La Mongie

The ski resorts of La Mongie and Barèges are part of the Domaine du Grand Tourmalet ski area, the largest skiable region in the French Pyrenees! The two ski resorts are easily accessed from each other.

Domaine du Grand Tourmalet in figures:

100km of slope coverage; 69 slopes: 23 green, 21 blue, 20 red & 5 black; 39 lifts: 1 cabin lift, 13 chair lifts including 3 declutching 6-person ones, 23 drag lifts and 2 magic carpets, representing 32km of lifts (flow : 45 000 skiers/hour); 170 snow cannons; heated picnic room; 5 high-altitude restaurants; luge slope; 2 snowparks: boardercross, tables, big air, rails; For riders: 1500m of difference in height at the Pic du Midi for a long and fabulous downhill glide; cross-country skiing: 14km of marked trails in Barèges & 2 km in La Mongie.

This ski area provides an excellent combination of vast open bowls, tree lined runs, accessible nursery slopes, nice broad and long cruising blue slopes and the high mountain moon-like Quattre Termes blue run, challenging red runs, some of the steepest black runs and some exceptional off-piste. It even hosted the Downhill World Skiing Championships in 1986!

There are two beginners' areas. La Mongie has 13 slopes and 11 drag lifts and Barèges has 5 slopes, 3 drag lifts, 1 chair lift and 2 travelators.

The Turon beginner slope (green) in La Mongie is floodlit and offers free access from 17:00 – 21:00 daily during school holidays; and everyday except Mon, Tue & Sat outside school holidays.

For expert skiers, the resort is also famed for its off-piste and has access to the Pic du Midi (2877m), an entirely un-pisted mountain that attracts World Cup Freeride competitions.

Take the Prada chairlift and from the top there are four different black runs, which are the steepest in the area. None are groomed and have moguls at the top. In most places they are wide, giving you the option to avoid the steepest parts by crossing the run from one end to the other.

Snowboarding in La Mongie

The 2 snow-parks have Boardercross, tables, big air, rails and a leisure area open to all abilities.

The Tour de France has passed through but the Domaine du Grand Tourmalet is a skiing landmark of the French Pyrenees and also boasts some champions, including Mathieu Crepel, double World Champion of snowboard (Big Air and Half Pipe).

Cross country skiing in La Mongie

In total there is 50km of cross country skiing, some of which is marked: 14 km of marked trails in Barèges & 2 km in La Mongie.

The extraordinary off-piste of The Tourmalet Pass, around The Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the valley of Campan Payolle and Bagneres is not to be missed!

Snowshoeing in La Mongie

Professional and friendly guides can help you discover the joy of snowshoeing and the snowy landscapes, starting from La Mongie or Bagnères. Some guides even offer night snowshoeing under the stars! Some also organise snowshoeing outings for children aged from 4 years old to discover the snow, the mountain environment, animal tracks, sliding and igloo building.

List of local mountain guides:

Aabelios:

www.picdumidi-guides.com

Aneto:

www.aneto-sports.com

Ancla Sport:

www.ancla-sports.com

Aventure en Pyrénées:

www.aventures-en-pyrenees.net

Pyrénéances:

www.pyreneances.com

Pyrénées Autrement:

www.pyrenees-autrement.com

Transhumance:

www.randomontagne.net

Carine Boitard:

E-mail: carineboitard@hotmail.fr

Tel: + 33 (0)6 80 61 45 39

Sesma Daniel:

Tel: + 33 (0)6 76 69 14 05

Ski school in La Mongie

ESF La Mongie and their instructors welcome you in the largest winter sports resort of the French Pyrenees! On ski slopes, off-piste, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, telemark, snowshoeing, freeride, freestyle, beginner, expert, group lesson, private lesson, young, not so young – you name it, they can teach it!

As well as group and private lessons for adults and children they also offer a snow crèche for children aged 3-11 years old who do not want to ski, they can just have fun in the snow, play games and make friends (half or whole days).

Winter 2010/2011 prices and information will be available shortly.

Lift passes in La Mongie

There are various lift pass options available, including a pass that covers La Mongie and Barèges only, one that covers those 2 resorts plus one trip to the Pic du Midi (via cable car), a beginner one for La Mongie, a beginner one for Barèges, one that includes a certain time in the Aquensis Spa in Barèges and one that covers the Domaine du Grand Tourmalet, Luz Ardiden and a trip to the Pic du Midi.

Winter 2010/2011 prices and information will be available shortly.

Other information on La Mongie

A free shuttle bus service operates around the resort from approximately 09:00 to 22:00 during French school holidays and until 18:00 outside of French school holidays.

Nearest train station: Tarbes, then bus to Bagnères de Bigorre and La Mongie. Approximately 32 miles.

Free entertainment during school holidays includes welcome drinks, torch-lit descents, night skiing, ice skating activities on the brand new ice rink at the foot of the slopes, floodlit slope at heart of resort open 1700 - 2100 for children, demonstrations, puppet shows, concerts, street entertainment, fire work displays, snowman building competitions, children's entertainment, music etc... Contact the tourist office for more information.

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre is not to be missed! Take the short 15 minute cable-car ride from La Mongie and you find yourself at the highest museum in Europe! See the observatory, scientific equipment, take in the unique panoramic view of the Pyrenees from 2877m, watch the sunset, enjoy a traditional Bigorre meal, feel the night, see the sunrise and witness the astronomy activities. The Pic du Midi was classified as a national nature site in 2003 and now offers day, evening and night options to take your breath away at any time of day! Astronomy enthusiasts will be in their element!

www.picdumidi.com

La Mongie day nursery: Les Marmottes welcomes children from 12 months to 4 years old.

Open 7 days a week during the winter season from 0900 - 1700.

Booking recommended.

During the season: 06 62 91 93 69

Outside the season: 05 62 91 92 33

La Mongie snow day nursery: E.S.F. mini-club for all children from 3 to 11 years old who want to have fun in the snow without skiing. The children are looked after by professionals. Please contact us for more details.

Snow bikes: An original and exciting way to discover the slopes as a driver (if you have a driving licence) or a passenger. First departure 17:30. www.motoneige-lamongie.fr

Aquensis, the Thermal Spa of Bagnères de Bigorre: 3000m2 of pure relaxation and enjoyment. This superb Spa offers an animated swimming pool with jets and rapids, a relaxation swimming pool with hydro-massage posts and aqua-music, steam rooms, Finnish saunas, outdoor Jacuzzi, gym, aqua-gym and various spa treatments including bath therapy, massages and beauty care. For more details please visit: www.aquensis.fr

Nearby Payolle is a peaceful location 18km from La Mongie (about half an hour) and offers the Payolle lake, pine forest,  signposted snowshoe routes, 50km of cross country skiing and a wonderful sledge area. Here you could also experience riding on or learning to drive a dog-sleigh with the' Traineaux Pyreneens': www.traineaux-pyreneens.kazeo.com

The Casino in Bagneres offers slot machines, roulette, Black Jack, Stud Poker etc.... the bar/restaurant 'Le Saxo' also organises concerts on Saturdays, dancing teas at 1530 on Sundays and has regular dancing evenings and dinner shows. www.bagneres.groupetranchant.com

'Le Grand Duc' night club is located a few kms away in nearby Montgaillard (in the direction of Tarbes).

Le Maintenon Cinema:

Times: Outside school holidays: Mon & Fri 2100, Wed, Sat and Sun 1700 & 2100. During school holidays: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 1700 - 2100.

For details of what's on, please view here: www.allocine.fr

History & Culture:

The medieval Mauvezin Castle was built in the 11th century by the Counts of Bigorre and offers a museum, gun room, exhibition and shop plus medieval entertainment on Sundays. www.chateaudemauvezin.com

Escaladieu Cistercian Abbey can be visited all year round. Founded in 1142, its construction was completed by 1160 and is a major historical site of the Pyrenees. www.cg65.fr