Legendary Moutain Pass Routes

Presentation

Discover the legendary mountain passes of the Ossau Valley, by car or by bike!

3 iconic mountain passes in the Ossau Valley to discover by bike

In Ossau, the road to the Col d'Aubisque (1709m) from Laruns opens the door to the Hautes-Pyrénées via the Col du Soulor.

The Col de Marie-Blanque (1035m) links the Vallée d'Ossau with its neighbour in the Béarn region, the Aspe Valley.

The Col du Pourtalet (1984m) is the gateway to the Tena Valley in Spain.

Col de l'Aubisque

The Col d'Aubisque dominates the resort of Gourette. From the top of its 1,709 metres, you'll have a breathtaking view of the Gourette cirque.
The breathtaking scenery of the Col d'Aubisque is a must-see!
If you're a cycling and racing enthusiast, you're probably already familiar with the name Aubisque.
A legendary stage in the Tour de France, the pass is a must for cycle tourists.
The Tour de France is not the only race to pass over this pass. The Tour of Spain, the Vuelta, also passes here regularly.
For this reason, every year many people take up the challenge of climbing the pass by bike.

The Aubisque in detail

Marie Blanque Pass

A crossing point to the neighbouring Béarnaise Valley and the Aspe Valley, the Marie Blanque Pass is one of three must-see passes in the Ossau Valley.
Taking it from the village of Bielle, you will pass through the hilltop village of Bilhères en Ossau to the expanses of the Bénou plateau, a veritable haven of greenery and pastoralism, where you can admire a remarkable view of the entrance to the valley. Continue on your way and take the hairpin bends up to the pass. A must-see for cycling enthusiasts, at an altitude of 1,035 metres, it is a regular stage of the Tour de France and offers seasoned cyclists an exceptional 14% gradient.
Hiking enthusiasts will also find something to suit them!
From the pass, take the path to the Pic d'Escuret. From there, after a 1½-hour walk and perched at an altitude of 1,432 metres, you can enjoy a breathtaking 360° panorama of the Béarn foothills!

Marie Blanque Pass
Distance: 11.3 km
Elevation gain: 613 m
Average gradient: 5.4%

Col du Pourtalet

Heading towards the Spanish border, you will reach the Pourtalet Pass, a tourist route from France to Spain, from the Ossau Valley to the Tena Valley.
Located at an altitude of 1,792 metres, it offers an unmissable view of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau, which rises to 2,884 metres.
Close to the border, the protected area of the National Park awaits you. Covering an area of 8,800 km² in the valley, it is dominated by the Pic du Midi d'Ossau. At the heart of this protected area lies the Cirque d'Anéou.
A mecca for pastoralism, every summer it welcomes numerous herds to the mountain pastures known as ‘estives’.
For hiking enthusiasts, it is a real playground for reaching the high points of the Ossau Valley, such as the Pombie refuge or the Pic de Peyreget.
For cyclists, the Col du Pourtalet is one of the essential crossing points in the Ossau Valley, particularly during cross-border cycling races such as the Quebrantahuesos or the Vuelta.

The Pourtalet Pass (French side)
Distance: 29 km
Elevation gain: 1,264 m
Average gradient: 4.36%

The Pourtalet Pass (Spanish side)
Distance: 32 km
Elevation gain: 919 m
Average gradient: 2.87%