French Winter Resort Saint-Lary Invests €14m in New Cablecar

The French Pyrenees mountain resort of Saint-Lary Soulan has invested 14 million euros this year to build a new cablecar system, capable of carrying 3,000 skiers per hour to the peaks in just 8 minutes.

Saint-Lary estimates the new cablecar will save 1,400 car rides, 50 coaches and 20 shuttles every day.

Since 2000, the resort has spent a total of 28 million Euros on modernising its ski slopes and strengthening its snow-making system. Today, a system of 250 snow machines guarantees snow on 80 per cent of the site, a percentage the resort says is well ahead of the average snow coverage for French ski resorts.

An artist's impression of the terminus for the new cablecar system at the mountain resort of Saint-Lary Soulan in the French Pyrenees

Located in the Pyrenees a few kilometres from Franbce’s border with Spain, Saint-Lary claims to be the leading winter sport resort in the Pyrenees and it is one of the first ten winter resorts in France to have signed the nation’s mountain resort sustainable development charter. The centre of Siant-Lary, a tradional mountain village, is subject to stringent town planning rules so as to preserve its original character.

During its peak season, Saint-Lary hosts many English skiers and snowboarders, who are drawn by the Southwest of France, the performances of Pyrenees boarders and the fares of low-cost airlines. The village is accessible from the airports of Toulouse (to which easyJet flies) and Pau (served by Ryanair). A free shuttle links Saint-Lary to Pau airport, which is 1hr 15min away by road.

This year, the winter sports resort opens on December 4. Sample Family Weekend prices from December 4 to 6 or from December 5 to 7 are from 85 euros per person for 2 adults and 2 children under 18

To find out more about Saint-Lary visit www.saintlary.com.

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