Pic du Midi The Pyrenees' balcony

Pic du Midi - Hautes-Pyrénées

Le Pic du Midi © CRTL Occitanie / D.Viet

Le Pic du Midi

Le Pic du Midi, D.Viet / CRT Occitanie

Station de ski de La Mongie

Station de ski de La Mongie, Patriche Thébault / CRT Occitanie

Spa thermal Aquensis (Bagnères-de-Bigorre)

Spa thermal Aquensis, Jarno / HPTE

Why visit the Pic du Midi?

  • The best views of the Pyrenees from an altitude of 2877m.
  • Europe's highest planetarium.
  • French nature site listed since 2003.
  • Tourmalet mountain pass and La Mongie ski resort
  • Bagnères-de-Bigorre, famous spa resort.
Pic du Midi

The ultimate pyrenean trip

Summer and winter

Take the cable car from La Mongie ski resort up to the Pic du Midi. Cover a 1000m elevation in 15 mins: that's a feat in itself!

At an altitude of 2877m, the purity of the air and the light are the secret of the Pic du Midi, famous for its astronomy observatory.

Admire the endless ocean of Pyrenean peaks from the panoramic terraces. Take a gourmet pitstop at the restaurant. Brave the skywalk at the top of the mountain on a 12m long bridge hanging over the void.

Feast your eyes on a view that's so fascinating you could easily spend half a day up here.

Le Pic du Midi

Le Pic du Midi, D.Viet

Great ideas for Pic du Midi

Head for the Pic du Midi, #GrandSiteOccitanie, a magical and majestic place at the peak of the Pyrenees! Here are the top tips from speed skier Bastien Montès.

Don't miss

In the shadow of the Pic du Midi at an altitude of 2115m: the Tourmalet mountain pass is legendary. The Tour de France covers it every year and cycling enthusiasts from all over the world come here to tackle the ascent from Barèges or a ride from Campan.

Delve deeper

Into the history and life of the Pic du Midi

Explore the history of the Pic at the fully interactive Expériences planetarium and centre. It all began when a weather station was built in 1882. The feat was brought to life by scholars, scientists, builders and transporters.

The Pic du Midi, where the moon's map was drawn up for NASA in 1969, is the oldest high mountain astronomy observatory in the world. It's also the only Dark-Sky Preserve in France.

L'espace Expériences

Pic du Midi - Espace Expériences, Camille Espigat

Nuit au Pic du Midi

Nuit au Pic du Midi, D.Viet

Nights, evenings and events at the Pic du Midi

Magical experiences

The site conjures up magic at night too. The Pic du Midi hosts stargazing nights with dinner and astronomical entertainment (book well ahead!).

Go one step better: spend a night on the summit. You can book to be one of the lucky few to sleep on the iconic peak and share magical moments under the stars. Keep an eye on the Pic's schedule. There are amazing concerts, festivals and sporting competitions all year round.

Our favourite

La Mongie, at the foot of the Pic, provides access to the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees: Le Grand Tourmalet. A medium-sized resort attracting experienced skiers and families alike.

Find out more

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

The spa city

25km from the Pic du Midi is Bagnères-de-Bigorre, a spa resort whose 19th century heyday gave it stylish architecture, landscaped parks and a certain taste for culture. Your visit will take you past the Allées des Coustous, the neo-classical Grands Thermes, Thermes de la Reine, casino, covered market hosting the local market on Saturdays, 14th century Tour des Jacobins and more.

Don't miss the Salies Museum and Marble Museum based in the Salut Valley.

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Rachel Barranco / HPTE / Thermes de Bagnères

Our favourite

Unwind in Bagnères-de-Bigorre at one of the best thermal spas in the Pyrenees: Aquensis. Soak up the joys of hot and invigorating thermal water in a peaceful luxury haven.

Find out more

Family holidays

In Haute-Bigorre

You're spoilt for choice when it comes to great family holidays here: via ferrata with Vertige de l’Adour (min age: 8), l'Aya tree-top adventure in the valley of Lesponne, hiking around the Payolle Lake, try dog sledding with Attelage altitude (walk pulled along by a dog).

Accrobranche

Accrobranche

A day in the heavens

Whether you're with family or friends, prepare for an incredible day at an altitude of 2877m. Views sweeping over 300km of mountains await along with passionate guides to answer your questions

Video © Région Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée.

How to get there

The Pic du Midi is in the Hautes-Pyrénées. You can reach it from La Mongie ski resort.

  • By car: A64 motorway, junction 12 then the D935 or 14 then D918 to Bagnères. La Mongie is accessible all year. In summer you can get there via Barèges and the Tourmalet mountain pass.
  • By plane: from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (1 hr), Toulouse-Blagnac (2.5 hrs) or Pau-Pyrénées (1 hr 45 mins) Airports.
  • By train: from Tarbes station. Toulouse-Tarbes TER line and Paris-Lourdes-Tarbes TGV line. Bus and taxi transport to La Mongie.

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