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Contents
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Mountain biking (VTT) in the Pyrenees
On top of the thousands of kilometers of roads and paths 'off the beaten track'
which make excellent mountain biking routes, the Pyrenees also has many specialist mountain biking areas.
Specialist Mountain Biking (VTT) areasMirepoix - PamiersAn official cycle tour alongside the Hers river from Mirepoix to Pamiers. The route takes in the Col de Calzane and parts
of the old railway route and is a total of 65km long.
Lac MontbelDescribed more fully on our
Watersports page
There are many VTT routes around Lac Montbel and to the villages in the area. The tour around the lake is 15km in length,
and with little variation in altitude is ideal for all the family.
RoquefixadeThe 'Cathar chateau exploration route' passes the chateaux of Roquefixade and Montsegur, and the
Pereille gorge. This beautiful route gives panoramic views of the Pyrenees, but is quite challenging as it
requires a number of steep climbs and descents.
The full route is 100km long, but it can be split into smaller sections in order to view a section in a single day.
VarilhesThe best known of the Ariege VTT centres, Varilhes is set in the foothills of the mountains and has 13
different specialist circuits with a total length of over 130km. The routes are classified
in the same way as ski slopes - green is easiest, blue more difficult, then red and finally the most difficult - black.
This centre has routes suitable for all levels of experience.
La BastideTwo dedicated VTT descents of 15km or 18km. Each descent drops you nearly 1,000 vertical metres through the mountains,
and each can easily be completed in half a day. The routes pass through wooded hillsides, open grassland and
more complex rocky trial areas - all with magnificent surroundings.
ChioulaA special VTT 'domaine' of over 5,000 acres, Chioula is a Winter cross country skiing resort which has
over 160km of marked routes also graded in the same
way as ski slopes. Chioula has two green routes, four blue, three red and one black, and there
are also childrens activites and a restaurant available during the Summer.
Ax les ThermesThe VTT area at Ax les Thermes uses the Winter downhill ski slopes as mountain biking courses during the Summer.
This location has a huge advantage in that the Winter ski lifts can be used to get to the top of the mountain,
making the whole experience much more enjoyable! There are 8 downhill routes and 7 circular tours at Ax.
VicdessosVicdessos has a small specialist VTT centre and several special marked trails which can be used
by groups or individuals.
There is also a short discovery tour which takes you through an abandoned Iron ore mine dating from the
19th century. The circuit is 10km and also passes through some superb valley scenery.
Plateau BeilleThe plateau Beille is at an altitude of 1800m and is another Winter cross country skiiing course with many marked
routes primarily on the flat surface of the plateau. The tours have fantastic views of the Pyrenean mountain
range and the valleys of the Ariege, and there is a restaurant at the car park centre which is open during the
Summer months.
Guided VTT in the PyreneesThere are a number of professional tour guides in the Ariege who will put together a specialised
itinery for you for one or many days. Please ask us for details.
Where to hire Mountain bikes?Our nearest hire location is a small private company based near Lac Montbel, they offer one or many-day hire and have bikes suitable for all the family (including tow-behind attachments). Bikes can also be hired at cycle shops in Pamiers and Foix, these are ideally placed for you to take advantage of the nearby specialist VTT centres and also have bike racks available to attach to the car. |
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