The Town
Bagnères de Luchon is an ancient spa town and a centre for an impressive array of outdoor activities. The streets are lined with grand houses and hotels and Luchon is situated in an area which is one of the sunniest in France.
The spa was built in 1848 on the site of the old Roman baths and has attracted many European personalities who wished to rejuvenate their body in the waters.
For more information on the Spa visit their website www.thermes-luchon.fr
The bustling, tree-lined central road has many restaurants and shops. In the evenings there are many bars, a cinema, the casino and a nightclub for those wanting to enjoy the night-life. An annual four day film festival is staged every February. There are many gardens to visit for those seeking tranquillity.
The hills to the west and east and the dominating mountains to the south adds to the attraction of this town and make this an ideal year-round resort, for those seeking rental income.
Outdoor Activities
The ski slopes are connected to the town by an eight minute télécabine ride, which is located in the centre of town. There are 28 ski slopes, at an altitude of 1440m - 2260m, more than 100 snow canons and 4km of cross country track. There are daily buses to alternative ski resorts if you do not want to drive.
There are 70 kilometres of mountain bike trails around Luchon with a variety of grades to satisfy all bikers. You can take your bike on the télécabine and descend the 1200 metres back to town.
A walking holiday in Luchon offers an endless variety of routes for all levels. The mountains in this region offer 60 peaks over 3000 metres with some accessible directly from Luchon. There are numerous quiet lakes and valleys to be visited for the more casual walker.
For serious hikers Luchon serves as an excellent base from which to begin hikes to Vénasque, the Port lakes, Pic de la Mine, the awesome Maladetta range and Pic d'Aneto, at 3404m the highest point of the range whilst climbers can take on the majestic rock faces of the Pic Quaïrat and Les Spijeoles.
Fishing is available in the many lakes and rivers that are close to Luchon. The rivers also provide the opportunity for canoeing and rafting.
There is a nine hole golf course in the town, or if you are not that competitive you can play crazy golf.
There are more activities available which are associated with a mountainous region, which makes Luchon an ideal outdoor resort.
For more information on Luchon visit the offical tourism website www.luchon.com