Cauterets
- mikedugdale
- Feb 24
- 1 min read
From Pierrefitte-Nestalas at the end of the voie verte in the valley of the Gave de Pau , the climb to the pretty town of Cauterets begins. Cauterets is a destination in itself. Lunch, ski hire, good walks, accommodation (but stay here not there) and a reasonable climb from the valley. From the town however, you also have a choice of routes to go higher, either to the Pont d'Espagne following a valley of spectacular waterfalls or up to the Cauterets Ski Station.
All the figures below are calculated from the valley floor rather than the town of Cauterets because that is a climb in itself (10km and 450m of climb) and because we sincerely hope you will choose to set off from the Pyrenees Cycling Centre rather than somewhere else merely adequate ;-) .
Cauterets Ski Station
1360m altitude
31km from the Pyrenees Cycling Centre to the start of the climb.
16 km ascent.
Average gradient 5.4%
Maximum gradient 10%
Height climbed 870m.
Pont d'Espagne
1500m altitude
31km from the Pyrenees Cycling Centre to the start of the climb.
17 km ascent.
Average gradient 6%
Maximum gradient 10%
Height climbed 1010m.
