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4 - PORT DE VÉNASQUE PAR LE PAS DE L'ESCALETTE

hospice de france @marcBarbaresco_CDT31
Port Vénasque Vue Anéto
Cartes et plans
Cartes et plans
Credit : @marcBarbaresco_CDT31

Description

A beautiful trail reserved for the fittest, with breathtaking views of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees as a bonus!

"In the Pyrenees, hospices are places where you can find hospitality all along the Spanish border. At an altitude of 1,400 metres, the Hospice de France is a listed site located a few kilometres from the town of Bagnères-de-Luchon.
Whether you're hiking or trail running, this beautiful route is reserved for the fittest, with breathtaking views of the high peaks of the Pyrenees as a bonus!
This is truly THE trail to run in the Luchonnais Pyrenees, following in the footsteps of the runners of the famous Luchon Aneto Trail, which has been held every July since 2014.
History is never far away from this important place: a memorial dedicated to Spanish Republicans stands where these refugees arrived after crossing the Pyrenees.
Info: Yellow markings are in place until Port de Vénasque, then follow the signs for Port de la Picade and Pas de l'Escalette, and start the descent without markings but with cairns until you return to the plateau indicating Hospice de France.
Would you like to discover this route with a guide? www.hautegaronnetourisme.com/activites/sporteur-de-bonheur/ or www.hautegaronnetourisme.com/activites/bureau-des-guides-de-luchon/"

Technical Information

Walking
Difficulty
Hard
Duration
7h30mn
Dist.
15 km
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Altimetric profile

Starting point

Hospice de France , 31110   BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON
Lat : 42.7209816Lng : 0.65481086

Steps

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4

Col : Port de Vénasque

Le nom de « port » désigne dans les Pyrénées un col (souvent dépourvu de route carrossable). Son nom vient de la ville espagnole voisine de Benasque.Le port de Vénasque a été utilisé de tout temps pour les communications entre l'Aragon et la vallée de Luchon. Cependant, on lui a longtemps préféré le port de la Glère, appelé le Port vieux, situé plus à l'ouest, qui était plus facile d'accès jusqu'à ce que le port de Vénasque soit aménagé, dit-on, par les ordres d'un comte de Comminges, à partir de 1325, pour pouvoir être emprunté par un cheval monté par son cavalier, et appelé depuis le Port neuf. Il a été utilisé par de nombreuses armées, depuis les Romains, jusqu'aux armées des guerres napoléoniennes et les guérilleros antifranquistes lors de la tentative d'invasion du Val d'Aran en 1944, ainsi que par les commerçants et les contrebandiers, s'il faut en croire de nombreuses légendes.Francisco Cabellud a été, dans la deuxième moitié du XIXe siècle, la figure incontournable du port de Vénasque. À l'origine teinturier à Bénasque, il avait obtenu en 1865 la concession d'une auberge, légèrement en contrebas du col, du côté espagnol. Les touristes en promenade ne se faisaient pas faute d'aller se rafraîchir, après l'effort, chez Cabellud. La plupart se plaignaient d'avoir à payer très cher du mauvais vin, tandis que les amis de l'aubergiste, en général les grandes figures du pyrénéisme, avaient droit aux bonnes bouteilles. C'est lui qui fit aménager le sentier qui mène au Sauvegarde, prélevant par la même occasion un péage d'une peseta par personne qui désirait accéder au sommet. Les Bénasquais appelèrent même le Sauvegarde pico Cabellud. Pendant l'hiver, où la neige rendait la fréquentation impossible, l'auberge servit parfois de refuge : en 1904, pour la première ascension à skis de l’Aneto, l’équipe composée de Louis Robach, Falisse, Aubry, Heïd, Basset pénètre dans l’auberge ensevelie sous la neige en cassant une fenêtre. Puis elle est définitivement abandonnée vers 1930, après l'ouverture du refuge de la Rencluse au pied de la Maladeta ; elle tombe en ruine. Ses vestiges sont encore visibles.@source Wikipédia

- Haute-Garonne Tourisme -
Consulter

Points of interest

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LE POUJASTOU

2km from Bagnères-de-Luchon, this former 18th-century café is the ideal base for your mountain holidays. Bonus: Elodie's table d'hôtes and her Romana Pilates classes.This former 18th-century café welcomes you to a peaceful village near Bagnères-de-Luchon. Whether you come to relax or for a sporting break, you will receive a warm welcome from Elodie and Thierry. Enclosed garden. Bike garage, repair equipment and bike instructor. Nearby leisure activities: Bagnères-de-Luchon 2km away (skiing at Superbagnères, thermal baths, casino, shops, restaurants, cinema, golf course, lake, bike hire, aerodrome), Antignac leisure centre 4km away (rafting, canoeing, paintball, fishing), Pyrénées-Hô rock-climbing park 17km away, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges 32km away and Montréjeau 38km away (SNCF station and swimming lake). Guest house on 3 levels. : - ground floor: dining room, lounge (wood-burning stove, self-service courtesy tray) - 1st floor: Médan room (2 twin 80cm single beds), Saherle room (2 twin 80cm single beds), Bordes Sèques 2 épis family room (1 double 140cm bed + 2 bunk 90cm single beds). - 2nd floor under the eaves: Estiouère 2 épis family room (4 single beds 90cm), Sillassère room (3 single beds 90cm). Each room has a private shower room/WC. Group rates for 10 people or more. Table d'hôtes by prior arrangement €25/person (children under 11 €15). Vegetarian and gluten-free cuisine available. Packed lunch available. Please note New Year's Eve meal is extra and subject to 5 people registering (if the meal is not provided the stay will not be refunded, it will be switched to room and breakfast). Come and discover or practise the Romana Pilates method in the Pyrène studio at Poujastou. Individual classes on different machines (Reformer, Wunda chair and High Barrel) for €50, or group classes (Wall Unit, Small Barrel, Spine Corrector, Magic Circle) for €25 (3 participants). Practice lasts one hour with a certified teacher. Bookings on site.

12 rue du Sabotier 31110 JUZET-DE-LUCHON
- Haute-Garonne Tourisme -
Consulter
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CAMPING AU FIL DE L'OÔ

In a green, peaceful and relaxing setting on a 2.5-hectare wooded site at the foot of Superbagnères and facing the Vénasque, come and discover the Au Fil de l'Oô campsite. Close to the Luchon thermal baths and the town centre, you will be charmed by the warm, personal welcome and friendly atmosphere. We offer 70 pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes and 38 mobile homes (some with air conditioning) with all mod cons, spread out over a 2-hectare wooded park and close to the town centre and thermal baths. An ideal location for doing everything on foot!The Au fil de l'Oô*** campsite welcomes you at the foot of the Pyrenees, in the heart of the town of Luchon, renowned for its thermal baths. We offer 38 mobile homes with 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms, furnished like cottages and harmoniously spread out along landscaped paths, preserving your privacy while promoting a village atmosphere. All our mobile homes have a generous wooden terrace of up to 25m². A garden shed completes your outdoor space and provides you with garden furniture, a parasol and a barbecue. Inside your mobile home, you will find all the amenities you need (shower room, toilet, etc.), fully equipped kitchen and satellite TV. Some of our models offer additional comfort features such as a dishwasher or pull-out beds in the second bedroom to save space. We also offer 70 spacious, grassy pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, alongside the river. Electricity is available on all our pitches and a service area for motorhomes is at your disposal. You have free WiFi access from your pitch. During the season, we organise pétanque and belote tournaments, tarot games and entertainment such as karaoke, themed meals and musical evenings. Our snack bar is open every day in July and August and occasionally during the mid-season, so you can enjoy a meal in a peaceful, family atmosphere. Arriving by train? No worries, just contact us in advance to organise your arrival at the campsite. We will pick you up at the station and take you back when you leave!

37 Avenue de Vénasque 31110 BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON
- OFFICE DE TOURISME PYRENEES 31 -
Consulter

Additional information

Detailed stages

1 - Start from the Hospice de France car park. Climb up towards the inn and continue along the path opposite, then cross the river. Follow the path uphill towards the Col de Vénasque. - L'Esplanade des évadés
3 - Follow the many switchbacks up to the right of the stream and then cross it (1798m). Continue to the Boums du Port (lakes). The Vénasque refuge will quench even the thirstiest thirst!
2 - After about 10 minutes, cross the Penjat bridge and leave the chemin de l'impératrice (Empress's path) which branches off to the right, continuing straight ahead and following the Port de Vénasque stream.
4 - The hairpin bends leading to the Col de Vénasque are visible from the refuge. This natural border with Spain offers views of the Aneto massif, the highest peak in the Pyrenees at 3,404 metres.
5 - Descend a hundred metres on the Spanish side, then take trail No. 23 (yellow markings) on the left towards the Port de la Picade.
6 - Begin the climb to the Port de la Picade and continue before turning left onto the stony path with a tricky section to reach the Pas de l'Escalette.
7 - Continue along the well-marked trail that returns to France and begin the descent towards the Crête de Crabidès and straight on to the Pas de Mounjoye (border marker).
8 - Continue straight ahead to Pas de Mounjoye (border marker no. 336). Leave the ridge on your right and turn left towards the Roumingau pastures. You will come to a crossroads. Turn left and descend towards the Hospice de France.

Dates

From 2026-05-01T00:00:00 From 2026-11-29T00:00:00

Elevation gain

1275 (High)

Start and end town

BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON

Contact

Tel : 05 61 79 21 21
Email : info@pyrenees31.com
Website : www.pyrenees31.com

Data producer

Contact : HAUTE-GARONNE TOURISME / OFFICE DE TOURISME PYRÉNÉES 31
Phone : 05 61 79 21 21

This information comes from the Haute-Garonne Departmental Tourism Network and is synchronized as part of the partnership between Cirkwi and Haute-Garonne Tourisme.

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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾