Hi,
I shall be traveling by car with my wife to The Pyrenees for 7 days by the end of September/first week of October.
Route planned: Perpingan-Prades and around Prades, Mont Louis, Font Romeu, Ax Les Thermes, Foix, Niaux cave, Riviere Souterraine de Labouiche, Saint Girons, Col de Portet d'Aspet, Boutx, Saint Beat, Col des Ares, Antichan de Frontignes, Cierp-Gaud, Saint Bertrand de Comminges, Bangneres de Luchon, Cazeaux de Labroust, Genos, Arreau, Coil d'Aspin, Saint Marie de Campan, Bagneres de Bigorre, Col de Tormalet, Luz Saint Sauveur, Gedre, Cirque de Gavarnie, Cauterets, Pont d'Espagne, Arrens Marsous, Col de Soulor, Eaux Bonnes, and endind at Pau
We intend to go by car most of the route, but also some walking according to the sites (an average hour or two per day).
can anyone advise if 7 days are the right time, and section of the route is recommended per day?
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
I have spent very little time in that area, and without a car, so I can't help on the timing question.
If you want to take a break from driving one day, you might consider the SNCF narrow-gauge yellow train that runs from Villefranche-Vernet to Latour de Carol. Because it's an SNCF train, the fare is comparatively reasonable. I haven't been to Latour de Carol since the early 1970s, but Villefranche-de-Conflent (the town closest to the eastern terminus) is a very picturesque (read "very touristy") fortified town. It's worth some walking-around time, for sure. You can identify the most scenic part of the ride by looking at the train schedule. Some trains only cover the central segment. I'm not sure about frequencies in the fall, but trains do run then. You can connect to the train from Perpignan, but it would make more sense for you to hop on at some town you were going to be near anyway. I cannot comment on the safety of personal possessions left in your car at one of the little rail station parking lots.
Posted by
San Diego
19 posts
Hi! I overlapped some of your itinerary on a wonderful two-week trip in September 2009. We flew into Toulouse and spent the first three nights in Foix. The Niaux cave is one of my all time favorites. Be sure you also spend some time at the Parc de la prehistoire to better understand the cave and prehistoric life and times. We also spent several nights in VIllefranche de Conflent and enjoyed that area - it's France with a strong Catalan flavor. I called this trip "the vacation in second gear" and suspect you'll have a similar experience.
In 1999 we stayed in Argeles-Gazost and hiked near Pont d'Espagne and Lac de Gaube. It's gorgeous there!
Please keep in mind that driving times in the Pyrenees may be longer than you expect so you may want to focus on a smaller area.
I hope you have a fantastic time! I'm envious!
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
Maybe you already know this. It is absolutely imperative to have reservations for the Niaux Cave. When we were there a number of years ago, they were only taking 20 people per tour; and not all the tours were in English.