There are many places of interest within easy reach of Chalet Hay.  Below are listed some of the key attractions however there are many more to be discovered!

Bagneres-de-Biggore - Relax in a café off one of the side streets such as the Pause Café which does really delicious drinks and chocolate fondue. The Saturday market is a great way to take in the atmosphere of this picturesque town at the foot of the valley and shop for some local delicacies. There is also a couple of museums and the tourist office can advise of local events happening during your stay.

Pic Du Midi – Europe’s highest observatory offering fantastic views of the mountains and flat lands, this also includes a museum and has a restaurant and gift shop.  

Chateau-Mauvezin – A medieval castle in the Baronnies Valley just 40 minutes from the Chalet and a great day out. Visit the restored museum, tour the Castle then picnic and relax in the castle grounds for the afternoon.

Chateau-Mauvezin

Tourmalet Botanical Gardens – Three beautiful gardens where you can discover the varied and beautiful fauna of the Pyrenees in a beautiful mountain setting. Open 15th May to 15th September.

Pont d'Espagne – Located above the town of Cauterets and in the National Parc des Pyrenees. the Pont d'Espagne is a series of walks which takes in water falls, lakes and fantastic views. A visitors center is based in the town at the start of the routes.

Pont d'Espagne

Le Gouffre d'Esparros - Situated in the Baronnies Valley in the village of Esparros is this incredible cave system with its amazing rock formations and huge chasm.

Les Grottes de Labastide – Again situated in the Barronies Valley are these amazing caves which are particularly famous for the 14,000 year old cave art.  This visit also includes activities highlighting how life may have been in prehistoric times. Open April to September.

Grottes Préhistoriques de Gargas –A series of prehistoric caves that are world famous for the 25,000 year old cave art.  Numbers are limited to preserve the drawings so it may be best to book in advance.

Betharram Caves – Beautiful caves which are explored on-board a under ground train.

Grotte de Medeos Caves – An ancient cave system on the edge of Bagneres-de-Biggore which is partly explored by boat. 

Le Donjon des Aigles – Eagle keepers with daily bird of prey exhibitions in a restored castle setting.  Open April to September.

Le Petit Train d’Artouste - Europe’s highest tourist train meanders through the high Pyrenees to the Lac Artouste. Great views to take in and takes around half a day for under 20 euros per person.

Escaladieu Abbey – Beautiful abbey and a lovely relaxing place to stroll around.

Escaladieu Abbey

Cirque de Gavarnie Brèche de Roland – Visit the spectacular UNESCO world heritage site. The cirque its self is a 1,400m high amphitheatre with a 400m waterfall and a natural gap in the rock above.  The nearby Cirque de Troumouse is also worth a visit as part of a full day trip. Only a 1hr 15 min drive from the Chalet.

Lourdes - The Catholic Mecca gets a whopping 6 million visitors a year. Maybe not quite what you would expect, but a worth a day trip and only a 40 minutes drive from the Chalet.

Pau – A beautiful city with a fantastic mountain backdrop. Great for shopping, eating out and tourist activities especially the Promenade des Pyrenees.

Biarritz – Spend a day at the beach just 2.5hrs drive from the Chalet.  Biarritz is the closest point to the sea for us.   Biarritz has some of the best beaches in Europe and is renowned for its top class standards.

Saint Bertrand de Comminges –  An 11th century cathedral, roman ruins, archeological museum and walled village add to a lovely day trip.

Parc National Pyrenees - The Chalet is based on the fringe of the national park, the park itself is there to protect the fabulous local wildlife, for example the isard, the marmot, the desman,and the  lammergaier.  The park is accessible to all and can be enjoyed over long hikes or short walks. Just call into the nearest Parc national office located in Luzarden for more information.

Aquarium Tropical de Pierrefitte – Found in the adjacent valley this tropical aquarium is fun for all the family.

Spain - The Spanish border is only an hours drive away with the historic tourist towns of Bielsa and Ainsa respectively only a further 30 mins and 1 hr away. An absolutely stunning scenic drive and excellent way to explore the Ordesa National Park and see the stunning views of the enormous lake.