOURETTE Pyrenees. Climbers’ paradise. front of you. TREE CLIMBING BEZOU CABLE CAR (1 350/1 650 m) PENE SARRIERE (1936 m – (From €12 to €22) Adults: €7,50 / Children under 12 y/o: €5 Elevation gain: 492ft 6350 ft) Weekend September, 2-6pm Free for children under 4 y/o Length: from 1 to 3 hours depending on your level PENE MEDAA (2 520 m – Every day July/August, 10am-7pm Every day from July 3rd to August 29th There’s a 15-minute walk on the road to get back to 8268 ft) Tel. : + 33 (0)6 89 87 26 66 Discovery of the circus of Gourette, climb your car. PIC D’AMOULAT (2 595 m – Age : 3 y/o and older up with the cable car, many activities are . 8513 ft) In Gourzy forest, a five-minute walk from the proposed on arrival: scooter rentals, family ROGNON DU GER (2 573 m – centre of Eaux-Bonnes, the Forêt Suspendue orienteering courses, nature discovery 8441 ft) invites you to an acrobatic wander between trails. Open for Fat bikes, mountain bikes, BICYCLE TOURING PIC DE GER (2 614 m – 8576 ft) trees, with 3 different courses, 14 zip lines electric mountain bike, scooters, DH. ROCHER MAYLIN (1 850 m – and more than 70 sky-high obstacles. 3 family rides, Kids Bike Parks, initia- 6069 ft) This classic pass, on the route of the Tour de tion and playful course mountain bikes France, stands at 5607 ft., a real challenge for HORIZONTAL PROMENADE and scooters. cyclists ! . Au départ de Laruns, Eaux-Bonnes, Gourette : Length: 1 hour return trip LARGE ZIP LINE This walk, accessible since 1842, offers an AUBISQUE 18,8 km incredible view on the Ossau Valley and LE SOUM DE GRUM €7 / Person 1 200 m de dénivelé positif A two-hour loop taking the shepherds’ July / August: afternoons on reservation. Aas village. A 360° panoramic view path. Access: departure from the carpark, Tel. : + 33 (0)6 89 87 26 66 Stroller route, children’s playgrounds turn left at « Le Cayolar » bar/shop. 2 giant zip lines of 656ft outward and 590ft and picnic areas. return, installed on the Valentin valley, Free-roaming herds and sun set. towards the GR10 (Col de Tortes). Hike on the GR10 Lac d’Anglas 2296ft Open to all from 5 y/o Overall favorite elevation gain – 2h30 to walk up LE COL DU POURTALET PONT DE CAMPS / ARTOUSTE 06 BIOUS-ARTIGUES 07 THE SITE OF WALK AT PONT DE CAMPS BIOUS-ARTIGUES LAKE Length: 2 hours return trip AN UNTOUCHED NATURE IN From June to September, have a family trip Access: after Fabrèges lake, park next to the to Bious-Artigues Lake. hydroelectric power station of Pont de Camps. A PASTORAL AREA A one hour walk around the lake, picnic areas. Cross the main road then get to the track Horse or pony ride (€) : 1/2 hour, tour of the alongside the mountain stream Brousset. TOWARDS THE SPANISH BORDER, DISCOVER THE TERRITORY OF THE PYRENEES lake 1hour, 1/2 a day or full day for experienced NATIONAL PARK, THE PIC DU MIDI D’OSSAU, THE EMBLEM OF THE VALLEY, THE riders. Pastoral activity. PASTURELANDS IN ALTITUDE AND THEIR HERDS, THE LAKES IN OUR MOUNTAINS. Canoe: hop on Canadian canoes and paddle on the still waters of the lake (€): See CLIMBING BLOCKS information page 37. Access for disabled PONT DE CAMPS ARTOUSTE TRAIN The cable car from the Fabrèges lake (4101ft people. Climbing for all - 170 routes with Open every day from May 13th to October, heigh) takes you to the train station (6397ft difficulties from 3 to 7 c. Unique environment right below the 3rd (dates subject to health conditions) heigh) in 15 minutes. You will then embark Pic du Midi d’Ossau. Ideal for families. ROCK CLIMBING Duration Family excursion: 3h30 for a 55-minute train ride. You will discover www.artouste.fr / Phone: 0892 430 440 a breath-taking panorama on the Pic du From abroad: +33 (0)5 35 53 97 71 Midi d’Ossau and the valley of Soussouéou WALK AT THE CIRQUE D’ANEOU NORMAL CLIMBING Reservation strongly recommended valley. Upon arrival, a small mountain path a Length: 1 hour return trip HIKE TOWARDS THE PIC DU small mountain path that will take you in 20 Access : Just before the Pourtalet pass, the MIDI D’OSSAU, TOWARDS The approach is a Low season: minutes to the Artouste lake. cirque d’Anéou opens up on your right hand mountain hike. From May 13th to July 2nd and from side. See the “Guide Randonnée Vallée d’Ossau”. Other activities on site: Adventure Park Access is under your September 1st to October 3rd Take a look at the herds, go up a track to the for children from 3 to 14 years old (tree own responsibility From May 13th to July 2nd and from pastoral centre. Take a track on your right climbing, trampoline and zip line), Mountain or you can choose to September 1st to October 3rd. handside that leads to Lalagüe shepherds’ karting, mountain bike routes. be accompanied by a house. After the cabin, go down following the mountain guide (€). High season: Cable car from 8.30am to 8pm track on your right. FOR THE CANYONEERING LOVERS See page 36. Trains depart every half hour from 9am to Getaway ticket: enjoy a day at Artouste lake to reach the to the Pastoral activity, you may see marmots, 5pm. Discover Brousset, Bious and Soussouéou canyons with Length: full day. Arrémoulit refuge (3h round trip – Izards, birds of prey. 984ft heigh difference) a fully qualified guide. See page 37. Lake Discovery Ticket: full excursion 3h30 Camper’s ticket: to spend a night in Several options: half a day/sports day – From 12 y/o (€) round trip minimum AQUATIC TREKKING the mountains at the refuge Overall Adult - €25 / Child from 4 to 12 y/o: €18 Canyoning activity accessible for kids over 8 Adults: €32 per person Thrills. favorite Family - 1 adult + 2 children: €57 See page 37. Children (4 to 12 y/o) €28 The loop around the lakes of Family - 2 adults + 2 children: €80 Refreshing activity / thrills. Ayous (5 hours) From the 3rd child onwards: €14 extra per child. LARUNS BEOST 08 BAGES 09 LOUVIE-SOUBIRON THE HEART OF THE VALLEY HOURAT CLIFF AND RIGHT AT THE JUNCTION OF THE VALLEY YOU WILL FIND THE PASTORAL VILLAGE OF LARUNS VIA CORDATA THAT OFFERS A GREAT DIVERSITY OF MOUNTAIN SCENERIES. FROM THERE, WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO DISCOVER TYPICAL VILLAGES AND HAMLETS OF OUR VALLEY.