At the gateway to the Pyrenees National Park, Cauterets is both a small mountain town and a village with an elegant, refined urban feel. Whether you're with the family or with friends, there's an endless choice of winter sports in a breathtaking panorama worthy of Canada's Far North. Two ski areas offer both downhill skiing and Nordic activities. Whatever your preference, you'll appreciate the complementary nature of Cauterets and its unique charm. Nature and the gentle way of life are also major assets. Its thermal springs made it the Pyrenean capital of high society during the Roaring Twenties, and the 1960s saw its expansion into the white gold industry.

The Cirque du Lys as a backdrop.

One of the best snow-covered areas in France, the Cirque du Lys enjoys exceptional snow conditions thanks to its ideal location. It's often the first ski area in the chain to open and always the last to close. Just 12 minutes from Cauterets via the Lys cable car, Cauterets offers perfectly groomed, prepared and safe runs. The Yéti Park beginners' area with its 5 lifts, including the longest carpet in Europe, is the perfect place for the whole family to try their hand at skiing. The Crêtes blue run offers a 700m vertical drop and a unique panorama of the Hautes-Pyrénées peaks. Snowboarders can all be found at the Oakley Park, the 2nd French freestyle park to be certified by the brand. They particularly enjoy the boardercross and the 20 modules, including an O'rail and an Oakley Stairset (the equivalent of a giant staircase) which is unique in Europe.