Enjoy winter sports and snow from Bordeaux!

Fancy a weekend in the snow, enjoying winter sports from Bordeaux? Several resorts are easily accessible from Bordeaux, perfect for taking advantage of the snow. At these resorts, there's more than just downhill skiing… You'll find all sorts of winter activities: sledding, snowshoeing, Nordic walking, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, horseback riding… In the Pyrenees or the Massif Central, there's something to satisfy all your cravings for snow games, beautiful icy landscapes, and sports!

Opening photo: © JenkoAtaman / Adobe Stock

The closest winter sports resorts to Bordeaux are in the Pyrenees.

If you are looking for an authentic atmosphere and you appreciate mountain cuisine, then the Pyrenees are the place to go, to have fun in the snow in a friendly atmosphere.

Three hours' drive from Bordeaux, in the Basque Country and Béarn, between Lower Navarre and Upper Soule, several resorts dot the Spanish border:

• In Larrau, the Iraty cross-country ski resort offers Nordic ski trails and snowshoeing routes. You will also find more unique activities such as introductory dog sledding lessons.

• In Lanne-en-Barétous, the Issarbe area is the ideal place for snowshoeing, but you can also do cross-country skiing and sledding for children.

• In the commune of Arette, the La-Pierre-Saint-Martin resort is more geared towards alpine and Nordic skiing. But you can still bring your sled, build snowmen and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
  

You don't need much to have fun in the snow: good warm gear and waterproof shoes, for hours of walks on marked trails.

Still along the border, but in Béarn, just a 3.5-hour drive away, you will find numerous alpine ski resorts:

• The Gourette resort, in Eaux-Bonnes, is a winter sports resort, with a wide range of activities: snowshoeing, sledding, tobogganing… You will also find more unusual activities, such as its freestyle ski areas, its large winter zip line and its Nordic baths.

• The Somport Nordic area is a small, friendly resort for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing.

• Just next to Gourette, in Laruns, the Artouste resort offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and Nordic walking. Its main attraction is its icefall for climbing !

• The Grand Tourmalet resort combines two ski areas: Barèges and La Mongie. Over 100km of fun awaits, including alpine and Nordic skiing, freeriding (with the option to ski down from the Pic du Midi), snowshoeing, and tobogganing in designated and safe areas. Plus, a whole host of other activities besides skiing, for all ages!
  

• The Saint-Lary Soulan ski resort, in the Aure Valley, caters primarily to families, with its Kidpark and Snowpark for older children. A family-friendly resort, it also offers pleasant scenery to discover while hiking, snowshoeing, or simply enjoying après-ski!
  

• Finally, the Gavarnie-Cèdre ski resort has, among other things, a cross-country ski track with a view of the magnificent Cirque de Gavarnie.

• In Peyragudes in the Louron Valley, there are new attractions: its lands-game, a kind of escape game in the great outdoors, with puzzles to solve on the theme of James Bond; You also have access to Loudenvielle, thanks to a cable car: the valley lift.
  

This is an opportunity to discover the joys of dog sledding!

Now is the perfect time to try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing; you might just fall in love with a new sport! And the kids too!

To get to the ski resorts from Bordeaux, there are plenty of options: carpooling, train, bus, and shuttles. The Skibus connects many major cities (Bordeaux, Toulouse, Pau, Bayonne, etc.) to eight ski resorts in Béarn. Cariocar is a carpooling platform reserved for athletes and events. Use these options depending on the health situation.

Enjoy the snow in Auvergne and the Massif Central, from Bordeaux

It's only slightly further than the Pyrenees, but there are significantly fewer people, and the resorts are small and often very friendly. To get there, allow 3.5 to 4 hours by car from Bordeaux. You can also take the train to avoid the fatigue of the journey.

Here are some nice resorts in the Sancy Massif:

• Mont Dore alpine ski resort. There's a Ludo'Glyss area for children and a ski corridor to improve your speed-riding skills. Snowshoeing in the surrounding mountains is also a delightful experience…

• Super Besse is a resort awarded the " Famille Plus " label. There you can enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing. For a more unusual activity, try snowscooting, a fun adaptation of cycling!

• Chastreix is a small resort with beautiful slopes and breathtaking views over the valley. It also has a fun area with a covered magic carpet lift and a toboggan run.

On the Cantal volcano massif, in the heart of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park:

• Le Lioran offers all kinds of winter sports: alpine skiing when possible, but also cross-country skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing, Snake-gliss … The little extra: an alpine hike with its icefall !

Almost 5 hours' drive from Bordeaux, in Aveyron and more precisely in Aubrac, the Brameloup resort is family-friendly and its environment in the heart of the state forest is exceptional.

Try Fat Biking, an original and new sport, for 2-wheel enthusiasts.

You are now ready to enjoy the snow and hit the slopes of the Pyrenees and the Massif Central for a change of scenery from Bordeaux and we hope we have inspired you to try new activities.

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