Both, for different reasons — winter brings skiing around Saint-Lary and Loudenvielle, while summer opens up the hiking trails through the Aure and Louron valleys.
Discover Local Mountains & Valleys: What to Do Around Mercure Mountains & Valleys
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Mountains & Valleys, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Mountains & Valleys in 5 picks
Saint-Lary-Soulan
A village at the heart of the Aure valley, on the Neste d'Aure river — a ski resort come winter, a base for high-mountain hiking come summer. Its proximity to the Spanish border gives it a slightly freer, less tourist-polished feel.
Loudenvielle
Set in the Louron valley beside the Lac de Génos-Loudenvielle, a man-made lake ringed by mountains. Quieter than Saint-Lary, with thermal baths and a slower pace.
Cauterets
A Belle Époque spa town that's been drawing visitors to its thermal baths for generations. The architecture alone — grand old bathhouses and hotels — makes it worth a wander even if you skip the water.
Lourdes
One of the most visited towns in France, built around its pilgrimage sanctuary. Whatever brings you here, the setting — mountains rising directly behind the town — is striking on its own terms.
Pic du Midi de Bigorre
A mountain observatory perched at nearly 2,900 metres, reached by cable car from La Mongie. The panorama over the Pyrenean chain from the summit terrace is the reward for the ride up.
FAQ
Main roads to the resort villages are kept cleared, but smaller passes can close with snow. It's worth checking conditions before driving between valleys in winter.
Not necessarily — the sanctuary is the main draw, but the town's mountain setting and easy access to the wider Pyrenees make it a reasonable base regardless.
Where to sleep
See our Mercure hotels across Mountains & Valleys, ideally placed to explore these picks.