Family-run gîte complex in the Pyrénées near Carcassonne and Mirepoix
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On top of the thousands of kilometers of roads and paths 'off the beaten track' which make excellent mountain biking routes, the Pyrenees also has many specialist mountain biking areas.
On the map above we have highlighted the 'official' areas described below, but the vast majority of the walking paths in the areas described on our Walking in the Pyrenees page can also be used with a mountain bike.
There is a very active VTT group in the Ariege who update their website almost daily during the peak season and have put a lot of effort into documenting local routes. Their site is www.ariege-vtt.fr and if you then click the 'randonnées' link, accept their warning and click on one of the highlighted areas of the Ariege (We are 'Pays d'Olmes', but look at 'Basse vallée d'Ariege' as well). If you then click on one of the coloured triangles you will see the length, Dénivéle (height climbed) and you can access the map (Carte) notes etc.
The voie vert (green lane) is an official cycle tour alongside the Hers river from Lavelanet to Mirepoix. The route uses the old railway line so is very gentle, and Lavelanet is 500m above sea level, and Mirepoix only 300m, so it's easier that way! The route is a total of 40km, and is a fairly easy half-day route.
From Mirepoix, there are 6 defined VTT routes passing to the South East of the town and through the fortified villages.
There are many VTT routes around Lac Montbel and to the villages in the area. The tour around the lake is 15km in length, and with little variation in altitude is ideal for all the family.
Click this link for the Olmes map.
The 'Cathar chateau exploration route' passes the chateaux of Roquefixade and Montsegur, and the Pereille gorge. This beautiful route gives panoramic views of the Pyrenees, but is quite challenging as it requires a number of steep climbs and descents. The full route is 100km long, but it can be split into smaller sections in order to view a section in a single day.
Click this link for the Roquefixade route.
The best known of the Ariege VTT centres, Varilhes is set in the foothills of the mountains and has 13 different specialist circuits with a total length of over 130km. The routes are classified in the same way as ski slopes - green is easiest, blue more difficult, then red and finally the most difficult - black. This centre has routes suitable for all levels of experience.
Click this link for the Varilhes map.
A special VTT 'domaine' of over 5,000 acres, Chioula is a Winter cross country skiing resort which has over 160km of marked routes also graded in the same way as ski slopes. Chioula has two green routes, four blue, three red and one black, and there are also childrens activites and a restaurant available during the Summer. More details are on the Ax valley map.
Opposite Chioula, on the other side of the Ax valley is Plateau de Beille at an altitude of 1800m - another Winter cross country skiing course with many marked routes primarily on the flat surface of the plateau. The tours have fantastic views of the Pyrenean mountain range and the valleys of the Ariege, and there is a restaurant at the car park centre which is open during the Summer months. There are details for this and other routes in the area on the Ax valley website.
Vicdessos has a small specialist VTT centre and several special marked trails which can be used by groups or individuals. There is also a short discovery tour which takes you through an abandoned Iron ore mine dating from the 19th century. The circuit is 10km and also passes through some superb valley scenery.
The Vicdessos route.
There are a number of professional tour guides in the Ariege who will put together a specialised itinery for you for one or many days. Please ask us for details.
We work with a small family business 'Velomondo' based near Lac Montbel, they offer one or many-day hire and have
bikes suitable for all the family (including tow-behind attachments).
Bikes can also be hired at cycle shops in Pamiers and Foix, these are ideally placed
for you to take advantage of the nearby specialist VTT centres and also have bike racks available to attach to the car.
More details on
the Velomondo website.
For more inspiration to help you plan a cycling holiday in France, see Freewheeling France , an independent website that covers all manner of things related to cycling in France for fun.
