Sporting events in the southwest of FranceWinter SportsWalks in the regionRegional CultureHow to get there
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The world's premier cycling event passes through this area for five days every year.
Three of these days are spent by the riders climbing the gruelling passes of up to 2100m (c7000ft) and it is on the uphill sections that spectators can especially experience the true atmosphere of this near-religious event.
Unlike the mountain stages, which will require your full days commitment, at least one of the two other countryside stages can be seen in an afternoon.
Whatever your choice, take a picnic or disposable barbecue and make an event of it.
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It is rugby rather than football that the people of south-west France regard as their 'national' sport.
The biggest and most sucessful club is, of course, Stade Toulousain in Toulouse but to experience the true meaning of French rugby it is only necessary to go to one of the many local clubs in the area.
The nearest club is St. Gaudens (a 20 minute drive away) where there are both Union and League teams.
On match days one can invariably see two matches for the price of one and there's always the beer-tent!
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The villa is situated no more than 75 minutes from at least three ski stations, the nearest being only 1 hour away.
This offers a perfect opportunity to have a day on the slopes, ideal for those who are not looking for wall-to-wall wintersports or would just like to find out if skiing is for them and would prefer a day or two as part of a broader winter holiday.
Contrary to the costly and busy French Alps, fees are low, queues short and the slopes rarely half-full.
Many of the Pyrenean stations are off the tourist trail leaving them less frenetic yet still with a high standard of equipment.
The quality of skiing and snowboarding, both on- and off-piste, caters for all from debutants to adrenaline-junkies.
The skiing season normally runs between December and April.
As better explained in Optional extras you can order an après-ski evening meal, to replenish those tired limbs, upon your return.
Nearby Stations
Stations further afield
- Guzet-Neige (1300-2100) 1hr40 away.
- Baqueira-Beret (1800-2600) Situated in Spain 1hr40 away. Preferred station of the Spanish royal family.
Skiing/Snowboading Lessons
Take the following link to France's largest and most reputable ski-school.
Ecole du Ski français
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These three disciplines can be found at:
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After a rewarding and memorable day in the mountains, you can return to the villa and have a delicious homecooked meal ready for you. Please ask for details.
Gavarnie
The source of the Pau river at the head of the Gavarnie valley reveals itself to be a 2,000ft waterfall, the highest in France.
This world heritage site, in good weather, is definitely worth the journey.
The 10,000ft mountains that surround it can be reached more easily by climbing the road passes that rise both to the west and east.
The western road climbs to about 7,000ft where you will find the route to the famous Breche du Roland.
The eastern way also leads to about 7,000ft where the impressive 10,000ft-high Cirque de Troumousse surrounds the summit carpark.
Massif de Néouvielle
This area is accessible by car to 7,000ft and gives walkers the chance to journey through some of the most idyllic scenery in the Pyrenees.
Luchon & Aneto
The walk up to Lac d'Oô is worth every step.
Fitter legs can continue further into the mountains, bringing the walker into some of the roughest country in the chain.
It is possible to reach the 10,000ft summits during a very long day but fitness is essential.
Ascents from south of Bagnères-de-Luchon are shorter but still gruelling especially to the 11,168ft summit of the higest peak of all, Aneto.
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Cagire
As the folk of Fort William regard Ben Nevis, so do the local St.Gaudinois regard Pic de Cagire. Its 6,273ft summit can most interetingly be reached from the road pass to the south. A hill for fit families.
Barousse
There is a road from Montrejeau that passes south into the Barousse mountain region that eventually reaches a pass of over 5,000ft.
From here a walker can enjoy a day on grassy heights. There is very little going up and down and, on a clear day, the views are splendid.
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Grandes Randonnées
Several of the French cross-country paths, the grandes randonnées, pass nearby. These include:
- GR10 - The Pyrenean Chain
- GR65 - Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle
- This is one of the world-renowned pilgrims' routes across Europe to the Spanish city of Compostella.
- GR86 - Toulouse to Bagnères-de-Luchon
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The villa is found in a traditional vine-growing part of France famed for its gastronomy.
Food
Volaille (poultry) is at the root of culinary excellence in this area, especially in duck and goose.
Drink
Regional wine producing areas are found to the North (Cahors, Fronton & Gaillac), the West (Madiran & Jurançon) and the East (Corbières & Minervois) and there are a plethora of vignoble in all of these areas who are always willing to permit a tasting before purchase. These wines are also invariably found in the local markets, supermarkets and restaurants.
The sparkling brut and sec wines of Limoux are, at a fraction of the price of Champagne: an excellent alternative.
And, of course, Armagnac. The centre of production is found at Condom (1h20), the site of many distilleries. An opportunity to learn its history from tours and tastings cannot be missed.
Restaurants
French carribean cuisine can also be found in Aurignac at La Poste restaurant.
Further away there is a Roman influenced restaurant at Valcabrère called the Lugdunum.
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Toulouse
Best seen on foot, the rose city is famed for its cuisine, two striking cathedrals and its narrow, cobbled streets.
The 70,000 strong student population ensures prices are not excessive and city-life remains vibrant.
The excellence of the shopping is reflected by the well-dressed and good-mannered people.
The shops are for all purses, from Hermés to the Sunday flea-market at Place St.Sernin around the magnificent pink-brick basilica.
Gastonomic heaven is found at the Victor Hugo market which offers food from all over France and is open every morning except Sunday.
St.Bertrand de Comminges
A hilltop village surrounding an enormous cathedral.
This site has some of the most impressive stone and wood carvings in the whole of the Pyrenees.
Journey time 40 minutes.
The acclaimed annual music festival, le Festival du Comminges, is held in July and August.
Lourdes
This is one of the most important religious shrines of Europe.
It owes its celebrity to 18 visions of the virgin Mary by a 14 year old peasant girl in 1858.
Four million visit the scene of these visions every year.
Journey time 1h20.
Christians need no introduction to Lourdes but for the non-Christians, it is a worthy one-off experience.
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Aulon
The nearest village from the villa (5 mins by car) has a handy 'epicerie', selling fresh bread, local cheese, fruit, veg and meat. There is also a small petrol station, café and a post office.
Aurignac
Five miles across the fields can be seen the medieval hilltop village of Aurignac; the centre of the canton and thus the heart of much local trade.
The town's layout was influenced by the position of the ruined castle and its, now restored, tower.
A small market is held every Tuesday that adds to the resident butcher, three bakers, greengrocer, tobacconist, newsagent, cashpoint, pharmacy, two mini-marts, one café and two restaurants.
The town is most famous for its archaeological connections to early modern humans and there is a small museum to this effect.
St.Gaudens
This small market town is less than 20 mins away by car and doubles as the capital of the Comminges arrondissement.
The town centre, with its impressive church and cobbled square, has myriad shops for food, clothes, antiques, perfumeries and, of course, bars & restaurants.
There is a twice weekly farmers' market where one can buy an excellent selection of locally produced fare.
For large scale grocery shopping there are plenty of supermarkets.
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There are four airports within easy reach of Le Grenier à Blé.
Flights from the UK take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Toulouse-Blagnac(TLS) - 1h00
- Lourdes/Tarbes(LDE) - 1h15
- Pau(PUF) - 1h30
- Carcassone(CCF) - 1h45
N.B. The list of airlines that serve these airports is subject to change and therefore this only serves as a guide.
The multinational car-hire companies can be found at each of these airports.
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Journey times from the channel ports take between 10 and 12 hours and from Bilbao/Santander in northern Spain about 4.
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Toulouse is a 5 hour journey on the TGV from Paris Montparnasse and there is also a Corail overnight service from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz.
The multinational car-hire companies can be found outside Toulouse Matabiau station.
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