Grand Tourmalet
Barèges - La Mongie, Hautes-PyrénéesSee it on the map
About Grand Tourmalet
Grand Tourmalet joins Barèges and La Mongie across the Col du Tourmalet, the most famous climb in the Tour de France, and it is the historic heart of Pyrenean skiing — Barèges has been a ski village since the early twentieth century.
Above it stands the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, with its observatory, reachable by cable car and offering one of the great off-piste descents in the range for those equipped for it.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026
Best suited to
- Intermediates
- Families
- Advanced skiers
- Off-piste and freeride
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Where lessons start
Two very different bases: Barèges is an old spa village with character, La Mongie a purpose-built base with more convenient beginner terrain. Pick by whether you want a village in the evening or lifts from the door.
Getting there
Tarbes is around an hour, Toulouse about two and a half. The Tourmalet pass road between the two bases closes in winter — they connect by lift, not by car.
Qualifications required in France
Teaching skiing or snowboarding for payment in France is a regulated profession: an instructor must hold the Professional card (diplôme d'État de ski). Instructors listed as certified on Alpine Pal have either sent theirs to us for review or are vouched for by the ski school that invited them.
Find instructors in FranceGrand Tourmalet: common questions
Barèges or La Mongie — where should I stay?
La Mongie for lifts from the door and the more convenient beginner terrain; Barèges for an old spa village with character in the evening. The two connect by lift, not by road: the Tourmalet pass between them closes in winter.
Do I need a guide for the Pic du Midi descent?
Yes, unless you are equipped and experienced for serious off-piste. The cable car to the Pic du Midi de Bigorre opens one of the great off-piste descents in the Pyrenees, and it is not a piste. Book an instructor or guide who knows the conditions; the observatory at the top is worth the ride even if you come back down in the cabin.
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