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Hideaway in France - gîtes in the Pyrénées near Carcassonne |
Please click on a picture to explore our gites : |
Bordeaux |
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Burgundy |
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Languedoc |
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Loire |
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Contents
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Road cycling in the Pyrenees
As with the walking paths, it is impossible on the scale of the map above to give even an idea of the
routes that are available - there are just too many.
Instead we have marked out 'areas' of routes, using the area names that are used by the guidebooks.
Routes in The AriegeTouringThe 'official' Ariege cycling guide has details for 10 tours of between 50 and 80km. These tours can be downloaded and have
maps, full details of changes in height, places to stop for restaurants or supplies and so on.
The guide also shows the full 'Tour de l'Ariege' of 450km, but we've yet to find anyone to do all of it!
Hill climbingThe Ariege also boasts of 24 'Grand cols' to be tackled - these are climbs from the valley to a mountain pass:
The route of the Tour de FranceMany visitors also like to retrace the path of the Tour de France. This usually passes through the Ariege, and our
Tour de France page shows where the route
has gone during the past few years.
Routes in The Cerdagne / CapcirThe Cerdagne and the Capcir are the names given to two of the ranges of mountains East of the Ariege.
With many summits above 2500m, and the Pic Carlit at 2921m, this area takes in some of the higher and more rugged
scenery and is only for serious hill climbers who enjoy challenge of repeating hundreds or thousands of metres of ascent
and descent with fantastic views and superb scenery. Routes in The AudeCloser to the coast, the Aude takes in routes at lower altitudes, often among vineyards, woodland or between river gorges. These routes are generally more level than the Ariege or the Cerdagne, and the countryside is more arid. |