Génos-Loudenvielle Lake
The Louron Valley in the Hautes-Pyrénées is dotted with beautiful lakes and ponds, both in the valley itself and on the mountain slopes. Among them, the Loudenvielle lake stands out. Surrounded by meadows, forests and pastures, it is an ideal place for activities for all tastes. On the shores of the lake are the villages of Génos, Loudenvielle and Aranvielle.
From the lake, the view of the surrounding Pyrenean peaks, the highest of which reach up to 3,000 metres, is impressive. If you visit the lake by car, there is a promenade around the lake that can be reached from different points.
Balnéa
A visit to the Balnéa aquatic complex is well worthwhile, which has spaces to suit the tastes and expectations of young and old alike. Special mention should be made of the ambience of the baths, which go from the tranquillity and peace of a Roman thermal bath to an Amerindian space, with a bubbling pool and whirlpools, while the Tibetan area is dedicated to body care.
These areas can be used in both summer and winter, although a summer bonus is that in summer you can hire water scooters and canoes to cruise the calm waters of the lake.
A different kind of day
Once at Loudenvielle Lake, it will take about two or three hours to walk around it. However, it is advisable to take the whole day to enjoy the beautiful scenery to the full.
Water sports are the order of the day on the lake of Lourdenvielle: fishing, pedalos and canoes.
The lake has play areas for the little ones. For those who like thrills and spills, you can enjoy a ride suspended in the trees.
For those who love photography, the opportunity to climb the tower overlooking the lake will be a unique experience, affording breathtaking views of the lake and the valley.
A nice option is to take provisions for the day, and have a nice picnic on the shores of the lake.
Other lakes
The Louron valley has some 50 lakes and ponds, but not all of them are easily accessible. In fact, many of them are off the beaten track and only accessible to experienced hikers. Or, anglers, as many of the waters often contain trout and other varieties attractive to anglers.
Easily accessible in the surrounding area is the Avajan Lake, which is very attractive for fishermen. It has a camping service on its shores. It is located between Bordères-Louron and Loudenvielle.
Other lakes such as Sarrouyes and de Miares are less visited but easily accessible. In summer, the Myrtilles chairlift, in the Louron valley, saves an hour's walk from the route leading to Vallon de Sarrouyes, the gateway to the lakes. The Miares lakes, at an altitude of over 2,500 metres, are just over an hour's climb above the Sarrouyes lake.
