Pyreneestrip
Artouste
Photo: Jean Michel Etchecolonea · CC BY-SA 3.0
Alpine skiingFrance

Artouste

Vallée d'Ossau (Laruns), Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Artouste is a small, good-value resort on the Pourtalet road towards Spain, with views straight across to the distinctive Pic du Midi d'Ossau. You park at Lac de Fabrèges and take the gondola up to the ski area at about 1,950 m. The resort opened in 1967 and has been run by the commune of Laruns since 2019. In summer, Europe's highest tourist railway, the Petit train d'Artouste, runs here. The snow is entirely natural, so the season is short and depends on the winter.

Alpine skiing

Height
1,400–2,100 m
Pistes
25 km
Runs
21032
Lifts
9
Season
mid-December–early March (2026/27: 19 Dec–7 March; 4 Jan–7 Feb Fri–Sun only)
Lift pass
€24 adult/day, €11 child aged 4–14 (2025/26)
Level
families and intermediate skiers
Snowmaking
Almost no snowmaking (approx. 0.2 km)
Snow park
Snowpark in the Séous sector, boardercross, kids' park, sledging slope and snow tubing

Highlights

  • Gondola from Lac de Fabrèges
  • Views of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau
  • Forest pistes in Soussouéou
  • Spa and sauna at the Cocon de Sagette

Getting here

Flights
Pau (PUF) approx. 60 km, approx. 1 h 10 min · Lourdes-Tarbes (LDE) approx. 90 km, approx. 1 h 30 min · Biarritz (BIQ) approx. 165 km, approx. 2 h 15 min
Train
Pau (TGV), then regional bus to Laruns (approx. 20 km still to go)
Bus
Regional buses Pau–Laruns; no regular bus up to Fabrèges
Car
From Laruns take the D934 towards the Col du Pourtalet, approx. 20 km to Fabrèges. Winter tyres or chains/snow socks compulsory 1 Nov–31 March. Parking at the gondola's valley station

Accommodation

Accommodation
Limited choice: flats and résidences in Fabrèges by the lake
Places to stay nearby
Laruns (approx. 20 km, approx. 25 min), Eaux-Bonnes (approx. 25 km), Gourette (approx. 35 km)
TipsCheck the opening days carefully – in January the resort is only open Friday–Sunday. The lift pass is one of the cheapest in the Pyrenees.
Open in the interactive mapDirectionsPlaces to stay nearbyThings to do Affiliate link

42.8799° N, 0.3964° W

Nearby