THE PIC DU MIDI
STAGE 14
117.5 km - 20 JULY 2019
“Sheer scale ”

The Pic du Midi rises to 2876m above Tourmalet pass, and offers the best views of the Pyrenees! Accessible by cable car, at the top you’ll find Europe’s highest planetarium, a internationally renowned observatory and certified International Dark Sky Reserve. And no visit would be complete without a few steps out onto the vertiginous viewing platform which hangs out over the mountainside with nothing but 1000m of air below you!

And to make it even more memorable, you can choose to spend the night up there or even freeride your way down!

DINNER IS SERVED!

Savoury and sweet Pyrenean treats

Garbure, Bigorre black pig, Trébons onions... The Pyrenees are brimming with delicious produce and mouthwatering, hearty meals to enjoy after a day in the great outdoors. You’re sure to give in to the spit cake: the dough is arranged in thin layers over a conical mould that rotates before the fire, producing those characteristic spikes.

GO CULTURAL

2019, celebrating Bernadette

2019 is the year in which we celebrate the life and death of Bernadette Soubirous. For the occasion, the sanctuary is organising a range of events. One highlight of the programme is the “Bernadette de Lourdes” musical.
Running from 1 July at Espace Robert Hossein de Lourdes.

GET ACTIVE

Majestic minerals

At the head of the Gaves valley, 1 hour south of Lourdes, Gavarnie forms a limestone wall between France and Spain. The cirque is composed of sixteen 3000m peaks, and is home to Europe’s highest waterfall. This grandiose natural attraction is accessible to all by hiking or horseback during summer.

TOUR TRIVIA

The miracle survivor of Aubisque

Wim Van Est will go down in history as the first Dutchman to wear the Yellow Jersey, but that’s not all! He is also famous for falling down a ravine on the road to Tarbes in 1951, just after crossing the Aubisque pass. On that spot today there is a monument in commemoration of this 70m fall.

EXPERIENCE

Don’t miss JIM!

After 40 years of amazing programming that has seen performances from Ray Charles, Nina Simone, and Stan Getz, this year the Jazz in Marciac festival is exploding back into the little village of Gers. On the bill for 2019: Sting, Chick Corea, Thomas Dutronc and Jamie Cullum and Melody Gardot.