Family road trip across the Pyrenees (Spain)

Hi there,

We live in Lyon and usually stay in the Alps, but we don’t know the Pyrenees at all. It’s a mountain range that’s quite a long way from where we live. This summer, we’re thinking of traveling along the Pyrenees from west to east (Pyrénées-Atlantiques - Hautes-Pyrénées - PO). We might explore both the French and Spanish sides. We’d do this trip over 3 weeks, aiming to stay in each place for about 3 days before hitting the road again—so we don’t feel like we’re driving for hours every day...

Do you think a 3-week trip like this is doable? (Just to give you an idea, I’ve simplified the route with the link below, using random stops to illustrate the plan.) https://maps.app.goo.gl/eaShLrZzcmN54mZJ7

Two things that are influencing our planning: - We’re a family of 4 (2 kids, aged 9 and 6 1/2) - We’ll be in an electric car For the second point, could you tell me if there are plenty of electric charging stations along the mountain range, or if we’ll need to head to the main towns in the 3 Pyrenean departments?

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Thanks in advance.

Hi there, it's doable but you'll need to choose your stops carefully ;) Especially since you want to cover both sides: French and Spanish. Three weeks roughly means 6 drop-off points of 3 days each (=18 days, leaving 3 days for the round trip from Lyon?).

For the choice, it depends on what your family enjoys: short hikes or big hikes? Nature or culture? etc.

In my opinion, the must-visit stops are: - Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (in the Pyrenees, a "port" is a mountain pass, so we're not talking about a specialty made from animal feet 🐾): a very pretty little town with the Aldudes Valley, Iparla ridges, and the Oylarandoy chapel nearby... - Jaca and Canfranc on the Spanish side. The contrast in landscapes with the French side is striking. - Cauterets or Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the historic heart of Pyrenean tourism, surrounded by the most famous sites. - Ainsa: spectacular landscapes (cliffs) all around. Ordesa National Park. Villages like Tella, Gistain, Alquezar. Canyoning in the Sierra de Guara. - Bonaigua, Aigüestortes National Park, Encantats: many lakes and beautiful forests, I love this area.

For the route: - After the Logibar hostel (do the short hike to the footbridge), instead of heading north into the foothills with little interest, go via Saint-Engrâce and the Pierre Saint-Martin. The landscapes are stunning. - You’ll miss the Gaves Valley, where the most famous sites of the range are located: Gavarnie Cirque, Pont d'Espagne, Cauterets, etc. Sure, it’s a dead end and you’ll have to backtrack, but it’s worth it. - Plan a day at Ordesa Canyon (Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park), so you’ll need an overnight stay nearby. - On the Spanish side, after La Seu d’Urgell, it’s no longer mountainous and it’s pretty dull until the Mediterranean, except for Pedraforca. Personally, I’d head back to the French side, either via Andorra and the Pas de la Case + Puymorens (though that’s a lot of driving), or via Puigcerdà, which is simpler and faster—you’ll arrive directly at Font-Romeu. - The Lac des Bouillouses area seems essential to me, as does the Canigou massif. - The only real draw of ending on the Spanish side is the Cap de Creus - Cadaqués area. It’s beautiful but packed in summer. On the French side, Collioure and Banyuls are nice too. - You’ll need to calculate travel times, stops, etc. (in short, make a plan). If you have time and enjoy driving, there are stunning roads in the Corbières (Galamus Gorges, Gorges de la Pierre-Lys).

What’s the range of your electric vehicle? In mountain villages, you generally won’t find charging stations. You might need to descend to foothill towns like Pau, Tarbes, Lourdes, etc. In Andorra la Vella, it should be fine. On the Spanish side, I have no idea. Jaca is a fairly large town, but for the rest... The Pyrenees don’t have big cities like the French Alps do.