Mythical mountain passes

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Discover the legendary passes of the Ossau Valley !
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. 

Worth knowing: 
  • Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and vehicles over 3.60 m high are not permitted to cross the Col d'Aubisque - Soulor. 
  • Vehicles over 3 tonnes are subject to special regulations when crossing the Col d'Aubisque. 
  • Camper vans and other vehicles are therefore only allowed to travel in the Aubisque-Soulor direction in the afternoon from 1pm to 8pm. 
  • In the Soulor-Aubisque direction, vehicles can travel from 6am to 1pm. 
  • Because of its altitude and therefore its snow cover, the Col d'Aubisque is generally closed from mid-November to May.

Col du Pourtalet

Heading towards the Spanish border, the Col du Pourtalet is a tourist pass from France to Spain, from the Ossau valley to the Tena valley.
Situated at an altitude of 1792 metres, it offers an unmissable view of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau, culminating at 2884m. 
Right next to the border, the protected area of the National Park is yours to explore. The Pic du Midi d'Ossau dominates the 8,800 km of the valley. At the heart of this protected area lies the Cirque d'Anéou.
A mecca for pastoralists, it is home to numerous herds of cattle every summer in the mountain pastures known as "estives".
For hikers, it's a veritable playground for reaching the high points of the Ossau Valley, such as the Pombie refuge and the Peyreget peak. 
For cyclists, the Col du Pourtalet is one of the key crossing points in the Ossau Valley, particularly during cross-border cycle races such as the Quebrantahuesos or the Vuelta.

Col de Marie-Blanque

A gateway to the neighbouring Béarnaise Valley, the Vallée d'Aspe, the Col de Marie Blanque is one of the three not-to-be-missed passes in the Vallée d'Ossau.
From the village of Bielle, the route takes you past the hilltop village of Bilhères en Ossau to the expanses of the Bénou plateau, a haven of greenery and pastoralism, where you can admire a remarkable view of the entrance to the valley. Continue along the winding road to the Col. A must for cycling enthusiasts, at 1035m it is a regular stage in the Tour de France and offers seasoned cyclists an exceptional 14% gradient.
There's plenty for hiking enthusiasts too!
From the pass, take the path to the Pic d'Escuret. From here, after a 1? hour walk and perched at an altitude of 1432 m, you can enjoy a breathtaking 360° panorama of the Béarn foothills !