Activities

Fountains Of Escot

If you are a keen cyclist and would like to cycle in the tyre tracks of Lance Armstrong then a base here at Fountains Of Escot would give you an ideal holiday!

We offer you not just a perfect location to initiate your 2 wheel expeditions, but also a cyclists’ friendly accommodation. You have the choice of B&B rooms and Self-Catering gites.

Perhaps you are the only cyclist in the family and want to come somewhere where the rest of your clan would also enjoy themselves? Here at Fountains Of Escot you could ride off to conquer the cols safe in the knowledge that everyone else would be relaxed and enjoying the other delights on offer at this family chateau.

We know that a cyclist’s pride and joy is his bike. We have no problem with safe, secure storage space for both bike and equipment. Tools can also be borrowed from us for any emergency repairs.

Col de Marie Blanque

From here just 500m down the road, at our village of Escot, you could begin the climb up and over to this famous col and into the next valley, following the spectacular «Pyrenean Road of the Passes» This road follows the Pyrenean mountain chain all the way from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. We regularly provide lodging to individuals and groups of cyclists who are following this route.

Of course you can enjoy the Pyrenees without following the «Pyrenean Road of the Passes» all the way. We have enough «Mythical Cols», within pedalling distance, from the château, to test the mettle of any amateur or professional cyclist!

Tour de France

The famous “Tour de France” often includes not just the Marie Blanque, but also other local cols like Soulor, Pierre Saint-Martin, Aubisque, Pourtalet, etc. Indeed, we have several cycling guests who take part in the pre-Tour de France route, especially organised for cycling enthusiasts throughout Europe.

Mountain Biking

The Timuzapata biking club has written a «Report» about their expedition in the Aspe Valley

There are 200Km of well marked MTB tracks comformant to the "Federation Francaise de Cyclotourisme". These have been graded as very easy (green), easy (blue), difficult (red) and very difficult (black). Consult the «Oloronais Itineraries» for exact details.

Contacts

If you wish to hire a good bike then there are several sporting outlets.

• Aspy Rando
  Borce
  Mountain bike trekking
  e-mail
  +33 (0)5 59 34 86 14
  website
• VTT Nature
  24, bis rue Auguste Peyré
  Bedous
  Mountain bike trekking
  e-mail
  +33 (0)5 59 34 75 25
• Deportes Azus
  Carretera Francia
  Villanúa
  +34 974 378 217

• Béarn VTT
  24, bis rue Auguste Peyré
  Oloron-Sainte-Marie
  Mountain bike tours, rental, sale and repair
  +33 (0)5 59 39 33 43
• Cycles Igouassel
  Rue Despourrins
  Oloron Sainte-Marie
  Cycles sale, rental and repair
  e-mail
  +33 (0)5 59 39 06 00
• Pascal Hourticq
  16, lotissement Longis
  Arette
  MTB renting
  +33 (0)5 59 88 90 05
• Camping Barétous
  Aramits
  All bikes renting
  +33 (0)5 59 34 12 21
• Cycles TILLOUS
  Station Total
  Arette
  Shop sales and services
  +33 (0)5 59 88 90 61
• SARL Les Chalets d’Issarbe
  Issarbe
  Renting mountain bikes
  +33 (0)5 59 39 65 08

Aspe Valley
Tourist Office
Bedous
e-mail
+33 (0)5 59 34 57 57

Pyrenees National Park
Etsaut
e-mail
+33 (0)5 59 34 88 30