To Do & See
There is plenty to do and see in the surrounding area.
Lézignan
Our village of Lézignan provides wonderful strolling walks for those who are looking for the peaceful traditional French village. Lézignan has a beautiful 17th Century church. The church spire is unique to the Barony of Angles.
There is also plenty of wild life, with deer roaming the woods behind Chez Passet, and birds of prey circling above in the blue skies. We also have the little visitors too, with Doves, the Nut-hatch and of course the Robins and Great Tits.
Lourdes
Only a 5 minute drive away is Lourdes, with its beautiful monuments, churches, and the Grotto of Massabielle where the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. Visitors from all over the world travel to see this splendid site. Lourdes also has a Fortified Castle which over looks the town and holds the Pyrenees Museum of Popular Art and Traditions. The Pic du Jer is just a few minutes drive away and you can take the Funicular railway up to discover the sensational panoramic view at 1000m altitude.
Lourdes is a buzzing town with plenty to do and see. It has many restaurants, cafes and bars to take a well deserved break before returning to the tranquillity of Chez Passet.
The Mountains
The mountains are on the doorstep of Chez Passet with the Pic du Midi and Montague looking magnificent all year round. The mountains are very accessible by car. In the winter months the skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and snow shoe walking are all within easy reach.
The Pyrenees offer some of the best snow in Europe, and from Chez Passet you can visit different resorts everyday. In the summer months the mountains become a cyclists and walkers paradise. With the Tour de France visiting the Pyrenees every year it offers cyclists the ultimate challenge of cycling the same 'cols' as Lance Armstrong and the other Tour de France cyclists.
Cycling (Road & MTB)
The Hautes Pyrenees region of France has a superb network of minor roads and minimal traffic outside the towns and off the major routes. The range of landscapes is immense from leafy and domestic to glacier topped high mountains. The routes that you will have access to from Chez Passet are unashamedly rural, and will not only offer you rides from easy to strenuous but will also introduce you to some of the immense variety of the area's landscape and its people. We are happy to point you in the right direction with maps.
Col Du Tourmalet: Possibly one of the most famous climbs in all of France, the Col Du Tourmalet is the highest of the French Pyrenean road cols and features frequently on the route of the Tour de France. The road over the Col du Tourmalet presents two very distinct aspects, the Eastern approach with its early wooded sections and its spectacular open views and the Western side which is much wilder, with deep rocky ravines and reputedly the fastest descent in the whole of France.
Col d'Aspin: Local knowledge means that instead of you taking the main route to the top of this most famous of climbs we will direct you via the Hourquette d'Ancizan. One of the lesser known central Pyrenean cols, it is a little higher than the Aspin and combines a whole variety of aspects. Climbing the side of a glacial valley through mixed forest the road emerges to extensive views backwards towards the peaks on the Spanish border. The descent is through broad meadows and the shade of beechwood with the clamour of cowbells ringing in your ears.
Cirque de Gavernie: A glacial valley with the lower part having a moderate gradient and set in verdant fields separated by curtains of poplars. As you get closer to the village of Gavernie the pitch becomes a little steeper with waterfalls cascading down into the Gave de Gavernie on either side of the road. A short walk will bring you to the awe inspiring site of the Cirque de Gavernie, a sheer wall of rock rears up to 3248m in front of you and melt waters tumble from the steep cliffs, an unforgettable sight.
Other less strenuous rides across rolling pastureland can be accessed from Chez Passet's front door by setting off in any direction other than south!
For those guests that would like to bring their mountain bikes, we can access many heart-stopping descents and some heart thumping climbs following old shepherds' roads, challenging single-track and twisting forestry trails.
Secure storage facilities are in place for bicycles.
The Tour De France stops by the Pyrenees each year. More details of this year's route can be found here at www.letour.fr
Skiing (Downhill and Cross Country)
The Pyrenees are, in my opinion, on a par with many of the ski resorts in the French Alps but offer quieter slopes and plenty of sunshine. It is under an hours drive of Chez Passet to the resorts of La Mongie/Bareges, Cauterets, Luz Ardiden, Gavarnie-Gedre and Hautecam, all offering a variety of downhill skiing for all abilities. Slightly further a field at 1 hour 30 mins from Chez Passet is St-Lary Soulan.
We have built up a great depth of knowledge of each of the above resorts and can offer our opinions as where might be the best place to visit on any particular day.
As well as downhill skiing there is plenty of cross-country skiing to be found. One of the best areas, Val d'Azun happens to be the closest at 25kms from Chez Passet.
Secure storage facilities exist for all skis and boots.
Golf
From early spring, golf can be enjoyed at two local courses. The Lourdes golf club is within 10 minutes drive from Chez Passet. It is beautifully situated on the southern bank of the Lake of Lourdes. Each hole of this woodland course offers magnificent views of the Pyrenees. Golf carts and practice facilities are also available as well as a fine clubhouse with restaurant overlooking the course.
Another golf course well worth playing is 20 minutes away above the spa town of Bagnères de Bigorre. Again this offers spectacular views, with the Pic de Midi being the focal point from almost every hole. As with the Lourdes golf club, practice facilities, golf carts and restaurant facilities are available.