At the same time sporty and family friendly, Saint-Lary has managed to keep its real Pyrenean feel as a village of real character. This is where the famous French snowboarding champions, the De Le Rue brothers come from. This is one of the most important ski centres in the Pyrénées with up to date facilities such as new lifts and snow cannons.

There are three ski areas on offer:

St.Lary 1700 Pla d'Adet - a family area with a kiddy park, snow garden and luge run.

St. Lary 1900 Espiaube - is an area for the real skier with one of the longest pistes in the Pyrenes (3km 700 m)

St.Lary 2400 - where there is something for everybody including the 'Top Label' snowpark.

St.Lary is renowned for its family friendly facilities. It has been awarded the 'Family Plus Mountain' seal. After a day on the slopes relax at the Sensoria wellness centre.

Signature slope : La Mirabelle

This slope was named after Isabelle Mir who came from this part of the world. Isabelle won a silver medal at the Winter Olympics in Grenoble in 1968. The slope is three kilometres long and descends 600metres in altitude. It is served by one cable car and two chairlifts.

Not to be missed : Lunch by Lake Oule

The refuge of Oule looks over the lake of the same name and lies opposite the Néouvielle Massif and the natural reserve therein. One may either ski or take the chairlift up to enjoy a 'back to nature' lunch.

What's new this winter?

The De Le Rue brothers have opened a new bordercross space which is open to everyone at St Lary 2400.

Facts & Figures

Altitude: 1700-2515metres.
Number of ski lifts: 31 (1 cable car, 2 cable cars with gondolas, 8 chair lifts including 3 high-speed seater lifts, 16 ski tows and 1 moving walkway).
Number of pistes: 56 including 7 green, 26 blue, 14 red and 9 black.
Total length of the pistes: 100 km - 700 hectares.
Snow cannons: 270 - 80% of the surface under 1900m is in the catchment zone of artificial snow.
Kids Park Nordic Skiing: 7 kilometres of marked routes for snow-shoeing.
Three restaurants on the mountain and a snowpark.

Other activities

Two luge runs, snow shoeing, ski hiking, snow scooters, speedriding, skating, 'motoneige', bungee tramp lining and paragliding. There is a weekly snowman competition for the children

Getting There

Access: One hour from Tarbes /Lourdes airport, one hour and 30minutes from Pau airport and one hour forty five minutes from Toulouse airport.
Prices: start from 34 euros per person per day.
Website: www.saintlary.com

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