My wife and I are off to the Pyrenees this July and are hoping to see some of the Tour De France as well as do some walking. Does anyone have any routes that they would recommend?
Nothing too hard but we do love the scenery of the mountains.
I suggest the reason you have not had a response from anybody within 24 hours is that your question is to vague.
The Pyrenees chain is about 500 miles long. Everybody who goes there will be able to recommend routes. Unfortunately all these will be different. They may vary in altitiude, length , difficulty, scenery , accommodation etc. Your best bet, as I did on my first of many visits, is to buy a book (or two) of Pyreneen walks and then come back with specific questions.
pyrenees is a big place. Last time I was there to watch the TdeF I pased myself at the bottom of the Col du Tourmalet. It is a good place to start ther is plenty of nice walking in the area of differing standard, the Cirque du Gavarnie is worth a look but a little busy, lots of busloads of nuns when we were there.
You can also do some walks from the top of the col du Tourmalet up towards the Pic du Midi which look pretty spectacular - we took the cable car up but I would have prefered the walk I think.
If you want to get up the hill to watch le tour you will need an early start and you will have to camp out if you want to be near the top. We were on bikes so cycled up to Bareges to watch it come through then haired down the hill to watch the finish on the Col d'Aspin in the bar, along with about 200 others - don't know who paid for the drinks, we couldn't get close enough to the bar. We camped at Luz st Saveur there are a couple of really good sites there.
The col d'aspin is one of my favourites for cycling and is a bit greener on the top than some of the other col's ther are some walks up there as well.
I'd agree with Steve. The Tourmalet is the place to see the tour but you might have to arrive a week ahead to find a place to watch! Gavarnie is more than a little busy; it's absolutely mobbed by coaches up from Lourdes. Mountainous pilgrims being loaded on little donkeys to be taken up the dung trail to see the Cirque. BUT! Late afternoon and they all vanish, leaving a quiet, rather pleasant little mountain village. I've never seen such a transformation. Gavarnie has decent hotels and great walking.
Having been up the Tourmalet a few times now, and assuming you can't get near the top (you probably won't be able to get near the top!) A good spot is above bareges near the ski lifts, assuming you can find a spot you will be able to see the cyclists go around the ski station, then should be able to spot them as they climb the switchbacks to the top. Although that kind of assumes you will be able to see anything through the crowds.
One thing I hadn't thought of before going there is that the riders travel in a bubble of noise, you could hear them being cheered up from below, then you join in as they come past and then the noise sweeps past above you.
You will not be able to get back down until the broomwagon has come past and the police re-open the road.
